The Llanelli Warriors managed to maintain their unbeaten run but only by the skin of their teeth in this exciting encounter at Stradey Park.
The Market team’s training sessions had obviously paid off and they all but snatched the glory. Off decent ball, the quick running of Mark Davies was an obvious asset from early in the game and he got them underway with the 1st score.
The Warriors though didn’t panic. Most of their systems were working well, they were having plenty of the game and making good ground. Flanker Alan Stephens got them back on level terms with a typical strong run. The game itself settled very much into this pattern, the Warriors tending to have the edge in territory and possession, but the Market living up to their nick name ‘The (T)Raiders’ capable of long range attacks. Both teams crossed the line twice again before half time. Davies completed a hatrick for the Market while Stephens got the Warriors second and Andrew John sneaked over in the corner. A conversion apiece from Adrian Davies and Jon Kerr made it all square at half time.
The second half was a tighter contest with a ferocious forward battle. It was no place for the faint hearted but the likes of Colin Talcon, Roger Thomas (Warriors), Roy Jones and Rob Stephens (Market) thrived.
In such a tight contest every score was critical so Richard Pegler carving through for the Warriors put them in the driving seat.
The Market put plenty of pressure on the Warriors line but Richard Evans led a stubborn defence. It looked like the Warriors would hold on but after several thwarted attempts Mark Evans again got over for the crucial score. The conversion proved a little too much and so honours were shared, a fair result after an excellent game.
The Warriors certainly benefited most though, to the tune of £1,500 raised by the Market team through donations and sponsorship.
Warriors: Lee Rowlands (Richard Pegler), Richard Evans, Neil Parker, Andrew John, Tony Whittaker (Meredith Pugh), Jon Jones, Dean Gilasbey, Colin Talcon (Darren Pettipaul), Jason Jenkins (Cpt), Jason Bennett, John Horwood, Roger Thomas, Jon Kerr, Alun Stephens, Simon Jenkins, Chris Spriggs (Gwilym Lewis)
Warriors Tries: Al Stephens (2), Andrew John, Richard Pegler
Conversion: Jon Kerr
Man of The Match: Richard Evans
No ref and no spare kit for the Market and no women’s curtain raiser, but once it got going it was a cracking game.
The Market team certainly had prepared well and looked as though it was chosen from people who shopped there rather than people who worked there, so many were the numbers. A Warriors investigation is also set to try to find out at which stall the Davies brothers (Whitalnd RFC) work.
The game was a good contest and the review is (for once) pretty accurate. The Warriors kickers were unlucky not to get more kicks over as all 4 conversions went close from difficult angles. Mind the Market had one bounce off the crossbar whilst the Warriors had one bounce over.
After the match it was the odd surroundings of the Tennis Club, couches, broken toilets and slow beer taps n all. A good crowd stayed to enjoy the feast of food the Market had provided and try to win a prize in the longest raffle this side of Cefneithin. Despite prizes for all, (Rich Pegler winning a free burger), Tracey was caught trying to claim a prize under false pretences.
Jason gave a classic speech, Rich got a Man of the Match trophy almost as big as himself and the Warriors got £1,500.After that a kind of relay pub crawl began as the Market team followed the Warriors following the New Dock contingent from the Tennis club to Furnace, The Colliers and the Kilkenny Cat. There was even a few survivors holding up the Bar Luna so Big Al could have a little sleep (or two) and Billo could put in an appearance. Tracey apparently won the last home award, but mainly because she had to be carried.
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