Long reviews for this one
Couldn't get the team list on the scanner for the Journal's version
and the Star's was so long it's come in two parts
Don't worry: no more reviews
Match programmeThe concept was simple, invite a couple of players from each team we had played to make up a XV. Beat them before they could get organised and head off to presentation night. It didn't quite work like that. The opposition select proved excellent opponents and gave the Warriors a big scare. Presentation evening proved a great success with opposition teams represented and a good time was had by all.
Llanelli Warriors 38 Opposition Select 33
The Warriors rounded their season off with their 20th match. Another exciting encounter it rounded off their 10th season proper with only the tour to New Zealand to come.
One of the recurring themes throughout the Warriors 10th season has been the welcome and help they have received from other teams and to say ‘thank you’ they invited their opponents to nominate a couple of players each for the final match.
If it was meant to be the Warriors day then the invitation side hadn’t read the script. The Opposition team started strongly and denied the Warriors any possession in the opening quarter. Pontyates winger Mathew Jones was on fine form and quickly opened the scoring. Burry Port’s old war horse Gary James hounded his opposite number into a mistake and scored a neat try by the posts which Cambrian full back John Kerr converted. Jones added another score before the Warriors finally got off the mark. Outside half Jon Jones ignored an overlap outside him but made the line anyway.
The ball was thrown about with abandon and there was plenty to keep the crowd interested. Having been denied once Warriors flanker Gwilym Lewis raced over near the posts for Jonathan Kerr to improve and then Lewis had the vision to take a penalty quickly, firing out a pass to full back Rob Roberts who did well to make the line.
As well as a try saving tackle, the elusive running of Betws player Emyr Timothy was a constant feature while Kwik Save Crosshands center Andrew John found plenty of space. Luckily for the Warriors as half time approached hooker Jason Jenkins helped his line out forwards Kerr and Thomas to create good quality possession and the match evened up nicely. Cambrian front row forwards Bennet and Cotterell provided both brains and brawn with some nice interplay but the Warriors got to half time with a slender lead.
The Invites started the second half as they had done the first. Penybanc duo Fishwick and Jones linked well and Turn Style wing Richard Evans benefited with a try under the posts. Emyr Timothy got another for the visitors but the Warriors finally hit back through Jonathan Kerr. More good support play saw Kerr’s second try but the invites went back in front when Betws No 8 Wayne Comley surged over. A point behind the Warriors ran everything. Evans and Warriors Captain Whittaker had a good duel on the wing and Burry Port winger Lee Rowlands put in some crunching tackles. However when both Alan Stephens (Pontyates) and Wayne Comley failed to halt a Lewis charge the Warriors forwards provided quick ruck ball. Gilasbey, Billo and James all handled well before the ever-present Jon Kerr popped up to record a 4th hatrick of the season. He slotted a 4th conversion to set a new match record of 23 points to go with his season record of 20 tries. The Warriors proved once again that having a learning disability needed preclude people from playing quality rugby. They now head out to New Zealand having had their most extensive and successful season to date. It was also a fitting end to domestic rugby for Warriors number 8 Dai Newson who will retire after the tour. He hasn’t missed a game since making his debut 9 years and 105 games ago.
Warriors: Rob Roberts, James Davies, Lee Rowlands (Mathew Billo), Dean Gilasbey, Tony Whittaker (Cpt), Jon Jones, Dai Edwards, Jason Jenkins, Richard Evans (Andrew John), Roger Thomas, Jon Kerr, Paul Jayseabee, Dai Newson, Gwilym Lewis.
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