Wanderers blow off New Year Cobwebs
Wanderers 45
Penallta 7
“Pleasing first game after such a long layoff” commented forwards coach Huw Dowden “some tightening up to be done in a few areas but all in all very happy”.
“We are in a good place when we are a little disappointed after scoring 45 points” Added head coach Paul Matthews.
“Best replacement linesman we’ve had all season” added Brian Patterson. “A very satisfying performance after the early shot in the arm of them taking the lead”.
At last, after a few weeks of frustration 2026 rugby got under way on a bright, cold afternoon at the Memorial ground. The visitors were first to shake off the new year cobwebs as they began brightly. From a lineout on halfway they moved the ball through the hands well. Recycling and returning blind they sliced through the Wanderers defence and after more good handling they crossed for the opening score of the afternoon. A touchline conversion was added 0-7. The early exchanges suggested that the Pitmen were the side at the top of the table as the home side struggled to find their gears but eventually the Wanderers backs started to show what they were about. From good lineout ball slick hands moved the ball wide and Jack Beynon was denied a score by excellent cover defence from the visitors. Back came the home side and this time Ned Bennett was denied out wide on the right wing but fortunately the referee was playing an advantage and a penalty in front of the posts allowed Gruff Ab Ieuan to open the Wanderers account 3-7. Having now settled into the work for the afternoon the home side went ahead soon afterwards. From a scrum on halfway Ab Ieuan kicked back blind against the flow of play and the ball bounced well for an onrushing captain AJ Walji who raced away to score the Wanderers first try. Ab Ieuan added the extras 10-7. Penallta responded and showed that they were a side that were happy to play rugby when the chance arose and the home side defence needed to be on its game to keep them contained. The Wanderers backs started to get a little carried away realising they were in control of the game trying to be a little over elaborate in some of their attacks when simplicity would have brought more dividend. A high tackle in midfield lead to a little dispute over the age of Mr O’Rourke which was dealt with by the referee. The new WRU policy (maybe their best and only one for some time!) of allowing small children to officiate at this level proving a huge success as the referee Master Davies had an excellent afternoon in charge receiving plaudits from the Wanderers wrinkly section (rarer than Mark Gould buying a pint!). The home side then extended their lead. After a quickly taken penalty by Steff Davies and good carries by the back row the ball was moved wide right where Ned Bennett avoided the cover defence to score in the corner. Ab Ieuan added the conversion 17-7. With the Wanderers on top, despite the best efforts of the Pitmen the game was camped firmly in the visitor’s half. As the break approached a third try was added. From a lineout on the Penallta 22 a neat off the top ball to Dylan Lawley on the peel set the second row away. He crashed through the defence to cross besides the posts. Ab Ieuan added his third conversion 24-7. Penallta had a miny revival just before the half time whistle a penalty giving them good field position. They tried a drive but it was held up and when moving the ball a cross kick went out on the full and that was the last action of the half.
The half time oranges breathed more life into the visitors as they began the half well. The Wanderers scrambled defence was called into action on several occasions to keep them at bay before the normal service of the home side on the attack resumed. Once again it was the slick handling from the home side backs that resulted in a score. Bennett joined an attack off his wing and he fed Ed Thomas. Thomas cut through the defence and raced away to the line for the bonus point try. Ab Ieuan once again added a touchline conversion to make the game safe at 31-7. Both sides started to send for fresh legs which as usual disrupts the flow of proceedings a little. One of those sets of fresh legs Kyle Bradbury, on at scrum half, who then added the 5th try. From turnover ball in midfield the Wanderers attacked out wide again. Thomas took play deep and when the defence corned him, he lobbed the ball inside to Bradbury who crossed for his first score for the club. Once again the faultless kicking tee performance from Ab Ieuan continued 38-7. With the game entering its last quarter the game started to fizzle out (words from the Wanderers head of content). Despite that Penallta were still trying to play and on a few occasions they showed how dangerous they could be often breaking through from their own 22 to put the home side under pressure. The scoring for the afternoon was ended when, from a lineout deep in the Penallta half, Dylan Lawley, whose last try before today was in 2002, powered his way over for his second try of the afternoon. Ab Ieuan finished proceedings with his 6th conversion and a successful start to 2026 was achieved. Final score 45-7.
Wanderer’s scorers
Tries: AJ Walji, Ed Thomas, Dylan Lawley (2), Ned Bennett, Kyle Bradbury
Cons: Gruff Ab Ieuan (6)
Pens: Gruff Ab Ieuan
Massiv MOM: Dylan Lawley
Management MOM: AJ Walji Special Mention: Dylan Lawley
Match Pics: https://flic.kr/ps/c7gzd