DRAGONS EDGE OUT WARRIORS
LLANELLI Warriors went down 2717 to Dragon All-Stars in a feisty encounter at Parc y Scarlets.
Although it was a bright day and a good surface, there was a strong wind throughout which hampered play somewhat. The Warriors have had an enforced break recently and were a bit rusty at the start, while their Gwent-based visitors were quickly into their stride.
Using their large pack to carry the bal, they pounded the Warriors line and got an early reward when Rob Nicholls powered over.
The pressure was relentless in the first quarter and it was only staunch defence on the line that kept the Warriors in the game at this point. But it was inevitable that another score would come, and Callum House again used route one to the line.
When the Warriors did get the ball, they gave an indication of what they could do. Jamie Evans made a magnificent break from his own line and when the cover finally reached him, Simon Day was able to latch onto a kick through to score under the posts.
It was a strange game in that little rugby was played in the middle of the field, with either one side or the other seemingly always on the point of scoring. The Warriors finished the half strongly but couldn’t get over the line as the Dragons frustrated them with Gary Thomas doing well.
Excellent referee Colin Saunders had to be on point when things got heated and the physicality saw a number of injuries. Dragons scrumhalf Dan Evans did well, while there was a good battle on the wings between Ryan Pyart and Callum Hodges and Warriors’ Tom Ashour and Simon Day.
Tomos Hall was again excellent for the Warriors and Darren Pollitt got stuck in.
Chad Carr claimed the next score to keep the Dragons in front, but as the game progressed the Warriors backs came into their own. Scrumhalf Craig James sniped through and centre Johnathon Kearney rounded off a strong move.
At the other end the visitors were gifted a score when Evans lost the ball in a tackle, with Mark Hodges scoring and Dan Evans converting.
The Warriors pressed to the end, but when the Dragons broke out and Ryan Mahoney scored it was a done deal and the Gwent team saw out the last few minutes to secure victory.
The Warriors will rue their malfunctioning line-out, but had no complaints with the result. Both sides enjoyed the Scarlets match against Zebre together and will meet again on April 29 at the Principality Stadium.