Another double bonus point win under the Church Bank lights allowed the Drovers to solidify second spot in the SRC table and keep tabs on leaders Ebbw Vale, writes Huw S Thomas.

They trail Ebbw by three points but go 10 points clear of third-placed Carmarthen Quins and with exactly half of the season gone, now look in good position for a top four spot and a resulting favourable draw in the end of season play-offs in April.

Recording their seventh win out of nine matches, they resisted the usual firm challenge from the ever-competitive and belligerent Wizards.

The visitors contributed to their own downfall by conceding penalties for an array of offences, their questioning of experienced referee Ben Whitehouse’s decisions being a notable one.

The Aberavon forwards competed hard at the breakdown and had speed behind in the image of wing Cori Lewis-Jenkins to worry Llandovery, but their supply of ball was limited and the Drovers were good value for their win.

Lock Joe Powell and No 8 Osian Davies had outstanding games in the line-out and loose, as did the young Scarlets front row of Josh Morse, Harry Thomas and Gabe Hawley in the tight, before being replaced in the second half.

Thomas got a brace of tries at the end of line-out-inspired rolling mauls, while both props carried well and scrummaged hard against wizened old campaigners in Jordan Walters and Geraint James.

The Drovers should have been ahead at half-time by far more than five points, given their lion’s share of possession, but a combination of wrong options, strong Aberavon defence, and sharp counter attacking made it just 12-7.

A terrific dodging run up the left touchline by very much in-form wing Kian Abraham made a try for hugely promising flanker Tiaan Sparrow – his sixth touchdown in as many games - but when Llandovery sloppily lost possession in attack, centre Joe Gage raced away. He found Frankie Jones in support and the wing showed a turn of pace to outstrip home cover for a try converted by fly half Keillan Cullen

From a scrum, the dashing Abraham swept through off a smart well-planned midfield move and slick handling by his fellow backs sent Jack Maynard over, the full back kicking the conversion and a penalty to keep the Drovers ahead at the break

In the third quarter of the game, two close range scores from hooker Thomas were both converted by Maynard who added another penalty after a powerful shunt from the Llandovery front row.

When replacement scrum half Jayden Grey was yellow carded for questioning refereeing decisions, Aberavon’s goose looked cooked at 27-7 but their big forwards under burly No 8 Ashton Evans had enough puff left in them to work in replacement centre Felix Gilbert .

Home fly half Ioan Hughes was yellow carded for a blatant offside in the build up to the converted try but there was still time for his replacement fly half Steffan - Jac Jones - to kick the latest of penalties to put 16 points between the sides and clinch maximum points.

Fast improving Newport - who are the defending SRC champions and who beat Pontypool 27-17 on Friday night- are the next visitors to Church Bank this coming Saturday afternoon for what is sure to be an unmissable match.

Llandovery

Tries: H Thomas (2), T Sparrow, J Maynard

Cons: J Maynard (3)

Pens: J Maynard, S-J Jones

Aberavon

Tries: F Jones, F Gilbert

Cons: K Cullen (2)

Llandovery: J Maynard; K Abraham, Adam Warren, R Jones, N Bennett; I Hughes, L Rees (capt);J Morse, H Thomas, G Hawley, J Powell, H Haldon, D Gemine, O Davies, T Sparrow

Replacements: J Hughes, C Lewis, B Watkins, K Jones, E Sheldon, G Watkins, S-J Jones, L Setaro

Aberavon : S Delnevo; C Lewis-Jenkins, B Roderick, J Gage (capt), F Jones; K Cullen, C Carson-Jones; J Walters, G Merritt, G James, S Smallman, L Marsh, A Evans, C Herdman

Replacements: J Grey, S Jardine, F Gilbert, J Clegg, O Griffiths, M James, R Fox, F Chapman