Defiant Drovers put their hands up ahead of last-four Wizards showdown
EBBW VALE ....................... 27 LLANDOVERY ................... 15
A MUCHCHANGED Llandovery suffered defeat in this Indigo Premiership game at Eugene Cross Park, writes Huw S Thomas.
With an eye on Premiership Cup Saturday’s semi-final against Aberavon, coach Euros Evans rested all his front-line players and had a bench full of on-permit players.
But his skeleton side did him proud.
They looked to be in real trouble at the interval when they trailed 17-0.
But to their credit, they came right back into the game after the break to run in three tries to come just short of claiming two bonus points.
Back-rowers Marco Dallavalle and Lloyd Pike, along with prop Liam Tobias were prominent. Behind the scrum, fly-half James Garland and centres Rhodri Wall and Craig Woodall went through a huge amount of work.
“To front up to the recognised physicality of Ebbw Vale and outscore them 15-10 in the second half tells us a lot about their character,” said Evans.
“Better sides than this have ended up well beaten here so I have nothing but praise for all 23 players used.
“A number of players put up their hands for a place in next week’s squad for the semi-final against Aberavon and selection will be tricky.”
Two first-half tries from scrumhalf Matthew Flanagan and centre Joe Westwood, plus seven points from the boot of fly-half Evan Lloyd, established a seemingly comfortable 17-0 home lead.
And with the loss of hooker Ricky Guest, who was sent off for punching along with Ebbw wing Matthew Powell just before the break, things looked black for the visitors.
But Wall plunged over wide out and although Lloyd kicked a penalty after Llandovery transgressed at a scrum, Wall claimed his second after a Garland probe to make it 20-10
Aaron Warren was denied a try after a fine cover tackle from wing Joe Thomas, and just when it looked as if Llandovery might yet create a shock win, a momentary lapse in concentration let replacement prop Lewis Kinsella in.
But the Drovers had the last word when a patient build-up worked in replacement wing George Thomas in the corner.