DROVERS’ VICTORY IS A TRIBUTE TO WALKER

THE Church Bank holiday crowd was shaken by the news of the death of Llandovery’s former 2007 Cup winning lock Tom Walker who passed away from complications of a spinal tumour on Thursday at the age of 37.

Former Drover and current Quins club captain Haydn Pugh partnered Walker in the second row in many of the Llandovery games and he and all 46 players stood silent in memory of the North Walian who played 164 games for the club.

There followed a rumbustious Tywi Valley derby which deservedly went the way of the Drovers. The home victory clinched second place in the West Conference for the Drovers behind the leaders RGC 1404.

It means that they will carry seven points forward into the post Christmas 14 strong Premiership with the Quins carrying forward six points.

Pre-match fears were that the Quins pack would be too strong, but the Drovers forwards under No.8 Richard Brooks fought tigerishly.

The Drovers were ahead inside a minute when fly-half Jack Maynard kicked a 30-metre penalty and four minutes later Maynard repeated the feat for a 6-0 lead.

It soon became 9-0 just after Quins scrum-half Aron Hemmings was yellow-carded for interfering with a tap penalty from Lee Rees, Maynard putting over a kick from 40 metres.

Full-back Rhys Jones was held up on the Quins line, but a minute later he cut a fine angle to grab the first try of the day, Maynard converting from an easy position.

The visitors looked rattled in the face of the early Llandovery onslaught, but gradually came back into the game in the second quarter,

But Maynard kept the scoreboard ticking over with a couple of straight penalties to take the Drovers into the interval clear-cut leaders at 22-0.

Outstanding flanker Lewis EllisJones then caught a Quins chip ahead to race all of 40 metres for a great try, converted by Maynard.

Quins at last got on the scoreboard when hooker Torin Myhill went over from a line out drive, replacement fly-half Jac Wilson converting and this gave the visitors huge confidence.

With replacement prop Javan Sebastian making a big difference at scrum and maul, a penalty try soon made it 29-14 in the 59th minute.

Llandovery suddenly looked vulnerable up front and it took a great bit of covering from wing Lee Williams to prevent a try.

A yellow card for prop Llyr Green put more pressure on the Drovers and a Maynard tackle saved another Quins try before the Quins’ rally finally fizzled out.