Words by: Paul Hopkins
Photo by: Riley Sports Photography
The Jonathan Thomas era began in positive fashion for the All Whites as they defeated Llanelli Wanderers 31-21, in the famous rugby surroundings of Stradey Park.
The first half in particularly will have given Thomas great heart as his side dominated in all phases of the game, although after making 11 changes at half time, Swansea struggled to kick on and found things especially difficult up front.
The beginning of the match was a bit of a mishap as Llanelli Wanderers’ fly half Rhys Harries chipped out on the full, to gift Swansea a scrum on half way. Winger Liam Lloyd burst forward, with flanker Callum Bowden in support, before prop Daf Davies spotted a gap in the defence. Fly half Josh Phillips was found in support, but the ball was lost forward moments later.
Centre Jack Hoskins did well to secure a turnover, and sent fellow centre Joe Thomas racing through the middle. He chipped ahead for winger Willis Wood to chase, but the ball beat him into touch.
Phillips then kicked into the corner with a penalty, and lock Matt Dodd collected the lineout, before hooker Rhodri King was stopped just short of the line. The ball was recycled quickly though for Bowden to score the opening try. Phillips converted.
The home side were awarded a penalty when Swansea crept offside, with Harries finding touch on the 22. The home side were knocked back in the tackle and Bowden secured a turnover, with the Whites given a penalty of their own moments later.
Number eight Jacob Hopkins took a lineout and fed Thomas, who came close to adding a second try. Hopkins himself was also stopped inches short of the line, before scrum half Matthew Aubrey eased over to score. Phillips was forced to drop kick his conversion attempt wide after the ball fell off the kicking tee!
In a rare Wanderers attack, the ball was fed out to winger Jack Hart and he raced up to the 22, but the supporting number eight Callum Williams was knocked back in the tackle. Play was brought back for a penalty though and Harries kicked to the corner. A well worked lineout saw the home side spread the ball into midfield, but hooker Rhodri Owens spilled possession forward to end the move.
A powerful Whites scrum inside their own 22 resulted in a penalty being awarded. Phillips spotted a gap and fed full back Iwan Glynn, but the home side were soon back in possession.
A poor pass from scrum half Jack Moon was picked up by Glynn, who chipped ahead, before Phillips and locks Cai Arnold ad Dodd ran out from their own 22, before the home side were penalised for killing the ball.
Phillips chipped to the corner and Dodd collected the lineout to send King powering towards the line, but a determined Wanderers defence kept the ball off the ground, resulting in a turnover.
A superb 50/22 kick by Harries gave the home side a decent territorial position, but excellent work by the visitors’ pack forced a knock on.
Dodd took another lineout, with King making a break upfield, but Hoskins’ long kick was easily dealt with by full back Lewis Jones. The supporting Hart was caught in two minds though and gave away a penalty, which Phillips kicked to the corner. However, King’s lineout throw was deemed not straight.
Lloyd threatened to break clear on the wing, but the Wanderers’ defence gave away a penalty. Phillips kicked to the corner and a well taken lineout by Arnold saw flanker Oliver Jones crash over for a try. Phillips missed the conversion.
Llanelli Wanderers were awarded a penalty on half way and Harries found touch inside the Swansea 22. Lock Ryan Evans took a scrappy lineout and Harries got the ball out wide to Hart, but an excellent tackle by Lloyd saw the winger bundled into touch on the stroke of half time.
Half-time:- Llanelli Wanderers 0-17 Swansea
Despite a much changed lineup for the second half, it was a perfect start for the visitors when a miscued high kick by centre Nick Gale was taken by opposite number James Price, who raced in to score the Whites’ fourth try. Fly half Tal Rees converted.
Things got even better minutes later when a horrific pass by the Wanderers was taken by scrum half Luke Davies, who nipped in for a soft try. Rees again converted.
The home side were awarded a penalty after the Swansea men were guilty of holding on after the tackle. Gale chipped to touch and the lineout was comfortably taken, but the visitors’ managed to prevent the ball from being released at the maul.
Llanelli Wanderers finally managed to score their first points of the match on 50 minutes when prop Lewis Evans took a quick tap penalty, and centre Josh Batcup danced past a tackle, before Dion Roberts was able to take a pass and touch down in the corner. Gale converted.
The Whites were caught offside in midfield so Gale kicked into the corner with a penalty touch finder. Gale tried a crossfield kick, but it sailed into touch, although play was brought back for an earlier penalty. Prop Ellis Fackrell managed to steal the ball though and his side were able to clear.
An excellent tackle by flanker Ethan Fackrell on Callum Williams prevented the Wanderers from mounting a promising attack, and the Whites soon gained a turnover, with Aubrey clearing long.
Full back Harvey James was penalised for a professional foul after he illegally stopped a Wanderers attack. Gale chipped into touch, with Ryan Evans collecting the lineout to send Owain Davies over for a try. Gale converted.
Luke Davies made a clever dart forward and found prop Tom Crockett in support, who powered forward. Davies popped up again and found Rees, but Wanderers turned over possession. However, it was short lived as Crockett was back in possession, forcing the home side to kill the ball. Rees chipped to touch but the Llanelli side cleared.
Jones raced down the wing in a well worked move for Llanelli Wanderers, before Batcup made a break through the middle, before being held up, although he released a pass for winger Lee Watkins to score. Gale converted.
Another 50/22 kick by Gale gave the Wanderers an attacking lineout as they began to believe a major upset could be on the cards. Lock Rhys Barrow nipped in to steal possession at the lineout though, and Rees was able to clear.
A powerful home scrum drove their Whites counterparts off the ball, earning a penalty. Gale kicked to touch, but the visitors stole the ball and cleared through Rees.
Seeking a final try, James collected a missed touch finder by Gale and ran back at the home side, although Watkins managed to clear. Barrow took the resulting lineout, with Jones charging through and earning a penalty. Phillips took a quick tap and tried to use his backs, but the ball sailed into touch as the final whistle sounded.
Next up for Swansea is an even trickier friendly, away at old foes Bargoed, in which promises to be a tasty affair.
Full-time:- Llanelli Wanderers 21-31 Swansea
Llanelli Wanderers:
Tries:- Dion Roberts (50), Owain Davies (59), Lee Watkins (67)
Cons:- Nick Gale (51, 60, 68)
Swansea:
Tries:- Callum Bowden (9), Matthew Aubrey (16), Oliver Jones (37), James Price (42), Luke Davies (45)
Cons:- Josh Phillips (10), Tal Rees (43, 46)
Match facts:
Venue:- Stradey Park, Llanelli
Weather:- Cloudy, 22C
Man of the match:- Matthew Aubrey
Attendance:- 400
Llanelli Wanderers team:
15 Lewis Jones
14 Jack Hart
13 Nick Gale
12 Josh Batcup
11 Lee Watkins
10 Rhys Harries
9 Jack Moon
1 Lewis Evans
2 Rhodri Owens
3 Alex Williams
4 Jake Baker
5 Ryan Evans
6 Ben Chiffi
7 Sam Mike
8 Callum Williams
Replacements:
16 Owain Davies
17 Ryan Lloyd
18 Jonathan George
19 Lewis Clayton
20 Sianco Morgan
21 Lawrence Reynolds
22 Steff Phillips
23 Ben Harries
24 Dion Roberts
25 Evan Williams
Swansea team:
First half:
15 Iwan Glynn
14 Liam Lloyd
13 Joe Thomas
12 Jack Hoskins
11 Willis Wood
10 Josh Phillips
9 Matthew Aubrey
1 Daf Davies
2 Rhodri King
3 Ellis Fackrell
4 Cai Arnold
5 Matt Dodd
6 Callum Bowden
7 Oliver Jones
8 Jacob Hopkins
Second half:
15 Harvey James
14 Harrison Doe
13 James Price
12 Luke Davies
11 Marcus Brown
10 Tal Rees
9 Matthew Aubrey
1 Luke Rees
2 Rhodri King
3 Tom Crockett
4 Rhys Barrow
5 Chris Thompson
6 Oliver Jones
7 Ethan Fackrell
8 Jacob Hopkins