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 17/12/05

After their abject performance the previous week, the Wanderers came back with a resolute and totally committed performance on Saturday to run out winners by 10 points to 5.

Supporters were dismayed when 5 of the squad were unavailable for the match. This included prop and assistant coach James Bannister, who had transferred to Narberth. However, this was luckily compensated for by the return of Lee Jones to the side.

These events seemed to galvanise the Wanderers who produced an excellent team performance.  

The Wanderers were unlucky not to open their account after 10 minutes when, following a fine break by Mike Rees, he was just beaten to the kick ahead by the covering defence.

Following an excellent catch and drive from a line-out, the forwards set up scrum half Johney Jones, who was just held up over the line. The Wanderers lost the put in from the resulting scrum, but then proceeded to drive the visitors off the ball for Rob Jenkins to pick up and crash over for the opening score.

A fine three-quarter move saw wing Mark Cook beat his man and when held up short, found outside half Daniel Rogers on hand to take the inside pass and crash over.

With both sides intent on a 15 man game, the first half was an excellent advert for the division and the half closed with the Wanderers pressing and unlucky not to have increased their 10 point lead.

The second half turned out to be a different affair, as the Wanderers were kept on the back foot having to defend for long periods.

Coupled with some luck and do or die defending, the visitors could not break their duck until the Wanderers amazingly lost a put in on their own scrum which allowed space for the Aberystwyth centre to cross.

It is difficult to single out individuals as , from number 1 to number 15, all players produced heroic defence to keep out any further scores, whilst the defining moment came when under constant pressure, Daniel Rogers took the ball in his in-goal area and set up a counter attack with Karl Evans and Mike Rees which relieved the pressure and took play into the Aberystwyth half.

The Wanderers can now reflect on a 3 week break at the mid point of the season and feel proud of their performances as they end the year in 3^rd position in the table.

FINAL SCORE

WANDERERS                                    10                    ABERYSTWYTH                   5

TRY:                                                    Rob Jenkins, Daniel Rogers

CONVERSION:                                                                     

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