Llanelli Wanderers Rugby Football Club

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

Llanelli Wanderers v Aberystwyth 03/02/07

The Wanderers hopes of promotion all but evaporated when they were defeated by top of the table Aberystwyth by 21 points to 10 on Saturday.

The Wanderers opened with a purpose as if they were determined to put their recent run of bad form behind them and attacked from the kick-off with a powerful burst down the middle from wing Karl Evans which took play into the visitors 22. However, the ball was turned over for the Aber centre to collect and run in unopposed and with only their second passage of play, Aber again pinched Wanderers ball for a sweeping move to secure their second try and see them open up a 14 point gap , totally against the run of play within the opening 10 minutes

The Wanderers were not put off by this early set back and hit back within minutes when a well constructed move along the three-quarters saw wing Steffan Rogers cross for an excellent try wide out.

Ten minutes later a telling break from fullback Johney Jones, set up play for Daniel Rogers to cross and bring the Wanderers back to within 4 points of the visitors.

A further 10 minute period then saw the Wanderers hammer at the Aber defence, which to their credit held firm apart from when scrum half Andrew Jenkins powered over for a clear try which would have put the Wanderers ahead for the first-time, only for the referee to  disallow the score as he was unsighted.

As half time approached the home supporters stood in disbelief as the visitors again conjured up a score to take them into half time with a 21 points to 10 lead and prove that you must take opportunities to score when you get them.

Amazingly, there were no further scores in the second half although play, from both sides, was of the highest order. The neutral observer would have enjoyed an excellent game of rugby, but having played so poorly in recent weeks, it was heart-breaking to see the Wanderers efforts not gain the reward they possibly deserved.

FINAL SCORE

WANDERERS                                    10                    ABERYSTWYTH                               21

TRY:                                                   Steffan Rogers, Daniel Rogers

CONVERSION:                                 

And now a report from the Aberystwyth viewpoint:

Having lost at Haverfordwest on their last away trip, Aberystwyth ventured to Stradey Park on Saturday to face the Llanelli Wanderers side that had occupied pole position in the League for a large part of the season. To say that this was a pressure fixture would be an understatement and, on arrival, the intensity of the Wanderers’ preparations left no doubt that they too were keen to get over recent lapses and to complete the double over the current kingpins.

Wanderers are the only league side to win at Plascrug in almost two years and they started this return fixture ferociously, intent on occupying Aber territory from the start. At the second scrum however they spilled the ball just inside the Aber 22 and Aber centre Bryn Evans quickly overcame the surprise of unexpected possession as he found a gap and accelerated away, completing his 80 metre run under the posts to give the visitors the first score against the brief run of play with full back Gwilym Evans slotting the conversion to add to home wounds. Back to square one then for the homesters as they once again attacked.

The Aberystwyth defence was its usual sound self however, playing uphill in the first period, and produced another shock for the home side in the sixth minute when they turned over a ball deep inside their own 22 and the half backs combined to swing the ball out to left wing Tom Warnes. The speedy threequarter accepted the invitation gleefully and sped up the left flank. He was tackled around the home 22 but Aber backs were well in support and after recovering the ball some slick passing got the ball to fly half Dorian Lloyd who crossed for a second try just to the left of the posts, and Evans’ conversion opened a 14 point lead that rocked the home side and silenced their supporters.

Just three minutes later another half chance at a breakaway was knocked forward, and the home side turned the tables from the resulting scrum, centre field some 10 metres outside the Aber 22. Efficient passing from the home side this time saw wing Steffan Rogers weave through on the right, crossing in the corner for the home side’s first try. The Wanderers then continued to press and began a lengthy period of encampment in the Aber 22 at the foot of the slope. They tried repeatedly and in vain to find a gap in the Aber defence. Much of their attacking play was focused on ex-Scarlet Daniel Rogers playing centre and his class was evident, but the visitors held firm until the 22^nd minute when Rogers cut through, veering left with quick ball from a scrum near the right touchline. He was stopped from getting near the posts however and had to settle for a try wide out putting his side within 4 points. With their tails up the Wanderers’ pressure intensified but the Plascrug men held firm, regularly turning over to frustrate the home efforts, and also holding the ball up twice over their own line to deny the home side the lead.

After a full 20 minutes of this with half time approaching, Aber’s right wing Steve Brown neatly kicked a spilled ball in the corner up the flank and gave chase. He was cynically held back after a few yards and Aber took full advantage of the penalty awarded by charitable Pembroke Dock referee Andrew Miles who seemed to have left his yellow card at home. Seizing the rare period of open space Aber surged forward and neared their opponents’ line. It was now the Wanderers’ turn to defend, but a quick change of tactic at a scrum fed the ball to centre Paul Stubbs who had strayed left, but cut back sharply right on taking the ball and sliced through the gap he had created to cross for Aber’s third try under the posts. Evans’ conversion gave the visitors a 21-10 interval lead that certainly belied the territorial advantage the Stradey side had enjoyed, but rewarded Aber’s clinical execution of their few chances.

With the advantage of the slope in the second half, the visitors were now clearly on top but strangely the second period brought no further scores. It was pretty much nip and tuck for this period, both sides threatening and thwarted repeatedly. Rogers’ class was evident, as was the home threequarters’ well drilled ability to offload and create gaps. Aberystwyth were equal to it however, with Stubbs making his presence felt both in attack and in the crunching tackles he put in; their speedy wings were also a clear danger, but in the end neither side could break through. Losing stalwart prop Gerwyn Jones through injury last week was a big loss to Aberystwyth, but it is once again testament to their squad that they regrouped so efficiently.

The Six Nations series now enforces a week’s rest, but Aberystwyth will now be looking forward to entertaining Laugharne at Plascrug on the 17^th to continue their promotion quest.

Alan Jones

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