Superb Drovers put an end to Ponty’s title ambitions
EUROS Evans was purring after watching his Llandovery side punish Pontypridd with a seventry victory.
The Drovers produced some of their finest rugby of the season in what was perfect preparation for their WRU National Cup semifinal against Cardiff at The Gnoll on Saturday.
“It was a good performance and we deserved to win,” said Llandovery head coach Evans.
“It will be hard to win the league. Our home record is strong which gives us a lot of confidence to win the games we’ve got left.”
A brace of tries from Aaron Warren along with a penalty try and scores from Ricky Guest, Kristian Jones, Rhodri Jones and Richard Williams were enough to secure an emphatic victory for Llandovery.
All Pontypridd could muster were three tries from Joel Raikes, Chris Dicomidis and Alex Knott.
The hosts grabbed the opening try when Warren crossed after crisp handling by his inside backs.
But the visitors hit back with a try against the run of play, outside-half Ben Jones slicing open the defence before offloading to Raikes, who scored.
Dicomidis grabbed Pontypridd’s second as he galloped over after a well-timed pass from Knott. But Guest hit back with a try off the back of a line-out for the Drovers before full-back Gavin Evans put Jones over at the corner.
Llandovery dominated the second half, with Jones, Warren and Williams crossing on top of the penalty try.
Pontypridd captain Dafydd Lockyer has admitted his side’s title hopes are over.
Despite having two games in hand on their rivals, Justin Burnell’s side are 17 points behind Premiership leaders Merthyr.
“If I am being brutally honest I think that’s it for us because I can’t see Cardiff or Merthyr slipping up much,” said Lockyer.
“We’ve just got to try to get as many points as we can to try and maybe finish third.
“I don’t think we’re going to be challenging for honours at the end of the season. About a month ago everything was in our hands and we were going for the cup and the league. But within two weeks we’re out of both.”