"I'm on the top of the world, looking down on creation..."
Bit in the Star
The South Wales Guardian suddenly takes over as the Warriors favorite paper (you can read it again HERE on the Guardian's own site if you want)
A fantastic result for the Warriors, just the 2nd time the club have won the Challenge Shield away from home. The Gladiators were looking to win the Shield for a record 5th consecutive time but in a very tight game the Warriors managed to scrape the win. With wins over the Swansea Gladiators, Saracens Brave Herts and South Auckland Kiwis within 7 games the Wariors can justifiably claim to be (probaly) the best Challenge rugby team in the world.
Match report:
The Llanelli Warriors are feeling on top of the world this week after narrowly beating the Swansea Gladiators in a tense Challenge Shield match. The integrated side that includes players with learning difficulties has now, in the space of 7 games beaten the only similar sides in New Zealand, England and Wales. With the New Zealand side having beaten opposition from Australia and Japan the Llanelli team can claim to be the best ‘Challenge rugby’ side in the world.
The game against the nearest and oldest rivals was also the hardest. A tough rugby match with no quarter asked or given the Warriors managed to foil the Gladiators quest for a record 5th consecutive victory. Both sides were hampered by the glue pot pitch which was only just deemed playable and it would be very interesting to see the sides do battle on a faster surface. The Gladiators dominated most of the 1st half with the Warriors line under fairly constant threat. Both sides lost key forwards in Victor Rekar (Swansea) and Jonathan Kerr (Llanelli) as it became a war of attrition. With the mud acting as an extra defender for both sides and two committed defences it was no surprise that at half time the score was still nil – nil.
The teams cancelled each other out at scrum and line out but the home side continued to hold the upper hand. Eventually they put together a sweeping move which fly half Anthony Evans finished off out wide. The conversion was narrowly missed and everyone knew it could be crucial. The score was the spark the Warriors needed and they upped their game. The roles were now reversed with the Swansea side holding out in their own 22. Simon Jenkins narrowly missed two penalties but from the second, wings Taylor and Jones pressured the opposition into a mistake, Alan Stephens intercepted a pass on the line and promptly scored. Jenkins made light of the pressure to land the conversion and the Warriors were in front with 15 minutes to go.
The Gladiators then proceeded to throw everything at the Warriors and it took a supreme team defensive effort to keep them out. Roger Thomas again led from the front and Simon Jenkins put in a number of key hits as everyone did their bit. They managed to frustrate the Gladiators and were helped when their captain Ryan Bath was carded shortly before the end. Despite some excellent rugby from the Gladiators the Llanelli team were able to hold on for just their 2nd away victory in the series.
Reflecting on the match afterwards both teams were able to find plenty of positives with almost 60 players turning out between the two sides and some excellent rugby played. The Gladiators seem to have unearthed another fine winger in Jonathan Dark whilst the Warriors’ Jason Bennett had a good debut. David Edwards was chosen as the man of the match for his impressive running. With the concept of Challenge rugby finally beginning to catch on worldwide it is satisfying to see it so healthy in its Welsh birthplace.
Llanelli Warriors: Lee Rowlands (Rob Roberts), Mathew Jones, Andrew John, Neil Parker (Alun Stephens), Tony Whittaker (Alan Taylor), Jonathan Jones, Dean Gilasbey, Mike James (Jason Bennett), Jason Jenkins (David Edwards), Richard Evans (Meredith Pugh), Roger Thomas (Cpt), Jonathan Kerr (John Horwood), Paul Jayseabee (Chris Spriggs), Simon Jenkins, Gwilym Lewis
Warriors scorers: Try: Alan Stephens, Conversion: Simon Jenkins
Gladiators: Try: Anthony Evans
Debut: Jason Bennett
John Horwood's 108th match; equalling Dai Newson's apperance record.
Try THIS for another view of the game which I think must have appeared in the Evening Post
A cold winters day the Warriors were able to field a 22 man squad but were still short of the Gladiators numbers ( a great sign for Challenge rugby). The Swansea Uplands pitch was the worst seen since the Warriors other away victory in Waunarlwydd and certainly curtailed both sides ambitions for running rugby. the game was as ... er ... competative as usual with a couple of frayed tempers and luckily was well reffereed. The two teams were well matched and most agreed afterwards it had been an excellent game of hard rugby. Roger suprised everyone with his choice of David Edwards as man of the match 'for his running' with Simon Jenkins, Roger himself, John Horwood and others all having their moments. Top marks to all involved in the lineout where for once the Gladiators weren't able to dominate. Dai Ed may have won the man of the match, but it seemed to affect him as he then lost his top, wallet (twice), bag and mobile phone at various points and was too tired for the team photo!
The Warriors were slightly fortunate to get an interception try right on the line but can also point to two missed penalties in justifying their win. At the end of the day there was little between the two teams but the Warriors came through.
Pictures from Murphy, Sheep, Nusiance and Lulu:
Jumpin' wins good lineout ball despite pressure
Parker relaxes while the forwards do the work
Gwilym feels the squeese
Rob takes it on for the Gladiators
Jon Kerr and Gary Coombe battle for the ball
Ouch! Jon Kerr's bad finger
Victorious Warriors: (left to right) John Horwood, Justin Bennett, Alan Taylor, Mathew Jones, Mike James, Dean Gilasbey, Neil Parker, Simon Jenkins, Andrew John, Paul Davies, Rob Roberts, Gwilym Lewis, Jonathan Jones, Roger Thomas (Cpt), Lewis Jones, Meredith Pugh, Chris Spriggs, Richard Evans, Lee Rowlands, Alan Stephens, Jason Jenkins, Tony Whittaker
Gladiators (Kyle Davies): still smiling
"And he should have tackled like this..."
They weren't too worried: they're off to ireland next week
Deano & Bloc recovering
"She's MY girlfriend"
Rob Sheep: wooly
Leon Jones: next time your going down like THIS!
Rob drowning sorrows
Tony caught telling the ref where he went wrong
This weeks classic Roger Murphy photo
neil Parker overjoyed at his 1st Challenge Shield win
Curry & chips for Al: can't go wrong!
Rich hapus smiling!!!
Taylor and Pugh both claimed they'd pulled
Raffle was a fix (Michael Gemine with his eye on the prize)
Newson: curry & chips #7
and that concludes another match report
er...or it did until these photos recently came to light:
Spidersheep helps Louie pu Gwil's coat on
scrum ball for Deano
If only Roger and Andrew got stuck into the game like that
Dai Ed wandered lonley as a cloud
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