Llandovery 18 Llanelli 14

THE Drovers beat Llanelli for the fourth time since the start of the season when they gained a narrow win in this Fosters Cup tie at Church Bank writes Huw S Thomas.

Two wins in the Premiership and now two in the Fosters Cup – all within the space of three months – were reward for a better all round game and the ability to create and take chances.

With Carmarthen Quins only drawing with Neath on the same night, it means that the Drovers have an outside chance of topping Pool one but will need to beat Neath and the Quins by big scores in their two remaining games.

As in the first Fosters Cup game between the two teams the week before, Llanelli had the better of the first half and led at the break only to be overtaken by the strong Llandovery rally.

Wet and windy conditions failed to dampen the enthusiasm of both sides and Llandovery were soon ahead through a penalty from fly half Jack Maynard.

Llanelli then dominated possession and territory but kicked a lot of ball away to let the Drovers off the hook.

Heavily penalised in tight and loose the Drovers defence was bound to falter and the pressure eventually told when wing Matthew Billett took advantage of an overlap to cross wide out.

The visitors were strong at the scrum and drove the home eight back at close range for Coleg Sir Gar schoolboy scrum half Declan Smith to claim the touchdown, fly half Billy McBryde converting for a 14-2 interval lead.

It should have been more but with the wind and rain in their favour, Llandovery struck early after the break when the referee awarded a penalty try for an obstruction on centre Rhodri Jones.

The Drovers suddenly looked a different side and some good substitutions furthered the cause, notably the introduction of 19 year old hooker Dafydd Hughes.

A strong candidate for Wales U20, Hughes tightened the scrum and with replacements Jamie Hughes and Jamie Kaijaks adding more vim to the push the Drovers dominated the tight.

Lock Colin Markham was outstanding at the line out and with the talented Hughes and flanker Shaun Miles everywhere in the loose, the Llanelli defence was under continuous pressure.

It held out valiantly but conceded penalty after penalty before eventually cracking four minutes from the end.

Scrum half Dan Brooks made a great touch line break before replacement flanker Ryan Morgans got over in the corner for full back Jamie Davies to convert brilliantly and bring the curtain down on a momentous and historic fourth win over Llanelli.