Llanelli Wanderers Rugby Football Club

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

Newcastle Emlyn v Llanelli Wanderers 08/04/06 

On a sunny but breezy afternoon, the Wanderers travelled into the Teifi valley and managed to hold out for a hard fought 27 points to 26 victory.

From the early exchanges it was evident that it was going to be a game between the bigger home pack and the pacey Wanderers three-quarters, with each side sharing a penalty apiece early on.

The Wanderers showed their intent when Stefan Rogers made a break out of defence and found wing Mark Cook in support only for the move to break down with a penalty to Wanderers on half way, converted by Shaun Thomas. The Wanderers were attempting to play the game at pace with continuity, whilst the home side were intent on making it a forward battle.

A speculative kick from the home side found the Wanderers defence wanting as it was gathered for an unopposed try and conversion from wide out.

The Wanderers hit back with an excellent piece of individual skill from Mark Cook who stood his opposite number up in his own 22 and when he was stopped 10 metres from the home line, centre Daniel Rogers was on hand to cross.

Two further penalties were shared for the Wanderers to lead 14 -13 going into the break.

Newcastle Emlyn regained the lead with a penalty within 2 minutes of the restart but the Wanderers hit back within minutes from a basic set piece the ball moved along the three-quarters for wing Karl Evans to cross out wide.

On 20 minutes the Wanderers increased their lead further and were beginning to look in total control of the game. However, the home 8 finally got in position from a lineout, and with a catch and drive, powered their way over for the score.

Wanderers hit back yet again, when Daniel Rogers ghosted past his opposite number for what is becoming his trade mark score and to give the Wanderers a 27 – 21 lead with 10 minutes remaining.

It was from this point on that the game was turned on its head as the power of the home 8 put the Wanderers under increasing pressure and from a series of scrums and penalties they crossed for a try. Luckily it was out wide and the conversion failed.

For the remainder of the game the home side exerted tremendous pressure in making every endeavour to snatch the lead which they looked like doing in the dying seconds when a missed tackle allowed the wing to progress up to half way. His kick ahead looked as if it was going to be re-gathered, only for Daniel Rogers to appear from no where and save the day.

Credit must go to Newcastle Emlyn for their efforts in trying to snatch the game, and the Wanderers for some resolute defending against a rampant home 8, in the final 10 minutes.

Both sets of supporters had certainly been kept on tender-hooks right up the final whistle in a game which had swung both ways and was a great advert for Division 3 rugby. 

FINAL SCORE

 NEWCASTLE EMLYN                      26                    WANDERERS                                    27

 TRY:                                                    Karl Evans, Daniel Rogers (2).

 PENALTY:                                          Shaun Thomas (4)

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