Warriors aim for glory
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Saturday 2 May 2009
SWINDON St GEORGE 04 – 66 GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS
The Gloucestershire Warriors will travel to Coventry Bears in their opening Co-operative Rugby League Conference match next weekend in good heart following this twelve-try thumping of a brave but out classed Swindon side on a warm day in Wiltshire.
The Warriors were able to field a powerful side with plenty of pace and the newcomers were guided well by the experienced players. “We played well pretty much throughout”, said coach Tom James. “We kept to our structure well and took our chances. I was pleased that we didn’t over-elaborate as we have done in the past in such situations. It was a good day for us although Coventry will be a tougher test than today.”
The Warriors took little over a minute to start the scoring as James Day skinned the defence for the first of his hat-trick of tries and Danny Poulton converted from in front of the posts.
James Comber stretched over for the Warriors’ second converted try five minutes later but Swindon were giving as good as they got. After a try was chalked off for a forward pass, Ben Bridson just managed to hold onto a pass to cross for the Dragon Slayers’ only score of the day.
The Warriors crossed four more times in the second quarter of the game to make the result safe. Day and Comber added their second scores and Ronnie Haines and Ed Stallard also crossed as Swindon’s errors were ruthlessly punished.
The half time break gave Swindon little respite as the Warriors soon got back on the scoresheet with Mike Venn powering through for a quickfire brace. The half century was reached when Paul Scott ran through a hole in an outnumbered home defence for the Warriors’ ninth try.
Minutes later, Dan Garbutt’s powerful surge saw him score and, from the restart, Poulton was put clear for a try to add to his eight conversions. Again the Warriors struck from the restart Neys Schreiner’s well-timed pass sent Day haring down the wing for his third try to which he added the goal.
Sadly, a serious injury to Swindon’s Mike Thorpe caused the game to be halted early but by then, both sides had found out all they needed to know for the season ahead.
Teams:
SWINDON St GEORGE: Andy Reader, Barry Rabone, Richard Nicks, Michael Thorpe, Imani Bryan, Milo Hartley, Josh Haynes, Richard White (Capt.), Gareth Davies, Terry Martin, Paul Waite, Ben Bridson, Danny Morgan. Replacements: Liam Davies, Martin Wakeley, Lee Patterson, Paul Gibbin, James O’Neil.
Scorers: Tries; Ben Bridson (13). Conversions; Michael Thorpe 0 from 1.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS: Tom James, Ed Stallard, Paul Scott, Steve Barnes, James Day, Danny Poulton, Chris Furze, Ken Stone, Neys Schreiner, Matt Hurdle, Mike Venn, James Comber, Ronnie Haines (Capt.). Replacements: Steve Penfold, Jake Bacon, Dan Garbutt, David Potter.
Scorers: Tries; James Day (1, 17, 56), Jimmy Comber (7, 24), Ronnie Haines (20), Ed Stallard (27), Mike Venn (44, 47), Paul Scott (49), Dan Garbutt (53), Danny Poulton (54). Conversions; Danny Poulton 8 from 11, James Day 1 from 1.
Referee: Melvin Bettridge (Southern RLRS)
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Chris Wilson
Media Manager, Gloucestershire Warriors RLFC
Tel: +44 (0)1684 850903
Mobile: + 44 (0)7905 931033
Email: gloswarriors2004@aol.com
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The Gloucestershire Rugby League is an organisation for local rugby league clubs in Gloucestershire. Our main activity currently is to promote rugby league through the County and give useful information about our sport to the public of Gloucestershire.
