Llandovery kept on the heels of league leaders Ebbw Vale with a double point bonus victory over Pontypool under the Church Bank lights, writes Huw S Thomas.

It was their sixth win in eight outings and takes them back into second spot in the SRC table, leapfrogging Carmarthen Quins in the process.

Their five tries take the season’s tally to an impressive 36, a statistic tempered by a concession of 32 - four tries per game.

Coach Euros Evans made 10 changes from the side that had lost 37-28 to Cardiff at the Arms Park and included 20-year-old lock Harry Holden in the starting line-up for the first time.

The Lampeter product - a former Christ College pupil - marked his appearance with a brace of tries, the first with a galloping 20 metre run, the second when forcing his way over from close range.

Outstanding as he was, he was outshone by prop Gabe Hawley and No 8 Joe Powell, both of whose work rate and presence in tight and loose were the features of the game.

Hawley scrummaged and carried with great relish whilst the all-round excellence of Powell underlined - once again - his crucial value to the fortunes of the Drovers over the years.

Forced to move from No 8 to lock after the early injury to Chris Long, Powell ran, tackled, covered, supported, gathered restarts and won important line-outs to cap a fine display of forward play against a rough, tough Pooler pack.

Behind the scrum, there was an eye-catching performance from wing Kian Abraham who not only ran in the first and last of Llandovery’s tries but who did some great try-saving back-field covering.

In full back Carrick McDonough, the visitors had a player of blistering pace and Abraham had to use all his speed and footballing instincts to keep him out at times.

Home full back Jack Maynard also had a good day in putting all five conversions and three penalties in a faultless display of goal kicking.

His 19 points took the 31-year-old to 1,782 points in 210 games, a record that is even more noteworthy when considering spells away from the club at Bedwas and Cardiff.

A terrific finish from Abraham to end slick handling and running from the back line got an early lead before Pooler replied with a fly half Harri Ford penalty and conversion of a No 8 Morgan Allen try made by the lightening McDonough.

It was the only time that Pooler would be ahead as the Holden run and eight points from Maynard made it 20-10 at the interval.

Holden was again on the scoreboard from close range and when Pooler lost their abrasive flanker Scott Matthews to the sin bin, hooker Cameron Lewis finished off persistent forward drives for a 32-10 lead.

Multiple substitutions affected Llandovery rhythm and the dogged visitors got two converted tries back from hooker Aneurin James and flanker Ryan Jones.

But the Drovers shook themselves back into shape when flanker Osian Davies with the tackle and replacement scrum half George MacDonald with the powerful ball rip allowed Abraham to run in near the posts.

The last word was with the immaculate Maynard, his third penalty sealing maximum points for the back-to-form Drovers.

Fifth-placed Aberavon are the visitors to Church Bank this Friday (KO 7:30pm). Before then, leaders Ebbw Vale entertain third placed Carmarthen Quins on Thursday.

Tries: K Abraham (2), H Holden (2), C Lewis

Cons: J Maynard (5)

Pens: J Maynard (3)

Tries: M Allen, A James, R Jones

Cons: K Meek (2), H Ford

Pen: H Ford

Llandovery: J Maynard; K Abraham, Adam Warren, R Jones, Aaron Warren; I Hughes, L Rees (capt); J Hughes, C Lewis, G Hawley, C Long, H Holden, O Davies, J Powell, J Evans

Replacements: T Phillips, F Thomas, J Pritchard, T Curry, G Watkins, E Sheldon, S-J Jones, G MacDonald

Pontypool: C McDonough; I Duggan, I Evans, J Mahoney, M Jones; H Ford, M Lloyd; G Tuckley, A James, K Williams, J Davies, D Hill, S Matthews, M Allen (capt), R Jones

Replacements: E Burrows, J Wisniewski, K Best, L Riley, E Minto, L Franklin, K Meek, R Cole