Having beaten the `Wanderers` 43pts-5pts at home in mid December, there was an air of compacency in the Laugharne camp which was to cost them dearly. The Laugharne pre-match preparations were not good either with a number of players turning up late and the `Wanderers` also having a number of influential players returning to their ranks.

 Laugharne kicked off down the slope but against a stiff breeze and conditions underfoot were good just a little slippery in places. But from the early exchanges there was a sense of urgency from the `Wanderers`play and a certain amount of lethargy from Laugharne. The `Wanderers` tried to play an expansive game at pace and it took a number of desperate last ditch tackles from Laugharne to keep them out. To their credit the Laugharne eight were dominant in the scrums and mauls, but suffered in the lineouts and were mostly second best at the ruck situation, where the `Wanderers` were able to stay on their feet and win vital `turn over` ball. In the 8th minute flyhalf I.Mayze opened the `Wanderers` account with a straight forward penalty from the 22 for a Laugharne player using his hands in the ruck. With the superior driving power of props Robert and Lyndon Jones together with hooker Martin Jones combined with the welcome return of skipper Phil Brown and Chris Thomas `in the engine room`, Laugharne did have control of the ball for the early part of the match but were unable to exploit this advantage, with the `Wanderers` defence looking suspiciously offside and fringing on a number of crucial occasions. This led to a number of bad tempered exchanges with referee Andrew Davies making a number of dubious decisions which did not help matters. In the 17th minute wing Alistair Chambers slotted over a well deserved penalty for Laugharne after a `Wanderers` player being caught offside at the ruck.

 The `Wanderers` regained the lead in the 23rd minute with a penalty in front of the Laugharne posts with a Laugharne player not releasing the ball in the tackle. Flyhalf Mayze made no mistake with the kick.

The `Wanderers` sensing that Laugharne were vulnerable away from the set piece began to switch the ball right and left as they stretched Laugharne and using good intelligent angles of running they probed at every opportunity. This pressure was to pay off with fly half Mayze taking the short pass to squeeze through despairing tackles and score their first try. To increase their lead, Mayze converted his own try to make the `Wanderers` 13pts - 3pts to the good with only a couple of minutes to half time. On the stoke of half time, wing Chambers closed the gap slightly with a penalty attempt for a `Wanderers` player killing the ball in their own 22.

 The `Wanderers` restarted the 2nd half and soon moved down the field into the Laugharne 22 where they were unlucky not to score with only the sterling defence of scrum half Adam Davies and the back row of flankers Chris McIwrick and Robin Hussellbee together with N.8 Kevin Pearce closing down the close support running of the `Wanderers` loose forwards as they threatened the Laugharne line. Again the Laugharne scrum was their saviour as scrum half Davies and flyhalf Ross Harries were able to use the wind and clear with sensible kicks. Laugharne weathered this early pressure and then began to pose questions of the `Wanderers` defence but each time the`Wanderers` bottled up the Laugharne midfield as they tried to play their own style. After 15mins into the 2nd half The `Wanderers` were awarded a penalty in their own 22 and with Laugharne expecting the clearance kick, they turned away, but were caught napping as the `Wanderers` took a quick tap penalty and started down the hill with fullback A.Thomas up in support to take the final pass to cross half way out to Laugharne`s disbelief and much to the delight of the`Wanderers` supporters. Mazye added insult to injury by converting with a good kick in difficult conditions and to take the game further away from Laugharne.

 Laugharne finally got their game into some sort of order as they capitalised on their superior scrum power and for what seemed like an eternity they were camped on the `Wanderers` 5m line as they huffed and puffed their way forward towards the try line. Eventually, with the referee getting fed up with the negative tactics employed by the `Wanderers` the penalty try was awarded. Chambers made no mistake with the simple conversion in front of the posts and closed the score to within 7 pts securing a losing bonus point for Laugharne. With time running down, the `Wanderers` did launch one final assault from the restart, but the Laugharne defence held firm to full time.

 Next week Laugharne play a rearranged match at Cwmgors K.O 1-30pm. Travel arrangements to be sorted in the week.

 Alun Jenkins Team Manager  laugharne R.F.C.