Maynard returns to haunt his ex-club at the death

JACK Maynard put the boot into his former club as he landed a nerveless drop goal with the last kick of the match to ensure Llandovery left with three points at the end of a real Christmas cracker.

The Drovers were forced to overcame the 17thminute dismissal of lock Jack Jones for a mindless headbutt and then had to play with 13 men for the final ten minutes after replacement forward Morgan Jones was sent to the sin-bin for pulling down a driving maul.

Yet despite all their problems, Llandovery kept on playing and were the first of the two teams to score four tries to grab the bonus point.

Dafydd Hughes, with an outrageous dummy, Corey Baldwin and the outstand Stuart Worrall all crossed in the first half and then Aaron Warren got the fourth three minutes into the second half.

It meant Cardiff, who beat Principality Premiership league leaders Merthyr last weekend, were always chasing the game.

Ben Thomas broke clean through for a first-half try and then they worked their way back into things as Llandovery tired after the break.

Ed Howley scored in the left corner, replacement hooker Joey Tomlinson scored with his first touch after coming on in the 53rd minute and then Joe Gatt was worked over in the left corner with the Drovers down to 13 men.

But Maynard had the last laugh as he landed the drop goal to level the scores.

The result means Cardiff remain in third spot in the league, six points behind Pontypridd in second and nine points off Merthyr. Meanwhile, Llandovery sit sixth in the table, nine points off Cardiff after 16 games.

The Drovers will travel to Carmarthen Quins next up after Christmas, while Cardiff ’s next game will be on New Year’s Day when they welcome Pontypridd to Arms Park.