Neath 34 Llandovery 14

A YOUNG and inexperienced Llandovery were no match for Neath in this Fosters Challenge Cup game at the Gnoll writes Huw S Thomas.

Fielding a side that was far removed from the one usually on duty in the Premiership, the Drovers lacked their usual spark and fluency but the coaching set up of Euros Evans, Simon Davies and Gareth potter were phlegmatic in defeat.

"We have used our two games in the Challenge Cup to give youth its head and both we as coaches and they as players have learned a lot from the two games played so far," said Davies.

"To come to the Gnoll and face a rugged Neath side can only be good for their development and such tests will only serve to strengthen the depth of the squad for the rest of the season. We lost it in the first half when crucial missed tackles let them come pouring through at us and we also bombed some promising chances within distance of their line."

The Drovers had plenty of possession and territory but were let down by poor tackling against a Neath side that had a solid set piece and more direct runners behind the scrum.

The Welsh all Blacks scored three tries in the first half through outstanding hooker Ieuan Dobbs, darting scrum half Reuben Morgan-Williams and flanker Leon Ward.

Centre Craig Woodall ran hard for Llandovery’s only try but others around him lacked the composure to finish off one or two good try scoring chances.

It was 20-6 at half time and this soon became 28-6 in the 46th minute when lock James Griffiths secured the bonus point for Neath.

When Griffiths was yellow carded soon after, excellent referee Dai Cambourne was subject to some vitriolic foul mouthed attacks from a small section of the crowd.

With a raft of changes, Llandovery looked more their old selves and flanker Andy Green got a try back, well converted by fly half Shaun Marshall to make it 28-14.

The Drovers sniffed an unlikely come back if they could get another quick try but when replacement wing Rhys Gealy was put well away up the left touchline his kick ahead agonisingly rolled out of play a metre out.

With that chance gone, the leeway proved too great to make up and it was no surprise to see Neath get another try at the death through replacement Lewis Evans and serve to spoil veteran lock Bryn Griffiths’s 100th appearance in a Llandovery shirt.

The Drovers return to league action this Saturday when they entertain Cardiff - KO 2.30pm.