Llandovery 24 Neath 22.

THE Drovers followed up their 80-8 Premiership win over Neath at the Gnoll with this Fosters Cup win over the Welsh All Blacks at Church Bank

writes Huw S Thomas..

With Carmarthen Quins having already won the West pool of the Fosters Challenge Cup, Llandovery used this “dead” game to successfully blood a number of youngsters.

The Drovers made 12 changes from the side that had won 5 days before and the game was predictably much more closely contested.

In many ways the Fosters Cup win was the more impressive as Neath fielded a side of equal strength whilst the majority of Drovers had made limited appearances.

The pack must take a lot of credit for the win.

The likes of Bradley Davies, Scott Jenkins, Jamie Kaijaks, Matthew Moore, Luke Waller and Colin Markham and Jamie Hughes were solid in the tight and lively in the loose against far more experienced forwards.

The wizened experience of Steffan Jones, Jonny Griffiths, Roy Jones and Lee Beach offered the young forwards a real challenge and they came through it with flying colours.

They shared enough possession to give the home backs plenty of opportunities to run and none did better than new recruit Lex Botha who marked his home debut with a fine second half solo try to win the match.

The former Natal Sharks U21 wing scored a similar try against Neath on the Friday and looks set to challenge for a permanent first XV place.

The game opened well for the visitors when their more experienced and heavier pack forced a penalty try after Llandovery had lost prop Bradley Davies to the sin bin.

Centre Craig Woodall nearly got Llandovery on the scoreboard only to be caught by the cover but he atoned when he sliced through for a try under the posts, fly half James Davies converting.

The home backs were a real danger with Woodall, Rhodri Wall and Botha prominent and Neath also entered into the spirit of things by moving the ball smartly in a free flowing game.

Hooker Aled Morris put the All Blacks back into the lead with a corner try to make it 14-8 at half time. 19 year old prop Jenkins bullocked through soon after the break and with Davies converting Llandovery were ahead.

It was not for long as a loose pass was hacked on by Neath for replacement scrum half Ryan Jones to touch down, replacement fly half Iwan Evans converting.

Both sides strove hard for the vital score and when Neath replacement scrum half Ryan Jones was yellow carded for stamping, Botha sped away for a fine solo try, Davies converting to seal an outstanding win for the young squad.

The Drovers will be at full strength this Saturday, March 26, when they are away to Carmarthen Quins in a Premiership game that they must win to keep their hopes of a top three play off spot.