Impressive win sees Drovers issue early an warning

THEY topped the Premiership Cup West division and now Llandovery have thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the teams in Wales by kickstarting their Indigo Group Premiership campaign with a dominant display.

The Drovers continued their rich vein of form with a five-try display that put the visitors firmly in their place.

RGC are no pushovers, yet they will have learned a few harsh realities ahead of another potential meeting between the teams in the quarter-finals of the Premiership Cup at Church Bank in the new year.

“In our last couple of away games we conceded fewer than 10 penalties, yet it was 20-plus at Llandovery. That tells its own story,” said RGC head coach Ceri Jones.

“In the first half they played the conditions far better and that set them in a good position for the second half.

“We did create opportunities in that opening 40 minutes but picked the wrong option at key times and didn’t take advantage of them.

“We defended manfully at times, but you can’t defend for such large amounts of the game and not end up conceding.”

Making light of the damp conditions, the Drovers took an early lead when a patient build-up ended with flanker Iestyn Rees driving over wide out.

With the rain at their backs, RGC responded well but went further behind when a close-range line-out paved the way for centre Kristian Jones to cross for a try that was converted by fly-half Angus O’brien.

A penalty by Danny Cross reduced the deficit but a very good O’brien penalty made it 15-3 at the break, and it soon became 20-3 following a try by wing Ashley Evans, who won the race to the ball after a kick through by Rhodri Jones.

With the home pack in control, O’brien slipped through for the bonus-point try which he converted.

The North Walians’ wing Zach Clow was yellow-carded near the end, allowing replacement Rhodri Wall to wrap things up for the home side with try number five.

LLANDOVERY  Tries: I Rees, K Jones, A Evans, O’brien, R Wall. Cons: A O’brien (2). Pen: A O’brien.

RGC  Pen: D Cross.