Drovers suffer blow as Jones set to miss out
LLANDOVERY skipper Jack Jones is set to miss Saturday’s Premiership play-off final.
Jones is recovering at home after suffering a painful neck injury during his side’s 34-13 victory over Cardiff in the play-off semi-final.
Jones was carrying the ball into contact but stayed down after the challenge, which prompted concerned team-mates Dino Dallavalle and Chris Long to call referee Rhys Jones, who immediately blew his whistle to stop the game.
The Llandovery medical team, with assistance from Cardiff, raced on to the field to help Jones, who was eventually carried off the field on a stretcher after a lengthy stoppage.
Jones was in a lot of pain and he was taken to hospital as a precaution, having sustained a stinger which caused pins and needles in his arm.
Jones underwent a scan in hospital which showed no fracture, but there was nerve damage.
He was discharged from hospital at 2am on Sunday. The injury means he is almost certain to be sidelined for this Saturday’s Premiership final against Newport at Church Bank.
The Drovers go into the game looking to defend the title they won last season.
Llandovery took to social media to thank those who helped during the injury worry. A statement read: “Captain Jack Jones suffered a suspected neck injury. JJ is well and on the mend, the only result that counts.”
Llandovery finished top of the table in the Premiership but had to be at their best to beat Cardiff with a sensational individual try from rising Wales U20s star Macs Page sealing their place in the final.
Ioan Hughes and Kian Abraham also touched down.
Llandovery head coach Euros Evans has admitted his side will need to go through the gears if they are to hold onto their title.
“We will have to step up even more next weekend because the team Newport were able to put out on paper against Ebbw Vale was pretty special,” he said.
“I’m just happy that we will be playing at home in a battle between the top two teams in the league.
“They say the table never lies, and we’ve been the two most consistent teams in the league this season.”