TON UP IN CHASE FOR TOP SPOT
LLANDOVERY remain on course to pip Newport at the post in the regular Indigo Premiership after seeing off Swansea at Church Bank. The win takes Euros Evans’ double-chasing Drovers on to 100 points for the season, and just four behind the Black and Ambers – who have already completed their fixtures.
It means a bonus-point victory for Llandovery at home against Bridgend Ravens in their final regular league match on Thursday night will be enough to secure top spot.
That would also set up a play semifinal showdown with fourth-placed Cardiff and a repeat of last season’s play-off final, as the reigning champions bid to keep their hands on the Premiership trophy they secured last season before moving into the new Elite Domestic Competition (EDC) from next season.
Llandovery taking maximum points against Bridgend would also see Newport finish second and face off against Gwent rivals Ebbw Vale for a place in the final.
The side that finishes top of the pile will, of course, also have home advantage for the final should they prevail in their semi.
Llandovery were in no mood to take their foot off the gas as they saw off the Whites in their penultimate match yesterday to secure their 21st victory from 23 Premiership matches this term.
The hosts had the bonus points in the bag by the break, running in five first-half tries to lead 35-14.
They had to come from behind though after right wing Gareth J Rees’ early try which was converted by outside-half Rhys Jones.
However Swansea weren’t ahead for long; home scum-half Lee Rees was soon in for the first of his double in the opening half which Jack Maynard
improved to level the scores.
Prop Berian Watkins then scored a second try, followed by another for Drovers skipper Rees and hooker Harry Thomas, all converted by Maynard.
Full-back Brandon Wood pulled a score back for Swansea, again converted by Jones, before a second score for Thomas before the break which Maynard again converted.
Into the second half and the hosts’ sixth try was scored by Dafydd Land before right wing Kian Abraham scored a seventh Llandovery try.
Maynard successfully kicked both conversions taking the score to 49-14.
Jake Baker then grabbed a third Swansea try, converted by Jones, but the final say went to the hosts’ Taylor Davies, who grabbed an eighth, this time unconverted, try in the closing stages.