Llanelli
Wanderers Rugby Football Club
Affiliated to: The Welsh Rugby
Union, West Wales Rugby Union, and the Llanelli & District Rugby Union
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In the absence of a report from our intrepid reporter here is a copy of the report which appears on the Aberystwyth website: WRU Asda National League Division 3 West Saturday 14th October 2006 Aberystwyth 17pts Llanelli Wanderers 25pts This was an eagerly awaited top of the table third division clash that proved a big disappointment. Despite the preparations in the week leading up to the match, the opening encounters illustrated emphatically that there was only one team fully mentally prepared for the introductory tussle, and the visitors smartly got off to a ten point lead leaving the Plascrug men playing catch-up for the entire afternoon. With the Aber threequarters clearly uncoordinated at the outset and the assistance of a strong wind to take the ball the extra yard, the Wanderers soon threatened the Aber line and the first scores came to their half backs. Fly half Johnny Jones opened their account in the third minute finding a yawning gap in the defence from a 10 metre penalty, and it was he who took play within centimetres of the home line once more in the eighth minute, utilising the elements fully, abetted by the defence allowing the ball to bounce. From the ensuing lineout a sharp rush saw scrum half Andrew Jenkins cross for the second try. As Aber slowly settled they at least avoided further leaks and started to look their usual selves. Wanderers were happy however to throw everything into defence, protecting their lead, but they also regularly broke through on the counter, assisted by some substandard Aber tackling. As the half wound on the Plascrug side did manage to put some pressure on their opponents’ line and this eventually told in the 34th minute when wing Steve Brown was on hand to open their account. A 5-10 interval deficit would have been good for Aber but they took their foot off the pedal again after this score, and virtually conceded the contest as they let in two further tries before the interval. Aber were harshly penalised in midfield for allegedly tackling a man in the air, but the Wanderers smartly took the opportunity of a quick take and Carl Evans crossed in the corner for their third try. Minutes later an attempt to run out of defence by the Aber backs backfired; players of the calibre of ex-Scarlet Daniel Rogers need no more than half a chance to show their class and the centre punished Aber in the most devastating form. At four tries to one the visitors
were in a commanding lead; the strong wing had however thwarted all kicks at
goal in the first half, the only reason why the gap was held to 15 points and
Aber still held hope with the wind behind them in the second half. Within two
minutes of the restart these hopes were dashed completely as the Aber
threequarters again conspired to let As if realising that their predicament was of their own making the home side then tried their best to get back in as the visitors found life considerably more difficult with the wind in their faces. Their first reward came in the 15th minute when, having pressurised the Wanderers line for a few minutes, Aber switched the ball right rather than driving over, and number eight Llewelyn Evans dived over in the corner. A superb touchline conversion from newly arrived substitute Dorian Lloyd cut the lead to 13 points, kindling some hope. Some ten minutes later it was the vistors’ turn for defensive errors; as they let an upfield kick bounce they were forced to clear the ball over their own line. Quick ball from the 5 metre scrum smartly traversed the threequarters this time and centre Bryn Evans crossed for their third try. A rushed conversion attempt sailed by and the Wanderers sighed with relief at having a lead that still necessitated two scores. Despite several further attempts Aber failed to close that gap further through a mixture of stout defence and a couple of elements of bad luck. The better side on the day won this match, but Aber showed at times that they should have made a better contest of it. In the cold light of day they will know that they blew it and they will be able to identify why. It is for them to decide whether they want to be serious League contenders or not. A further break from League action this week sees Aber go to Division 3 South-West Heol-y-Cyw on Saturday for the third round of the Konica Cup. Having lost a similar tie there a few years ago, they now get the chance of revenge to progress to the elusive 4th round. Alan Jones |
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