Llanelli 8 Llandovery 32

THE Drovers moved up to third place in the Premiership after doing the season’s double over their Carmarthenshire rivals writes Huw S Thomas.

The scoreline was identical to the one at Church Bank back in September, Llandovery running in four converted tries to the one converted try from Llanelli.

The defeat of Pontypridd by Bridgend has really tightened things at the top and four teams – Cross Keys, Aberavon, Llandovery and Newport – are now threatening the perennial Pontypridd dominance.

Llandovery coach Euros Evans was delighted at seeing his side get their first ever win at Parc Y Scarlets.

"To come away with a bonus point is a terrific result for the boys. It keeps us in the hunt with just under half the season gone," said Evans giving a very rare smile, "After losing our way a little in recent games, we came back to form with this win. Our problem had been our poor starts to games but we scored two good tries in the opening quarter and Llanelli were then always chasing the game."

Whereas the Drovers had started off sluggishly back in Church Bank, here they started with a bang, dominating the opening quarter and getting tries from barrel chested prop Wyn Jones and classy wing Aaron Warren, both converted by fly half Jack Maynard.

They should have had at least two more, South African lock George Earle losing the ball in the act of scoring and then wing Matthew Jacobs failing to finish off a brilliant break from scrum half Lee Rees.

To their credit Llanelli came back into the game, helped by yellow cards for Llandovery lock Bryn Griffiths and centre Rhodri Jones.

With flanker Tom Phillips particularly to the fore, the pack worked in No 8 Jack Condy for a try, converted by fly half Billy McBryde.

The game was suddenly tight but the Drovers defence in the image of their outstanding back row of Stuart Worrall, Richard Brooks and Shaun Miles tackled hard, low and relentlessly.

The sharper Llandovery backs were ready to pounce and when Llanelli frustration led to a mix up in the 22, Jacobs scooped up the loose ball to run in under the posts.

Maynard converted but then astonishingly missed a close range penalty bang in front of the posts.

It mattered little as yet another mix up in the home defence let replacement hooker Dafydd Hughes grab the ball and sprint home from 30 metres for the important bonus point.

Attention this week switched to the new Challenge Cup when the Drovers were due to entertain Carmarthen Quins at Church Bank on Wednesday night.