Drovers remain unbeaten

The Drovers again secured a bonus point win as they ran out 32-22 winners at Church Bank to stay top of the table. It was Llandovery’s sixth straight bonus point win of the season as they outscored their Scarlets rivals by four tries to one.
 
Some great running rugby from both sides – true to the tradition of old Stradey Park – was fine entertainment for Llandovery and Llanelli supporters alike and it was a run of three converted tries in six minutes in the middle of the second half that got the Drovers home.
 
The bulkier Llanelli forwards had a clear edge in the contact area in a rather scrappy first half and full back Jordan Williams put the visitors 6-0 up courtesy of two penalties. Only a tremendous cover tackle by wing Chris Knight prevented Llanelli scrum half Justin James from increasing the lead. Fly-half James Garland reduced the deficit with an easy penalty but the gap soon returned to six points with Williams’s third penalty after 35 minutes.
 
A Llandovery kick ahead then brought dividends when centre Adam Warren took advantage of a wicked bounce to cross wide out for the first try of the game. And another Williams penalty gave the visitors a just about deserved 12-8 lead at the break.
 
Llanelli’s Williams and Llandovery flanker Phil Day were both sin binned for infringements in what was a fiercely competitive contact area. Llanelli then got a mammoth boost when fly half Owen Williams kicked a penalty from his own half but the Drovers replied in brilliant fashion with forwards and backs handling fluently.
 
Prop Owen Evans crashed over for a try which was converted by replacement Cerith Rees, before a sweeping attack involving impressive centres Jack Roberts and Warren worked in lock Shaun Jones for another converted try to make it 22-15. Diminutive full back Lee Rees then hared up the left before cross kicking to see flanker Shaun Miles pick up and drive over for the bonus point try.
 
Warren was yellow carded as Llanelli threw everything into attack in a wonderfully free flowing and entertaining game and the visitors got a consolation try from wing Kristian Phillips but not before Rees had put Llandovery out of sight with a late penalty.