Llanelli Wanderers Rugby Football Club

Affiliated to: The Welsh Rugby Union, West Wales Rugby Union, and the Llanelli & District Rugby Union

TUMBLE v LLANELLI WANDERERS 18/12/04

Saturday saw the Wanderers make the short trip up the Gwendraeth valley for the final game of 2004. They were greeted with torrential rain for the whole 80 minutes, but credit to both sides for providing an entertaining match, which saw the honours shared at 20 points apiece.

After the early cut and thrust, it was Tumble who opened the scoring with a penalty from 22 meters out. From the restart, we saw a glimpse of the Mark Cook of old, when he collected the ball and made inroads into the home 22. There followed a period of Wanderers pressure, but nothing to show at the end of it. In fact, it was Tumble who put more points on the board. From a missed tackle in midfield, the Tumble centre was allowed to burst through from 35 meters and record the first try of the game. The conversion opened up a 10-point lead for the hosts.

With the Wanderers pack starting to gain ascendancy, it was no real surprise when the forward pressure took them over the line for Iwan Jones to be credited with the try.  Barrie Davies was successful with the conversion.

Again, Tumble took play into the Wanderers 22 and an indiscretion allowed them to increase the lead with a further penalty. The Wanderers then upped a gear, but their only reward for all their pressure in the final 10 minutes of the half, was a penalty by Barrie Davies. The half closed with Tumble 13 Wanderers 10.

Wanderers spirits were raised at the start of the half when, following good lineout ball, Andrew Davies burst through and made inroads deep into the Tumble half.

As in previous weeks, the Wanderers forwards were now dictating play with some excellent driving and mauling. The Tumble scrum was constantly disrupted and with Iwan Jones commanding the lineout, the Wanderers were assured of plenty of possession.

Rob Mathias was making a welcome return to the side for his first game of the season, and he certainly made his presence felt. Following this early period of pressure, the Wanderers drew level with a penalty from Barrie Davies

Mid point of the half saw the Wanderers create an excellent try. Lee Cook gathered a speculative kick in his own 22. He powered forward, brushing aside the Tumble center as he went up to half way where Karl Evans was on hand to take play on, and when confronted by the full back, found Mark Cook in support to take an inside pass and sprint in from 22 meters.  Barrie Davies’s conversion put the Wanderers ahead for the first time.

Some wayward kicking by the Wanderers allowed Tumble to keep pegging the Wanderers back, and to their credit kept trying to move the ball to create the try, which they eventual did with 6 minutes remaining. The conversion from wide out was successful to level the scores.

With both sides desperate for the win, the final few minutes were quite frantic, but at the end a draw probably best reflected the game as a whole.

It is now hoped that the 2-week break will allow the Wanderers to re-group and allow injuries to clear up before another basement battle against Hendy in the new year.  

FINAL SCORE                       TUMBLE                     20        WANDERERS            20

TRY:                                                    I. Jones, M. Cook

PENALTY:                                          B. Davies (2)                                                   

CONVERSION:                                  B. Davies (2)

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