GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS 12 – 40 TORFAEN TIGERS

In the Conference League South Round, The Warriors slumped to their third successive defeat with a performance that mirrored the weather in going from promising to dismal.

They looked comfortable with a 12-4 lead after half an hour but the Tigers levelled the scores before the break and had little trouble in running in 28 unanswered points in the second period as the Warriors gave away cheap penalties and missed simple tackles.

The second half performance was epitomised by Corey Clarke’s try after 50 minutes. With the Tigers leading 16-12, a simple shift left found the winger in absolutely acres of space for a try that defied belief.

After that, the Warriors wasted possession and territory with reckless abandon and the Tigers finished the job with three converted tries in the last 13 minutes.

The Warriors had started well, earning a penalty in their first set and scoring on their second when Connor Jones sliced through for a try converted by Ash Lewis.

They looked comfortable at the back with Alex Hoyle safe under the high ball and incisive on the counter but there was always an opportunity for the Tigers despite their laboured approach play.

Ryan Evans went over for the visitors but the Warriors replied with a try from Archie Gibbs who accepted a kind bounce from Hoyle’s cross-kick to score and Lewis again added the extras.

However, two unconverted tries in the final five minutes of the half levelled the scores at the change of ends. Luke Brown went over for the first and Liam Silver the second, this after the Warriors had conceded three straight penalties.

Four minutes into the second period, Matt Cummins raced in almost untouched and then things began to unravel.

Clarke’s soft score was converted by Cummins who had missed all of his previous four shots at goal.

The Warriors then had a slice of bad luck when Hoyle’s challenge on Cummins for Lewis’ high kick to the goal-line was ruled illegal when it seemed that both players were genuinely going for the ball.

However, that was the last real chance the home side created and the Tigers dominated the final quarter. Silver crossed for his second, Mike Edwards forced his way over under the posts and finally Chris Wannell collected a poor clearance kick and ran in from halfway with barely a Warrior in sight to finish a really bad day at the office for the home side.

WARRIORS

Alex Hoyle; Matt Riddett, Archie Gibbs, Nico Tarantino, Darren Collier; Ash Lewis, Connor Jones (Capt.); Jerome Moore, Dale Cooper, Jake Thompson; Jamie James, Pat Hanslow; Kirk Lewis.

INTERCHANGE: Dean Cooper, Chris Faulkner, Matt Price.

Tries: Connor Jones (2), Archie Gibbs (24), Goals: Ash Lewis 2 from 2.

TIGERS

Matt Cummins; Liam Silver, Ryan Evans, Andrew Barlow, Sam Hancox; Chris Wannell, Luke Brown; Louie Pengelly, Ben Williams, Dai Powell; Jake Thomas, Micki Witts; Mike Edwards.

INTERCHANGE: Corey Clarke, Jamie Tucker, Richard Davies, Rob Davies.

Tries: Ryan Evans (18), Luke Brown (30), Liam Silver (35, 67), Matt Cummins (44), Corey Clarke (50), Mike Edwards (73), Chris Wannell (78), Goals: Matt Cummins 4 from 8.

Referee: Darren Hayes (South West RLRS).

ULTIMATE WARRIOR: Alex Hoyle.