Dogged Drovers set sights on second

LLANDOVERY welcome Llanelli to Church Bank in their final game of the season this afternoon knowing a bonus-point victory will see them snatch second spot in the Principality Premiership.

The Drovers, in third, go into the match four points behind second-placed Pontypridd while Euros Evans’ in-form side are on a five-game winning run.

They are also unbeaten on home soil this season.

Llanelli, meanwhile, are also on a good run themselves having won their previous three matches.

“It’s nice having something to play for,” said Drovers head coach Evans.

“Merthyr were always going to be a tough nut to crack but to finish second would be a great achievement for a club of our size.

“It won’t be an easy game against Llanelli, far from it.

“Both teams like to play so I’m sure it’ll be a great spectacle.”

It’s the fourth meeting between the clubs this season and third at Church Bank.

Llandovery won both meetings home and away in the first phase of the Premiership before Christmas and were also victorious when the sides met in the second round of the WRU National Cup.

The only other remaining fixture in the Premiership is also today and sees Bargoed locking horns with RGC 1404.

Basement boys Bargoed will be looking to secure at least a point that would see them leapfrog Neath while a bonus-point victory would also take them above Swansea.

Meanwhile RGC, currently fifth, can themselves finish above fourth-placed Carmarthen Quins by taking maximum points.

It’s the first meeting between the sides this season.

Gogs fly-half Danny Cross said: “It is important to end the season with a win – and the fact we can get into the top four is a big incentive for us.

“It’s about putting in a good away performance and looking at the job in hand and, once the 80 minutes is gone, then we can look back at the season and assess it as a whole.

“We have been working on our accuracy and being more clinical when we get into key positions, which let us down at times against Newport last week.”

■ PONTYPRIDD’S Sardis Road ground will host the Student Rugby League Home Nations Championships in July.

All the matches played on a round-robin basis between Wales, England, Ireland and Scotland will take place at the venue from July 17-22.