Warriors (34) overcome Calvisano (25)

By Dai
December 6 2003

The Warriors managed to overcome Calvisano on Friday night although their victory was less than impressive against the Intalian side. For a report of the action as well as team and scorer details read on.

Celtic Warriors 34 - 25 Calvisano

   The Warriors entertained Italian club Calvisano at the Brewery Field on Friday night and although the Warriors won the game and picked up a bonus point the match was hardly entertaining stuff. Early pressure on the Italians led to a try for Gareth Wyatt after some good vision from Kevin Morgan floating out a pass to him which allowed him to cross in the corner.

   Sweeney, who has been questioned in the past about his goalkicking answered a number of his critics with a superb touchline conversion to open up his Warriors account. Despite a penalty from Calvisano which took the score to 7 - 3 the Warriors stuck to their task and after some patient build up play they broke from their own half and into the Calvisano 22 before some good handling skills allowed the ball to be shipped out to Dafydd James who was able to cross the line for the second try of the evening. Sweeney again added a conversion and it was beginning to look as though it was going to be an easy night for the Warriors.

   Few would have disagreed when moments after Calvisano launched an attack, Richard Parks was able to pick up  loose ball and sprint from his own half to the Calvisano 5 metre line  before being caught. The Warriors were there in numbers though and scrum half Sililo Martens was able to pass the ball to captain Gareth Thomas allowing him to dive over the line. Another conversion for Sweeney took the Warriors into a 21 -  3 lead.

   However, just when it looked as though the Warriors were about to run away with it Calvisano responded with 3 quick tries. The first came about as a result of Kevin Morgan taking a big hit after a poor pass put him in trouble. Morgan lost the ball as he took the hit and the only covering Warriorsd players were forwards who were unable to catch the Calvisano winger. The second try was a result of some good attacking play from Calvisano although Dafydd James and Kevin Morgan both had chances to bring down the attacker before getting to the line but both failed. The third and final try of the first half for Calvisano was a lucky one though - An up and under into the corner was not dealt with by Dafydd James and it appeared as though the ball was knocked on by a Calvisano hand but the Calvisano player was able to dive onto the ball over the Warriors try line to claim the try. Two of the tries were converted and as a result, the Warriors trailed at the break by 22 - 21.

   In the second half the Warriors scored quickly after a break forward allowed Ceri Sweeney to score a try which he was then able to convert himself and put the Warriors 28 - 22 up. For the rest of the half the Warriors looked to be controlling the game and two penalties late on for the Warriors ensured that Calvisano were not going to take a bonus point back with them to Italy.

Positives

There was some good attacking play from the Warriors in the first half especially and Kevin Morgan looks to be coming back to form after his latest injury. Also, a personal tally of 19 points and 6 kicks from 7 for Ceri Sweeney signaled his intention to be the number one outside half for the Warriors.

Negatives

Again, the crowd was less than impressive and the Brewery Field lacked any real atmosphere. Also, Gareth Thomas, despite leading the team to victory seemed to hold on to the ball to often rather than looking to Sonny Parker outside him. The back row still looked a little unbalanced although things are improving in the forwards.

The Warriors will have to step up a gear if they are to overcome Perpignan next weekend.

The Teams

Warriors starting XV: Kevin Morgan; Dafydd James, Gareth Thomas (c), Sonny Parker, Gareth Wyatt; Ceri Sweeney, Sililo Martens; Christian Loader, Mefin Davies, Gethin Jenkins, Brent Cockbain, Robert Sidoli, Maama Molitika, Cory Harris, Richard Parks.
Replacements: Matthew Rees, Phil Booth, Deiniol Jones, Nathan Budgett, Paul John, Neil Jenkins, Jonathan Bryant.

Calvisano starting XV: M Ravazzolo; E Mulieri, T Vodo, G Raineri, N Mazzuccato; G Fraser, P Canavosio; G de Carli, A Moretti, M Castrogiovanni, M Ngaumo, L Mastrodomenico, M Zaffiri, C Elisara, C Mayerhofler.
Replacements: D Davo, S Perugini, J Purll, A de Rossi, P Griffen, V Zullo, F Merli.

Warriors Scorers

Tries: Wyatt, James, Thomas, Sweeney

Cons: Sweeney (4)

Pens: Sweeney (2)