INDIGO PREMIERSHIP REVIEW
HOOKER Taylor Davies helped himself to four tries as Llandovery crossed the whitewash seven times at The Gnoll to make it 14 straight wins in the Indigo Premiership.
The champions’ 47-10 bonuspoint victory at Neath also makes sure of their play-off spot mathematically.
The Drovers fell behind early on with Neath going ahead through a try from captain Ryan Evans, converted by Steff Williams.
But Davies hit straight back and he then scored twice further in the first half to complete his treble. Scrum-half Daf Land also went over in the first half as Llandovery took a 26-10 lead into the break. Williams kicked a penalty for the home side.
Davies grabbed his fourth after the restart before Lee Rees and then Llyr Green also touched down. All three second-half tries were converted by Jack Maynard, adding to his three first half conversions.
It completed an 18th victory from 19 for the Drovers in the league this season in their pursuit of a second title in a row.
Llandovery remain 15 points clear of both Newport and Ebbw Vale – with the latter victorious 36-13 over Bridgend at the Brewery Field.
All of the Ravens’ points came in the first half and they held the lead 13-10 at half-time thanks to a first half Iestyn Merriman try, converted by Jamin Hodgkin – who also kicked two penalties.
Scrum-half Jon Evans went over for a try in the first half for Ebbw, which Evan Lloyd also improved having earlier kicked a penalty.
Ebbw seized the lead just after half time when Lloyd’s chip through was collected by wing Ewan Bowden who did the rest, with Lloyd converting.
Lewis Young scored a third try for the Steelmen after 53 minutes, again converted by Lloyd, before they pulled away in the final quarter, with further tries scored by Harry Drane, converted by Lloyd, and new signing Reece Dunn off the bench.
Newport still have two games in hand on both Llandovery and Ebbw.
Pontypool beat Cardiff 20-13 at Pontypool Park to complete a notable league double over the Blue and Blacks to close the gap and reignite their hopes of securing a play-off spot.
Having started the season with a bang, winning seven of their opening eight games on their return to the Premiership, Pooler had only won twice in their last eight.
Pooler also suffered a points deduction that enabled Cardiff to leapfrog them into the fourth and final play-off spot.
But this result backs up their 16-9 win over Cardiff at the Arms Park at the end of October. It also sets up an interesting run-in, with Pooler, in fifth, now sitting nine points behind Cardiff – but with a game in hand.
Wing Dewi Cross put Cardiff ahead after six minutes with an unconverted try but the hosts responded.
Matthew Jarvis sent over a penalty before captain Scott Matthews broke free at the back of a driving lineout and put scrum-half Morgan Lloyd in for a try which Jarvis converted.
They led 10-8 at the break with Harrison James kicking a penalty for the visitors to close the gap.
Jarvis’ penalty on the hour extended Pooler’s lead before Peter Lloyd pounced on the ball to score after good work from winger Matthew Powell. Jarvis converted.
There was still time for Cross to get his second try and secure a losing bonus point for Cardiff.
Elsewhere Swansea won for the first time in 2024 and also recorded their first league win of the season at St Helen’s with a 12-7 defeat of Carmarthen Quins.
The game was still scoreless at half-time but Sam Matthews’ unconverted try broke the deadlock after the re-start.
The Quins hit back to lead through a Lewys Millin try converted by Harri Williams before Llien Morgan came off the bench to score a second Swansea try, converted by Rhys Jones, which ultimately proved to be decisive.
And at the Talbot Athletic Ground, Aberavon were victorious 23-17 against RGC.
Scott Delnevo, Ben Gregory and Cameron Lewis scored for the Wizards with James Davies sending over a conversion and two penalties.
Dafydd Williams and Dion Jones scored for RGC, with Sam EarlJones converting both tries and kicking a penalty.