Burry Port Classics 17 Llanelli Warriors 12 (match 111)

Review (or at least most of it) as it appeared in the Star, read the undeited version below...

Injured Billo makes case to be included in team asap by taking worst rugby photos ever.

1st team talk of new season (same old rubbish spouted mind)

Dai Spriggs: yeah, yeah, whatever!

and we're off

Hmm...very artistic Billo-now what is it!

The Warriors' line out was transparent

Obviously the athletes here were too quick for the camera

Nearest Billo could get to a team photo
see if you can spot: Gareth Walters (?), Mike James, Alun Stephens, Paul JCB, Jason Jenkins, Gareth McKibbon, Lee Rowlands, James Howells, Kevin Twls, Colin Talcon, Gary James, Lee Barber, John Horwood, Dean Gilasbey, Tony Whittaker, Andrew John, Dai Spriggs, Meredith Pugh, Roger Thomas, Gwilym Lewis, Richard Evans, Chris Spriggs plus mascot

Jason takes over photography duties: Colin Campese and Pugh

Adrian Payne tries to remeber where his rugby career went.

Richard Hapus mulls over his near miss

Blydi hell, are we famous now!

Jumpin' John: at least someone reads the programme.

Gis a kiss: James Howells puckers up

Relax - I'll look after you

...and thats why I should have been man of the match...

Dai Spriggs is over joyed another season has started

Louie on the pull

'hapus' and 'whered-yatake'er' look for photographic evidence that Gary Shed is the Burry Port legend he claims (and look and look and look...)

Warriors and the meat raffle: everyones a winner

Alun Stephens (and friend)

Pugh moving (almost)

Sammy Rees:...and then I butted him like this...

Returning legend: Gareth McKibbon

Opposing Directors of Rugby: Lulu and Shed

Benson: All Smiles

Mike James: possibly about to embark on another late night 'training session'

Joe Malta; in his favored rugby position

Classic photo for the Classics team programme

A late start to the Warriors 11th season but not quite a winning one. With conditions excellent for swimming rugby it was something of a suprise to have two full teams with 25 odd (very odd) Warriors turing out. There was plenty of banter amongst the teams with the Classics borrowing Mike James, Alun Stephens, Gary James, Gareth McKibbon, James Howells and Tony Whittaker over the course of the match. The Classics already featured former Warriors; Mark Bryant and Wyn 'Sammy' Rees who were part of the 'Originals'. Simon Jenkins suffered a broken cheekbone whilst James Howells had an excellent match for the Classics. After the game Jason Jenkins took over photography duties from Billo to produce the results shown here.

Burry Port Classics 17 Llanelli Warriors 12

The Warriors finally kicked off their season at Burry Port RFC against the newly formed ‘Classics’ XV. The Warriors enthusiasm obviously hadn’t been dampened by the enforced lay off and they had an excellent turn out despite the unfamiliar Friday night kick off. They were even able to lend the Classics some players which coupled to a number of former Warriors already in their ranks led to a friendly but fiercely contested game.
The Llanelli team started strongly with new Captain Roger Thomas and 2nd row veteran John Horwood a calming influence. Both sides played with plenty of ambition and lots of width in attack. The Warriors in particular wove some intricate patterns amongst the backs and this helped them prise open the home defence. With the forwards supplying a constant quality ball, good hands along the backline allowed Lee Rowlands to hit a gap at pace and he stormed all the way to the line. The formula was repeated a few minutes later with Roger Thomas this time on hand to finish Rowland’s break . Dai Spriggs improved and the Warriors were good value for their lead at this stage.
The Classics were showing plenty of enthusiasm with Mike James and John Pugh benefiting from the previous night training session. Alun Stephens was enjoying himself playing against his usual team mates and bedazzling them with his distribution. He eventually helped make their opening score for former Warrior Mark Bryant.
The Classics finished the 1st half and started the 2nd very strongly. Gary James marshalled his troops to good effect from 9 whilst Joe Grech brought all his experience to bear up front. The got another try this time through Neil Bathgate but the Warriors were able to hold their slender lead as the 2nd half reached the half way stage.
Although the Warriors reacted well to the Classics 2nd score circumstances went against them at this point. No 8 Simon Jenkins, who had been having a storming match after stepping into the boots of retired Warrior legend Dai Newson, went off after colliding with another former Warrior, Wyn Rees. The supply of loose ball Jenkins had been providing dried up and they lost a little ‘go forward’ as well. Coupled to this was prop Gareth McKibbon being called into the Burry Port ranks. After an excellent 1st half for the Warriors, he stiffened up the home scrum and played his part in their eventual victory.
The winning score was a cruel blow for the Warriors. They managed to disrupt a Classics lineout but the ball went loose and Paul Davies (another loaned Warrior) snaffled it up and crossed near the posts. Neil Bathgate found his range for the conversion and the Warriors found themselves 5 points behind.
Redoubling their efforts they spent the last quarter of the game firmly on the attack. The forwards went close and wing Richard Evans was bundled into touch just short. There were claims for a penalty try when debutant full back Gareth Walters was hauled down chasing a kick and in the final move of the night wing Tony Whittaker squeezed in at the corner only for the ref spot a slight knock on.

Both teams should take plenty of credit from the game and the Warriors should have a successful season judging from their performance. The rematch in Stradey later in the season is bound to be another cracking affair.
Llanelli Warriors: Dai Spriggs (Gareth Walters), Meredith Pugh (Richard Evans), Lee Rowlands (Andrew John), Jonathan Jones, James Howells (Tony Whittaker), Dean Gilasbey, Lee Barber, Gareth McKibbon (Colin Talcon), Jason Jenkins, Chris Spriggs, John Horwood, Roger Thomas (Cpt), Paul Davies (Kevin Procter), Simon Jenkins, Gwilym Lewis