After a four week lay off due to unplayable pitches Laugharne re-emerged into the league with an emphatic win against strugglers Llanelli Wanderers. To all intents and purpose the Wanderers had nothing to gain from this match having been penalised by the union for failing to turn up for the same fixture back in September.

 Laugharne kicked off against a slight breeze and were soon encamped in the`Wanderers` half. In the 3rd minute young lock Chris Thomas pinched the ball from a `Wanderers` lineout and with scrum half Adam Davies delivering the fast service, flyhalf Ross Harries was through the gap and making the space to put the alert and ever improving centre Nick Thomas in at the posts. Wing Alistair Chambers made no mistake with the simple conversion attempt.

 Laugharne were looking good in the early exchanges and were determined to build on their lead which they did in the 10th minute. The ball was moved quickly to the right with skipper Phil Brown leading his pack by example. The ball was set up in midfield on the `Wanderers` 10m line and with the ball going left flyhalf Harries threw a long pass into the grateful hand of prop Robert Jones who with a deft hand passed on to lock Brown who had the presence to find fullback Shaun Lynch who had a little of work to do before grounding the ball in the corner for Laugharne`s 2nd try which this time went unconverted.

 Despite their problems the Wanderers battled hard and did not give ground to the rampant Laugharne play with scrum half Davies and flyhalf Harries orchestrating much of their game. In the 30th min Laugharne increased their lead. Wing Mark Stephenson started the move by gathering the ball just inside the `Wanderers` half and then running infield before being stopped. From the set up and with a long pass by Harries the ball reached fullback Lynch who passed onto centre Deiane Thomas who had time and space to do a scissors with wing Chambers who was closing in on the `Wanderers` line. The `Wanderers` were penalised for not releasing the man in the tackle and `quick as a flash` scrum half Davies had tapped the ball and was giving flanker Mark Jones the space to crash over for Laugharne`s 3rd try which was converted by Chambers.

From the restart, Laugharne quickly increased their lead, with prop Robert Jones gathering the ball who then released flyhalf Harries who broke straight through the `Wanderers` weak defence and after running for 50m found centre Nick Thomas on his shoulder to take the final pass to crash over near the posts giving Chambers the easy conversion and take Laugharne to a 26pts -0pts lead. Laugharne were still not finished as their powerful front row of prop Jones and fellow prop Richard Davies and hooker Martin Jones were in commanding form. Beneath the `Wanderers` posts they together with the drive from locks Brown and Thomas and No.8 Kevin Pearce they pinched the ball from a `Wanderers` put in. From the ensuing break down, prop Jones was driven over for Laugharne`s 5th try with the support of skipper Brown and flanker Robin Hussellbee

The score of 33pts -0pts in Laugharne`s favour at half time was more than satisfactory after the long lay off and to their faithful supporters who had come out on a bitterly cold afternoon it was meant to be a second half to savour.

 Unfortunately, Laugharne failed to turn up in the 2nd half. With the game more or less won, they played the game with little conviction by over complicating their play. Far too many players became individualistic by not playing the team game and played into the `Wanderers` hand. This was to briefly cost them as the`Wanderers` sneaked a try by flanker S. Park after some woeful Laugharne defensive play. This set back galvanised Laugharne as they were stunned by this wake up call. From a good forward platform in the `Wanderers` 22, scrum half Davies released his half back partner Harries who set off with a double dummy with centres Thomas and Thomas before passing to fullback Lynch who entered the line and then had the composure to race to the `Wanderers` line for an unconverted try.

 Laugharne continued to threaten but were rudderless at times as the `Wanderers` posed problems of their own and were not giving up without a fight. Finally Laugharne put a little more structure into their game. From a loose play just outside the `Wanderers` 22 flyhalf Harries popped a short pass into the hands of flanker Jones who using good upper body strength brushed tacklers in his wake as he drove finally to the line for the final try which went unconverted.

 Laugharne needed a game such as this to` blow the cobwebs away` as their next game next Saturday is away to Ammam United which will be a far stiffer challenge.

 Team coach to leave Grist square at 12-15pm

 

Alun Jenkins     Team Manager   Laugharne R.F.C.