Drovers left to rue missed chance against champions

THE record books will show two defeats and only one point from the past two games for Llandovery, but it could – and probably should – have been so much better.

The Drovers have gone toeto-toe with the top two in the Principality Premiership in their own back yards over the past two Friday nights and not been far away in either game.

Euros Evans’s side had to make do with a losing bonus point after going down 18-16 at Sardis Road in a game they felt they should have won, before giving champions Merthyr a run for their money at the Wern.

In the end it was the Ironmen who took another step towards a third title in a row with an eighth victory on the bounce for Dale McIntosh’s men.

Wings Lewis Williams and Jay Baker, skipper Craig Locke and a penalty try were on the scoresheet for the Ironmen with full-back Matthew Jarvis – making his 100th appearance for the club – adding their other points from the tee.

Centre Ryan Evans, wing Aaron Warren and full-back Gavin Thomas scored for the Drovers.

Fly-half Jack Maynard – who last week was described as the best No. 10 in the Premiership by Pontypridd head coach Justin Burnell

MERTHYR ........................ 34 LLANDOVERY ................. 24

– converted all three tries as well as adding a penalty, but they left empty-handed.

Williams went over for the hosts early on, but minutes later Evans crossed at the other end. Both tries were converted.

Jarvis then kicked a penalty for Merthyr who led 17-7 at the turnaround with Baker going over for their second converted try.

A penalty try seven minutes after the restart saw that lead extended to 24-7, but back came the Drovers and after Warren’s converted try on 52 minutes was followed up five minutes later by a score for Thomas, they had cut the deficit to just three points.

Locke powered over on the hour mark for a try converted by Jarvis and after a penalty from Maynard, the visitors were then denied a losing bonus point by Jarvis’s kick.

Llandovery are back in action on Saturday when they make the trip to Cross Keys.

MERTHYR LLANDOVERY