WRW jersey presentation: Dai Ed, Simon Jenkins, Colin Talcon, Robert Williams, Dai Newson, Gwilym Lewis.
everyone rivetted by coaches team talk
Dai Ed during the warm up
Meredith warms up with Paul JCB
Enough to strike terror into any team
Bk row: Dai Spriggs, Gary James, Lee Rowlands, Kev 'Twls' Procter, Mathew 'Billo' Jones, Dean Gilasbey, Paul 'JCB' Davies, Tony Whittaker, Jon Kerr, Lee Barber, Dai Newson, Darren Davies, Adrian Payne, Mike James, Roger Thomas, Alan Taylor
Gwil makes sure he is 1st to try out new jerseys
Captain Col gets comfy
Cawl: always popular
Darren: pale from the shock of playing rugby
Shed operates go-go gadjet arm to ensure free beer
Jo has to go
Kerr and Shed look worried as they watch the video highlights
louie in his own time
Grrr, get away from my cawlHow did we lose this by 20 points? The Warriors almost bagged their 1st ever win against the Vets and three times the ref asked if he should end the game. The Warriors declined in an attempt to win the game and it back fired with the home side getting two late scores to make the game safe. Never mind it was a first visit to Pontadawe club and a very successful day fro the Warriors in other respects. WRW officially presented jerseys before the team left Stradey and Rugby World did a huge spread on the team. Steve James, the former Glamorgan cricketter and also a rugby correspondant, covered the game (and chucked in £20 to the kitty). Afterwards free beer, cawl a caws and video highlights of the game made for an excellent afternoon.
The Llanelli Warriors very narrowly missed marking their 90th fixture by beating this well drilled veterans team for the 1st time. With less than 5 minutes to go they were defending a narrow lead only for a burst of 4 tries leaving them wondering what might have been.
Fielding their strongest squad this season the Warriors surprised their opponents with some excellent handling and fluid movements. Both sides played with width, happy to spin the ball. Both teams went close but in the end it was Warrior scrum half Lee Barber who made the break through, intercepting and sprinting clear to put captain Talcon under the posts. Simon Jenkins improved the score as part of an impressive performance. The Warriors continued to test the home defence with some sweeping moves, James Huw-Evans and Paul Jayseab making good ground. The veterans hit back though, against the run of play with John Evans ending a nice move and adding the conversion. Back came the Warriors, this time Dean Gilasbey finally getting the try after excellent approach work from the forwards. The best move of the game saw the ball swept right and left by the Warriors with everyone handling. The ball was moved out to flying fullback Matt Billo who was desperately bundled into touch just short of the line. The Veterans hit back again with a Mark Jones try tying the scores up at the interval.
The pace slowed somewhat in the second half but it was still a closely matched contest. Jo Polson came on to stiffen up the Warriors pack, Roger Thomas continued to hit rucks and Alan Taylor did well on the wing. The veterans also showed what they could do turning defence into attack at every opportunity and Gwyn Roberts scored to put them in front. This was eventually cancelled out when Kevin Twts capped a fine debut for the club by forcing his way over and Jenkins added the conversion to swing things towards the Warriors. Jon Kerr almost scored for the Warriors but the vets recovered, spun the ball and Kevin Williams was able to finish off the attack to put them back in front. Opportunities were missed by both sides and the crowd which included former Glamorgan opener Steve James, covering the Warriors for Rugby World magazine, were kept entertained. Wing Tony Whittaker made good inroads for the Llanelli side and bustling center Alan Stephens created a score for Richard Evans. Time was slipping away from the veterans but they continued to push. With less then 5 minutes to go John Evans got a second try and then almost straight from the kick off Kristian Walsh added another and the conversion. Spurning the refs offer to blow early the warriors kicked off again and were unable to regain possession as Mathew Edwards dived in at the posts. Third time unlucky the Warriors conceded a third try in as many minutes as tired legs allowed Brian Evans to complete the scoring.
The warriors were gutted not to suddenly find themselves having lost by 20 points but should be proud of a display showing skill and heart in equal measure. When the team gelled they showed some superb rugby and will be a force to be reckoned with during their 10th season.
Llanelli Warriors: Mathew Billo (Adam painter), Meredith Pugh (Alan Taylor), Paul Jayseab (Mike James), Alan Stephens, James Huw-Evans (Tony Whittaker), Dean Gilasbey, Lee Barber, Colin Talcon (Cpt) Richard Evans, Kevin Twts (Darren Davies), David Edwards (Jo Polson), Adrian Payne (Roger Thomas), Jonathan Kerr, Simon Jenkins, Dai Newson, Gwilym Lewis.
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