DROVERS WIN 11-TRY CLASSIC
MERTHYR ........................... 36 LLANDOVERY .................... 43
LLANDOVERY head coach Euros Evans was a relieved man at the end of this 11-try thriller – and more than happy to hear the final whistle.
Having seen his side run rings around Merthyr in the first half, the boot was on the other foot with the wind against Llandovery in the second period.
Evans had watched his side build a 33-12 lead at the interval thanks to five fine tries. And he was even happier when they extended their lead to 28 points with a sixth try shortly after the restart.
But Craig Locke’s home side had other ideas. They battled their way back into an excellent contest and eventually got to within one score to ensure they emerged with two bonus points thanks to a sterling fightback.
“I didn’t have many fingernails left to chew by the end,” said Evans.
“Our players had only played once in two months and they were cramping up in the final quarter.
“They loved playing on the artificial surface and that allowed our backs to showcase what they can do.
“There were some great tries and we thought we were well on our way at half-time.
“But Merthyr are a very strong team and they are full of pride.
“They really came back at us and I was pretty nervous when they got back to within one score with that late penalty.”
Tries from right wing Tomi Lewis and full-back Will Thomas, both converted by Kristian Jones, made it 14 points in as many minutes for the wind-assisted visitors as they threw down the gauntlet to Locke and Co early on.
The home skipper then powered over from a line-out for a try that Gareth Thompson improved to cut Llandovery’s advantage.
The Drovers hit back immediately when lock Jack Jones drove through for his side’s third converted try.
Williams then made the running for Thomas’s second try to clinch the bonus point. A minute later centre Rhodri Jones ran in a fifth try.
A yellow card for Llandovery lock Osian Davies at a line-out gave the Ironmen the chance to flex their muscles again up front and hooker Rhys Williams picked up a second close-range score to make it 33-12 at the break.
That scoreline soon went out to 4012 after Williams swept over wide out, with Jones once again converting to leave Merthyr with a mountain to climb.
They almost reached the summit as replacement Alex Webber got a converted try back and centre Aaron Pinches ran in the bonus-point score.
Jones kicked a penalty for Llandovery before replacement Dafydd Stonelake claimed a fifth try for the home side.
With time running out, Thompson kicked a penalty to clinch a second bonus point for Merthyr and bring a wonderful game to a climax.
Llanelli’s trip to Aberavon and the game between Ebbw Vale and Carmarthen Quins were called off because of the stormy weather.
MERTHYR Tries: C Locke, R