Tumble 17 Llanelli Warriors 36 (Match 131)

Match report from S.W. Guardian

Match report

Despite a few weeks break, the Llanelli Warriors managed an impressive return to action last weekend at Tumble. The bright sunshine and firm ground obviously suited the Warriors running style, even if the heat prohibited running rugby.
The Tumble team looked well prepared and had plenty of experience in the squad with many of the clubs coaches taking the opportunity to show their young charges how it’s done.
The Warriors started brightly and almost from the kick off forced a penalty which Tony Whittaker duly slotted. The lead was stretched not long after when No8 Simon Jenkins drove hard off a scrum allowing Gwilym Lewis to score.
The Tumble team began to gel though with their backs making some strong runs. Determined to run everything they made headway into the Warriors half and hooker Errol Price drove over, prompting chants of ‘Tumble! Tumble!’ from the large crowd.
Both sides looked to move the ball and despite the heat the pace remained high. The larger home team having an advantage in contact but the Warriors possibly having a little extra pace. The Warriors snatched the next score when Andrew John ran in an interception soon followed by Chris Spriggs who darted over from a close range ruck..
Sharp as they were in attack, there were some defencive lapses from the Warriors and Tumble hit back. Price again drove strongly for a second score and fly half Simon Jones notched 7 points with a try and conversion. Steve Seager and Jason Evans dominated the line outs for Tumble but the Warriors pacey back three of Whittaker, Rowlands and Howells meant that they could prosper on scraps of possession.
Despite the Warriors lead there was little really to choose between the sides as the game progressed. Stu Taylor had a useful debt for the Warriors whilst Alan Taylor showed some touches of class, for Tumble Endaf Jones and Emyr Davies were effective throughout. Tumble introduced several youngsters in the second half in James Stephens, Darren Jones and Mathew Cavill, who covered so much ground it often appeared as though it were 20 a side. The Warriors eventually sealed a deserved win. Half back partners Gwilym Lewis and Jon Jones orchestrated a sweeping move from which Neil parker crossed out wide and to wrap things up co center Alan Stephens showed the Warriors maintained their hunger right til the end, snatching up a loose ball and crossing for the games final score.
A cracking match played in good spirits the Warriors would like to thank Tumble for the welcome they received both on and off the field.
Tumble: Colin Hopkins, Steve Hewitt (James Stephens), Richard Lloyd, Richard Davies (Darren Jones), Endaf Jones (Mathew Cavill), Simon Jones, Huw Daniels, Emyr Davies, Errol Price, Gareth Cavill, Steve Seager, Jason Evans, Mal Spain, Aled Lewis, Neil Griffiths.
Warriors: Lee Rowlands, Jaes Howells, Andrew John (Neil Parker), Alun Stephens, Tony Whittaker (Alan Taylor), Jon Jones, Gwilym Lewis, James Dew (Jason Bennett), Jason Jenkins (Cpt), Richard Evans (Meredith Pugh), Roger Thomas, John Horwood (Jon Kerr), Chris Spriggs, Simon Jenkins, Stu Taylor.

It’s more than just a game...

An interesting (and blydi HOT) day, what with late buses, missing kit, borrowed Tumble kit, borrowed betws kit and then a match. Plenty of positives from the game, in attack anyway. Simon ran strongly, James did well on his wing and some of the passing was excellent. Defence was a bit of an optional extra at times though. Skill of the day, despite Al’s American football passing and Lee Rowlands header, must have been Simon dropping Killer at a line out, (wait til his Mam sees you Simon!)
We seemed to have got away with the various kit mix ups and missing shorts and socks until Block returned to the field in his pants for the last of the hostilities. Obviously pictures of such a grotesque sight cannot be shown on a family web site like this but for those of a certain fetish persuasion apparently http://www.big-bola-hot-boys.com/ paid good money for the negatives.
After match activities were centred around John Horwood trying to have a kip, Jason Jenkins trying to eat the food and avoiding watching Caelyr beating the Ospreys. Jason was the most distracting, perhaps stripping on the way to the game was a sign but we had a classic memorable speech and sing song.
Unfortunately the detour to Ammanford on the way home only gave more time for singing but at least we all got home to the Cambrian safely.