WIZARDS SEE PROUD RUN COME TO END
ABERAVON ......................... 18 LLANDOVERY ..................... 24
LLANDOVERY moved to within a point of Aberavon at the top of the WRU Premiership Cup west section as they picked up a bonus-point win at the Talbot Athletic Ground.
It came despite a furious final 10 minutes from the home side as they battled to save their unbeaten record. In the end they got close, but not close enough to take anything other than a losing bonus point out of a rousing contest.
Aberavon drew first blood when a tap-penalty from scrum-half Rhodri Cole made enough space for supporting flanker Ashton Evans to crash through. Dan Edwards added the conversion.
Despite struggling at scrum time, the Drovers were solid enough to hit back when a well-worked move behind the scrum sent left wing Aaron Warren racing home.
Edwards was wide with a 30-metre penalty before home wing Frankie Jones was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on.
Llandovery turned down three points with a kick to the corner and it brought profit when a patient buildup from the line-out ended with hooker Dafydd Hughes going over for James Garland to convert for a 12-7 interval lead.
A 40-metre Edwards penalty reduced the deficit and then his replacement Aled Thomas regained the lead at 13-12 with an angled penalty.
The lead was quickly lost, though, when a fine break by Llandovery centre Rhodri Jones sent scrum-half Lee Rees in for a converted try.
The Wizards also lost prop Nicky Thomas to the sin-bin for 10 minutes just after the hour and that added to their burden.
There was nothing between the sides and a sweeping Llandovery move gave replacement wing Callum Williams the bonus-point try.
Replacement Sam Pailor grabbed a try to bring the Wizards back to within six points but in a grandstand finish, the Drovers defended waves of attacks.
ABERAVON – Tries: A Evans, S Pailor; Con: D Edwards; Pens: D Edwards, A Thomas.
LLANDOVERY – Tries: A Warren, D Hughes, L Rees, C Williams; Cons: J Garland (2).