Youth XV 2010-11

Opponents

Type

Venue

Date

Result

Score

League Posn/7

Llandeilo

F

A

14/8/10

W

0 – 35

Eifion Jones reports:

An early start for the youth but they showed up well against a bigger team. Fitness was a factor and the Ref did not help, disallowing 2 genuine tries. The team gelled well for the first game and the new recruits from last year’s Under 16 showed up well. The team ran out 5 converted tries to nil on a warm afternoon.

Tumble

F

H

21/8/10

W

27 – 16

Eifion Jones reports:

Tumble came without a recognised front row and therefore there were uncontested scrums from the onset. They had a heavier pack than us but our boys’ fitness shone through with another 5 tries, but this time only 2 conversions. They only scored 1 try, and kicked 3 penalties.

Llandybie

F

H

25/8/10

W

31 – 0

Eifion Jones reports:

Under floodlights on the main pitch a very physical and intimidating Llandybie youth made the boys work hard for the win, with another 5 tries being scored and a lot of spirit shown when being under pressure. A couple of niggling injuries will need a week or two to recover.

Waunarlwydd

F

H

4/9/10

L

17 – 18

Eifion Jones reports:

A well drilled Waunarlwydd team took the game to Llandovery and made a hard contest which was only won in the last few minutes by inexperience on behalf of the Drovers, with a tapped penalty being overturned and a subsequent penalty for them being converted, giving them a narrow win again by scoring 2 tries.

Ystradgynlais

F

A

11/9/10

L

41 – 15

Brecon

F

A

18/9/10

W

18 – 24

Eifion Jones reports:

Yet again a struggle to get a team but we did manage to get 16 players. We played well for the first ten minutes and leading 12-0, but we let them back into the game and were down 18-17 with 3 minutes to go. But the boys rallied and created a well-worked try and conversion to win it at the death.

Felinfoel

L

H

25/9/10

P

Bonymaen

F

H

2/10/10

C

NewcastleEmlyn

L

A

9/10/10

D

7 – 7

Eifion Jones reports:

The Youth played into a strong wind in the first half and it looked as if the opposition were going to use the elements well and, but for some sloppy and wayward passing, they could have led early on.

In the scrums we were far superior, with Wyn Jones showing up well, but the ref penalised our pack on several occasions for wrong scrummaging etc. The opposition had a far bigger 15 than the Drovers and this was also the case in the pack, but we were far superior scrummagers. However, we were penalised all the time, to the point that the ref had words with the Drovers front row although it was the opposition that were being pushed back, lifted and thoroughly turned up front.

Emlyn were a well drilled team and they missed a kickable penalty before a well worked move in the lineout near our line resulted in their hooker going over the line unopposed. They duly converted to make it 7-0. They also missed a penalty.

The Drovers ran the ball from deep on several occasions but missed out on the last vital pass. For the last 10 minutes of the first half we were camped on their line and when Kevin Jones was held up over the line the score at halftime remained the same, burt we were confident going into the second.

The ref made a good game bad with the whistle constantly in his mouth. We looked threatening and a well worked tapped penalty resulted in a try for Josh Archer, which he duly converted. Josh later missed a long range penalty. The Drovers were lucky on one occasion when the opposition failed on the last passes where it looked easy to score.

Near the end we ran a penalty and were virtually over, only for Joe Morgan to fail to gather and the ref blew the whistle for a 7-7 draw.

We look forward to the home fixture with less use of the whistle.

Llandybie

F

A

16/10/10

P

CarmarthenQuins

L

H

23/10/10

L

8 – 12

Eifion Jones reports:

A wet start to the game made the ball very slippery but the two teams played the elements well, with Llandovery pressing, but it seems that the players were not looking for support when the player outside was well positioned for a score, ignoring the man outside. On more than one occasion we were through but for the final pass going astray, or the ball was lost forward – this happened twice in their 22 metres.

A penalty attempt was made by Josh Archer but it fell wide. He had also missed an attempted drop goal earlier. This made the Quins try harder and they went upfield where their scrum half, from open play, waltzed thro the Llandovery defence without a hand being laid on him. The conversion was successful to make it 7-0. Quins were now on a high and Llandovery were being pegged back but they tackled well. However, just before half time Quins scored a breakaway try in the corner which went unconverted.

This was the time for a pep talk from the coach Neville Hughes who also made several changes, some positional, also a substitution due to a thumb injury to Captain Rhodri Jones. He changed Josh Archer from outside half to centre, brought Joe Morgan (Coll) up to outside half, and shifted the rest of the backs around.

This indeed inspired Llandovery, who were soon on the attack, and the combination of Morgan and Archer soon paid off with a penalty converted by Joe and, around 10 minutes later, a well taken individual try by Joe who was unsuccessful with the conversion.

It made for a tense last quarter where Llandovery were pressing but the outside man was again ignored where it seemed he was better placed for the attack and, with the scrambling defence of the Quins blunting wave after wave of attack, it fizzled out in a defeat for the Drovers. The ref deserves a mention for keeping a good game flowing with hardly any indiscipline

Ammanford

L

A

30/10/10

L

19 – 16

Eifion Jones reports:

Ammanford seemed to have the bigger pack and looked to dominate in the tight but the lighter Llandovery eight, led well by Wyn Jones, stood up to the challenge well.

30 minutes into the game leading 16-0, with tries by Andrew Owens and Josh Archer and two penalties from Joseph Morgan, the signs were good, but some lacklustre defence just before the interval left Ammanford in for a try, which made the score 16-5 at half time.

Ammanford came out in the second half all guns blazing, the lighter pack seemed to lose heart and Ammanford forged ahead 19-16. The last ten minutes was all Llandovery but every attack was thwarted – it seemed that a well worked move had worked Joseph Morgan in at the corner, requiring catching the ball and falling over the try line, but with the line at his mercy the ball slipped out of his hands and the referee blew his whistle. Another game which was there for the winning.

Hendy

L

H

20/11/10

Dunvant

F

H

4/12/10

Llandeilo

F

H

11/12/10

Llangennech

L

H

18/12/10

Brynamman

F

H

8/1/11

Bonymaen

F

A

15/1/11

Waunarlwydd

F

A

22/1/11

Felinfoel

L

A

29/1/11

Whitland

C

A

12/2/11

L

27 – 12

Eifion Jones reports:

It was a relief to play again for the first time since the end of November!!!! The only downfall was, it was a cup tie in Whitland which we had tried to play 10 times but due to bad weather this was the first Saturday that both teams could field a team.

We were going there with high hopes but these were dashed as early as Thursday’s training session when we heard that the 1st’s had taken Ryan Williams and Wyn Jones for their trip to Ayr, (Good luck to both for being picked) so our front row was decimated. Also promises from other players did not materialise on Saturday morning and the bus left Llandovery with only 13 players, no front row and no subs, and Andrew Owens with his ankle heavily strapped.

Arriving in Whitland did not encourage the team when Whitland ran out with 20+ players but the ref agreed that we could play 13 aside, uncontested scrums, and hope and pray for no injuries. Neville gave a speech full of encouragement prior to kick off and Captain Rhodri Jones urged the players to play to their true potential.

With a heavy field, and playing into the wind first half, the players responded well with their heavier forwards making inroads but the boys sticking to the task. Whitland struck first with a try and conversion but the Drovers came back with some good support work and scored a try by Kevin Jones, close to the posts for Joseph Morgan to convert.

This was nip and tuck, with some good running and support play, until about a couple of minutes before half time where Whitland scored an unconverted try to make it 12-7 to them at half time.

The troops were flagging but the spirit was there and, with another pep talk from Nev and the older boys urging the youngsters on, there was a glimmer of an upset on the cards. However, Whitland were able to change a few players at half time and the difference was the first 10 minutes of the second half, where fresh legs made the difference and Whitland scored a couple of unconverted tries to lead 22-7.

It was at this time that we lost a player, Andy, to a cut sustained trying heroically to tackle a prop twice his size (we would also take the opportunity to thank their physio for taking Andy to hospital) – he eventually needed 6 stitches. Now the backs were against the wall but the boys wanted it for Andy so they rallied and scored a memorable try in the corner from good approach work from Jake Guerin, who passed onto Rhys Lewis, who sidestepped two players to score in the corner. Joseph hit the post with his conversion.

The boys were really flagging now and Whitland got a try right at the end to win it by 27-12.

We must also praise the referee for his open view of the game which made it a spectacle to watch and the locals stating that “if you can play like that with only 13 you would have easily beaten us with 15+”

NewcastleEmlyn

L

H

19/2/11

W

21 – 12

Eifion Jones reports:

It was nice to have a home game with most of the squad turning up and also to have Wyn and Ryan back from First team duty.

The weather was kind and Newcastle Emlyn came to Church Bank full of optimism and flying high in the league.

The game started off at a frantic pace, with both packs not giving an inch and the young Drovers more than facing up to bigger opponents, and they were the first to score, with good approach play and passing which finally found Andrew James out on the wing. He outflanked their defence to score in the corner. The conversion was missed by Joseph Morgan college.

This sparked the Emlyn side into keeping the ball tight in the forwards, with some telling rolling mauls which eventually paid off and they scored close to the posts and converted to make it 7-5 to Emlyn.

But the Llandovery boys came back strongly and within 5 minutes were back in the lead, with a surge up the left hand touchline by Jake, well supported by Daniel Lintern who scored in the corner, making it 10-7 to the Drovers. The conversion failed.

With the Drovers’ forwards making big inroads the referee, who for most of the afternoon got things right, seemed to see that Kevin Jones killed the ball and he was yellow carded. This gave Emlyn impetus and they scored a try in the corner to make it 12-10 at the break.

With Neville giving a rousing team talk, and the boys urging each other on, the game was there for the taking. The second half started as the first finished, with the forwards dominating, but some inter-passing in the Drovers’ backs was being let down with some poor kicking out of hand. The pressure eventually told and Josh Archer stepped up to slot two well taken penalties to take the game too 16-12 to the Drovers.

Some tense moments were then seen, with both teams striving for the win, but with only 5 minutes left an Emlyn attack broke down and Joe College was at hand to take the loose ball and score wide out to make the score 21-12. Yet more tense minutes were still to be endured before the final whistle eventually came, with all the boys playing to their full potential.

The whole team deserved to be mentioned on ensuring a fine win against such good opposition and we hope that this will continue into all future matches.

CarmarthenQuins

L

A

26/2/11

L

15 – 11

2

Eifion Jones reports:

The weather had been foul overnight and the prospects of a game with a planned early kick off at 12 o’clock looked bleak, but on arrival in Abergwili it was a sight to behold – the field playable and 18 players raring to go!!! But there was a sting in the tail, with the no match referee.

Time was going on and the big game was to kick off at 2.30. With all the players changed and out on the field, and no ref, eventually a person (no names mentioned) turned up and ran onto the field to officiate!!!!! What happened next will go down in Youth history – everybody there can tell the story as was seen!!!

The boys were led well by Captain Rhodri Jones and the pack played their hearts out, but without success. The opposition scored three tries and we scored two penalties via Josh Archer and a try by Wyn Jones, but the story and the debates will carry on long into the season.

The Drovers lost by 15-11 but it is not a true reflection of what happened on that field or the heroic efforts by all 18 players in trying to overcome all sorts of atrocities and many, many, many, other gut wrenching issues!!!!

Brynamman

F

A

5/3/11

W

27 – 36

Eifion Jones reports:

With barely sixteen players, and a few experienced players unavailable and out injured, plus a player who had not even trained this season, it was with some trepidation that the cars crossed the Black Mountain on a cold grey day.

The game started well for the Drovers with a make-shift back line and boys playing out of position. Playing into the wind we were the first to score, with Rhodri Jones crossing and then Cian Evans. Soon afterwards a rash moment by one of the Brynamman back row saw him receive a red card for stamping on Tom Bailey and they were down to 14 men. With another sustained attack Wyn Jones crossed and the first conversion was taken by Josh Archer, and we were 17-0 up.

The sending off inspired Brynamman and they came back with a penalty, and loose play left them in for a simple try and conversion. This was then followed with a silly penalty to make it 17-13. Neville was now pulling his hair out. Then with the end of the first half nearly upon us another try was scored by Ryan Williams, but the conversion by Josh Archer hit the upright and we led 22-13 at half time.

The second half started with Brynamman taking the game to the Drovers and they were soon rewarded with another try and conversion to make it 22-20. It seemed the Drovers were going to throw the game away, until down the wing ran Andrew James and he went through their full back to score in the corner, and Josh Archer converted to make it 29-20.

Brynamman came back with another try and conversion to make it 29-27. With time running out the Drovers were in their own 22 metres where an offside gave Brynamman a chance of sneaking a win but, where their outside half had been kicking well all afternoon, he missed one of his easiest shots at goal.

The ref was now looking at his watch as Josh Archer kicked long downfield. Brynamman made a mistake and a player was offside – a penalty to relieve the tension, a kick for goal, and the match would be over – but the Drovers tapped and went, with the ball finding Cian Evans who went in under the posts. Joe Morgan drop-goaled the conversion and the ref blew his whistle, and the game was won 36-27.

The Referee had a good game throughout, with the game being free flowing but very competitive.

Ammanford

L

H

19/3/11

W

28 – 11

Eifion Jones reports:

With the sun out and a drying wind an open game was anticipated by both sets of supporters and coaches.

The game started with Ammanford playing with the wind and the sun in the Drovers’ eyes. For the first 10-15 minutes the Drovers were on the back foot and defending heroically. Ammanford were first to have a kick at goal, which they missed, but shortly after they put a penalty over to lead 3-0. But the Llandovery boys stuck at it. Andrew Owens broke free but, without too much support, the ball broke loose and forward but against the run of play the Drovers were rewarded with a try scored by Captain Rhodri Jones and well converted by Josh Archer.

Ammanford came back strong and got another chance of a penalty which they duly converted, making it 7-6 to the Drovers. It was nip and tuck, with the Drovers tackling like demons. Then another attack broke down and the Drovers pounced and Nick Bugelli scored near the posts and Josh Archer again converted, making it 14-6 at the break.

With a stirring team talk by Coach Neville Hughes, and the confidence rising within the ranks, the Drovers changed over with the wind and sun behind them, which Ammanford had failed to use to their advantage. It was again backs against the wall, with every player earning praise for their tackling and support play. Tactical kicking by Daniel Lintern and Josh Archer, and a good rush defence, ensured Ammanford failed to gain momentum. It was the Drovers who scored with a Wyn Jones pick up and drive close to the try line, again converted by Josh Archer. This made the opposition play more aggressively and they sustained a few injuries.

With still plenty of time on the clock it was the Drovers who swept upfield for Ryan Williams to score in the corner and Josh Archer yet again converting, to make the score 28-6. Sustained pressure from Ammanford resulted in a score wide out which they failed to convert, to make it 28-11.

With time running out Ammanford chucked everything at the Drovers and they failed to score once again with a five to one overlap, which was closed down quickly and effectively by the tigerish defence. With only a minute remaining the Drovers swept upfield and were denied another score when a try-saving tackle was made on Wyn Jones in the corner. The resulting lineout was stolen by the Drovers and a penalty resulted, with the ball kicked into touch, and the final whistle went.

Praise must be given to all the team for tackling anything that moved that ensured the well deserved win which keeps hopes alive for the league.

Llangennech

L

H

26/3/11

L

15 – 33

Eifion Jones reports:

With the weather fine and sunny and the pitch hard the game was going to be an open one.

Llangennech came up with a strong side made up of mainly final year youth players. The game started with both teams wanting to run the ball and, if Rhodri Jones had had support on his outside twice, the Drovers may have opened the scoring sooner than they did.

When Josh Archer slotted over a penalty to make it 3-0 Llangennech came back with a good move down the left hand side which resulted in their winger touching down, and they converted to make it 7-3.

The younger and lighter Drovers pack held their own and, with a sweeping move upfield and a couple of driving mauls, Rhodri Jones picked up from the base of a maul and scored by the posts for Josh Archer to kick a simple conversion to make it 10-7. This was the score at the interval, with the Drovers playing down the slope.

Llangennech came out with all guns blazing and scored a try to make it 12-10 to them, but the Llandovery boys stuck to their guns and a sweeping movement downfield, with the ball moved across the back line, saw Andrew James score in the corner to make it 15-12.

Llangennech soon came back into it with a try and conversion to make it 19-15, and this was when the tackling and mauling took its toll, and Wyn Jones had to leave the field. The Drovers swept upfield, only to knock on, and then a penalty was given away with a scrum under the Llangennech posts and Llangennech kicked away downfield. A mistake in the Llandovery 22 saw Llangennech catch and drive over the line to make it 26-15.

Another player, Dan Davies, went off and this seemed to spur the opposition on and they again swept upfield to score, to make the final score 33-15. The margin of the win flattered Llangennech, the Llandovery boys having played with their heart on their sleeves and making everybody proud to be a Drover.

Amman Utd

C QF

H

29/3/11

W

53 – 0

Eifion Jones reports:

With the evening mild and muggy Amman United came with 25 players and hoping for a win against the Drovers, who were missing players injured and working, so the game started with only 18 players for the home side. But the Amman were swept aside with some enterprising open rugby which saw the Drovers leading 33-0 at half time, with tries for Rhodri Jones, Josh Archer, Cian Evans, Andrew Owens and Aled Thomas, and Josh Archer slotting over 4 conversions. The score could have been far more if the ball had not been lost in contact.

The second half started with everybody trying to get onto the scoresheet and mistakes were being made, with the ball being fumbled on numerous occasions, but it was Josh Archer’s half, with him streaking away to score another 4 individual tries, which he could not convert.

With the score over 50 points the referee, who had to keep up with all the attacking rugby, brought the game to a premature end.

The next round now beckons for the Drovers, with Llangennech at home in the semi final.

Brecon

F

A

2/4/11

L

31 – 19

Eifion Jones reports:

An experimental team was put on the field to start the match due to it being a ‘friendly,’ with Jordan Archer starting his first game at scrum half and Ryan Bailey on the wing, and a few boys who had not had a lot of game time throughout the season pushed in and to see what was in store for next season.

This did not pay off and within the first 20 minutes the Drovers were facing an uphill struggle, and down by 21-0. There were changes needed and this was done but the damage was done and, just after before half time, Rhodri Jones was sin binned and by just after half time Llandovery were down by 31-0.

But the Drovers boys rallied well and scored three tries, by Andrew Owens, Ryan Bailey and Jake Guerin, of which two were converted by Joe Morgan. Brecon were now panicking and, if decisions had gone the Llandovery way a bit more, the final result of 31-19 could have been very different.

Llangennech came up to Llandovery knowing they had beaten the Youth a fortnight ago and they were full of confidence.

The game kicked off with the ball being kicked directly to touch and a scrum was formed, where the Drovers faced up to a bigger pack made up of District players, but they held up well.

The game was a typical Cup Semi Final, with both teams cagey, but it was the Drovers who edged in front with a Joe Morgan (coll) penalty to make it 3-0. However within minutes the game was level 3-3, with a penalty for the opposition. With players tackling anything that moved it was a stalemate which was broken with a sweeping move upfield by Llangennech, who scored in the corner, and the try was converted to make it 10-3.

The Llandovery boys rallied and another penalty by Joe Morgan (coll) made it 10-6. With little time left in the first half influential prop Wyn Jones was carried off with a leg injury but the Drovers stayed positive and had a chance of a penalty, which Joe Morgan (coll) hit the post with.

This was the score at half time and, with Neville Hughes rallying the boys and Rhodri Jones urging them for a storming second half, the game was there for the winning.

The second half started as the first half finished, with neither side giving an inch, but the Drovers pressed hard and were on the Llangennech line for several minutes where prop Ryan Williams saw his chance and he dived over the maul on the line to score wide out. It went unconverted to make the score 11-10 to the Drovers.

Josh Archer arrived back late from Truro and he replaced Dafydd Jenkins, who had played well all game. This made Llangennech buck up and they came back with a penalty to make it 13-11, and another penalty for them made it 16-11 and the Llandovery heads started to drop. Kevin Jones went off the field with a cut face and therefore non-contested scrums were to be taken. Llangennech also took a prop off and brought a back on, hoping to gain an advantage, but with much encouragement from the touchline the Drovers came up the field with a run down the blind side from Andrew Owens, supported by Rhodri Jones and Jake Guerin. The ball went to ground within 5 metres of the visitors’ try line.

Time was now running out and, with another move failing to find the try line, Llangennech infringed and a penalty was kicked to touch in the corner with only 4 minutes left. The Drovers won the ball and kept possession, trundling slowly forward to the try line where they were awarded a scrum. 2 minutes left on the clock and from the maul Ryan Williams burrowed his way over the try line to make the score 16-16 with the conversion to come. With tension and nerves jangling he kicked the conversion to make it 18-16 to the Drovers. All hell was now breaking out on the touchline and the ref came upfield to start the game again but, with intervention from his touch judge, he blew the final whistle and the Drovers were in ecstasy as well as the final!!!!!!!

The game itself was a spectacle for all who witnessed it, with both teams and the officials ensuring a free flowing match.

Llangennech

L

A

18/4/11

L

40 – 10

Eifion Jones reports:

It was with a weakened team and several players carrying injuries that 16 players turned up to fulfil the fixture for the last league game of the season – away against Llangennech, who had a squad of 25 players looking for revenge for their recent Cup defeat to the Drovers and themselves looking for maximum points to ensure the League title would not go west to the Quins.

The game started well for the Drovers and, if the ball had been taken when Josh Archer missed a penalty, Llandovery could have been 7 points up but it was the opposition who scored first, through a penalty, for Josh to convert one to make it 3-3. Llangennech then had another penalty to make it 6-3 halfway through the first half before some good approach play by the Drovers saw Ryan Williams go over, with Josh Archer converting to make it 10-6.

Llangennech started to play better rugby and were awarded with two unconverted tries to make the half time score 16-10.

The Llandovery half time team talk was brief and play soon resumed, with the opposition upping their game and scoring two converted tries to make it 30-10. But the Drover boys never gave in, even when Dan Davies went off with a leg injury and Andrew Owens with a facial injury. With only 14 fit players the Drovers tried their utmost but the opposition were too strong and Llangennech scored another two tries to earn a 40-10 victory.

The Drovers now need to focus for the East Carmarthenshire Cup Final, against Ammanford, so everyone please make an effort to attend the next training session.

The only game left for the Youth is the Cup Final, venue yet to be decided, but come and support the Drovers!!

Ammanford

CFinal

Brynamman

6/5/11 ko 715

L

10 – 11

Eifion Jones reports:

Having not played for three weeks, and with a few of the boys carrying knocks, it was the best squad for a game all season that made their way to Brynamman for the Cup Final against Ammanford.

The night was dry and humid with a bit of rain in the air. Ammanford kicked off first and it was evident in the first twenty minutes that the boys had not played or had any contact due to the hard ground for three weeks – and it was a final. It was very nervous for both teams. Ammanford were the first to score with a well worked try in the bottom corner making it 5-0. The Drovers could have taken the lead if Josh Archer had slotted over two penalty chances.

The line outs were functioning well and the loose play was good but the scrums were a bit of a shambles, with the ref not stamping down on the opposition scrum turning ours at the scrums. Throughout the game this was the same, but a nice chip, chase and catch by Josh Archer saw him score wide out and Joe Morgan (coll) slot the conversion, making it 7-5 to Llandovery. This was extended with a penalty from Joe to make it 10-5 at the interval.

The Drovers played well for the first twenty minutes of the second half, with everybody pulling together, but when Ryan Williams went off with a leg injury this disrupted line out ball and things went downhill a bit. A few more changes in the pack saw a bit of impetus and we stayed down in their half for this period and Joe Morgan had a chance to extend the lead with a long range penalty which went just wide.

But it seems that it wasn’t to be and in the last ten minutes Ammanford came back into the game with a penalty to make it 10-8, and with the last kick of the game they sneaked the spoils and the Cup.

To say the boys, Neville and the travelling fans were disappointed was an understatement

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the boys and Neville for all their hard work and to John and Jackie in the club for putting up with all of us. Diolch.