Evans happy as Drovers sign off on a winning note

LLANDOVERY....................31 ABERAVON.........................26

LLANDOVERY head coach Euros Evans at least had a smile on his face after seeing his side end their season with a home win.

But it could have been so much better if they hadn’t slipped up in some key matches.

They were able to defeat Cardiff, Pontypridd and Merthyr at home, but lost twice to Bridgend and went down to an astonishing defeat at Cross Keys.

It meant a fourth-place finish in the end.

“It is disappointing that we didn’t get any silverware, but it has been a good season otherwise,” said Evans.

“We didn’t perform to our ability in the semi-final of the cup against Cardiff.

“When you look back on the season, losing twice to Bridgend and at Cross Keys are the reasons we aren’t close enough to Merthyr and Cardiff, although to finish fourth for a club our size is a good achievement.”

Llandovery’s Wales Under-19s cap Harri Doel helped himself to two tries and Aberavon’s Wales Under-18 captain Bradley Roderick marked his debut with a try as the youngsters shone in the sun at Church Bank.

Doel struck twice in the second half, but Aberavon battled back to ensure the game was still in the balance to the death.

Jack Maynard gave the home side the perfect start with a try that rounded off a 70-metre move and then added the conversion and a penalty. But Aberavon worked their way into the lead either side of a yellow card for home back-row man Shaun Miles.

Wing Shaun Pierce rounded off a blindside raid to score the first of his two tries and then scrum-half Dai Pritchard sniped around the narrow side of a scrum to score where Miles would have been blocking him.

Drovers prop Dino Dallavalle then broke clear and sent Kris Jones galloping to the line for a try that Maynard converted to make it 17-12 at the break. The first of Doel’s tries, a superb solo run up the right touchline, increased the lead and then he got a second after Pierce had cut a great inside line to complete his brace for the visitors.

Roderick crossed at the posts as he faithfully followed a neat chip ahead to earn Aberavon a bonus-point try.

LLANDOVERY – Tries: H Doel (2), J Maynard, K Jones. Cons: J Maynard (4). Pen: J Maynard.

ABERAVON – Tries: S Pierce (2), D Pritchard, B Roderick. Cons: C Banfield (2), J Garland.