Llandovery on course for title
LLANDOVERY remain on track to pip Newport at the post in the regular Welsh Premiership after seeing off Swansea 54-21 at Church Bank.
The win takes Euros Evans’ double-chasing Drovers on to 100 points for the season, and just four behind the Black and Ambers – who have already completed their fixtures.
It means a bonus-point victory for Llandovery at home against Bridgend in their final regular league match on Thursday night will be enough to secure top spot and set up a playoff semi-final showdown with Cardiff.
The reigning champions had the bonus points in the bag by the break against Swansea, running in five first half tries followed by three more in the second.
Skipper Lee Rees and Harry Thomas both scored twice in the opening 40 minutes with prop Berian Watkins also crashing over. Dafydd Land, Kian Abraham and Taylor Davies added second half scores. Jack Maynard finished with seven conversions.
Swansea had taken an early lead through Gareth J Rees’ early try. Brandon Wood and Jake Baker also scored, with Rhys Jones converting all three tries.
Ebbw Vale completed their league season with a 16-10 home win over Pontypool and will travel to face the second placed team in the semi-finals.
Tries from Harry Rees-Weldon and Ethan Phillips, along with two penalties from Evan Lloyd, did the trick for Ebbw. Evan’s younger brother Morgan Lloyd scored Pooler’s only try to add to a conversion and penalty from the boot of Matthew Jarvis.
Meanwhile after announcing 12 players will leave the club with another four heading for retirement, Aberavon’s class of 2023 enjoyed one last dance together at the Talbot Athletic Ground yesterday.
The Wizards ran in eight tries in a 48-21 victory over Carmarthen Quins in their final Premiership match.
Chris Banfield, one of those calling it a day, scored two of Aberavon’s six first half tries as they opened up a 38-7 lead at half time with captain Joe Gage also scoring twice before the break along with Shay Smallman’s try.
Stef Andrews is one of 12 players leaving ahead of a new era for the club as they prepare for life in the EDC next season. He ran in a try in each half with Luke Davies scoring the hosts’ eighth and final try. James Davies, who is also leaving the club, kicked four conversions.
Jon Phillips, Callum Carson, Aron Hemmings, Iwan Temblett, Rhodri Cole, Aled Thomas, Chris Davies, Rhys Fawcett, Cerith Davies and Casey Williams will also depart. Rhodri Hughes, Joe Tomalin-Reeves and Jay Baker are the others retiring.
Having been on the wrong end of an 89-26 mauling at Newport in their previous outing, Bridgend bounced back by handing out a thrashing of their own – as they inflicted a 76-35 defeat on cup finalists Merthyr at the Brewery Field.
The hosts were ahead through a try by Cameron Ellis in the first minute and didn’t look back. That was one of six first half tries for the home side. It was followed up by two quickfire tries from Dafi Davies before Edd Howley bagged the bonus point with try number four on 26 minutes.
Liam Tobias and Corum Nott were also over before the break with Luke Price’s three conversions opening up a 3621 lead.
Scrum-half Connor Tantum, on his 100th appearance, then scored twice in the second half with Joe Gatt, Evan Yardley, a second for Ellis and Jack Pope also crossing the whitewash.
Price converted both Tantum tries with replacement kicker Jamin Hodgkins adding three further conversions. Ellis Shipp, Tom Hughes, Kian Evans and Ben Rhodes were among the Merthyr try scorers as they left with a bonus point.
In the other game played yesterday, Neath returned to matters on the field after missing out on the EDC but went down 35-14 to RGC in their final home league match of the season at the Gnoll.
Tom Ellis, Sam Stoddart, Sam Williams and Jordan Liney were the RGC try scorers. Sam Earl-Jones kicked two conversions and two penalties. Dion Jones also sent over a drop goal while skipper Afon Bagshaw – making a record 206th appearance for RGC – converted Liney’s bonus point winning try.
Ben Williams and Gruff Williams scored Neath’s tries, both converted by Steff Williams.