Tries: Cean Evans (2), Josh Archer, Tom Bailey; Cons: Josh Archer (2); Pens: Josh Archer (2)

Cinderford United retained their 100% record this season although they delivered an uninspiring performance against their Welsh opponents.

The game was played without contested scrummages as the visitors did not have two props. Despite this the Welsh side was hugely competitive and despite having to defend for long periods they did so with vigour and enthusiasm. Cinderford were on the scoreboard within five minutes when second row Milo Reynolds was driven over by prop Elliot Booley for a try close to the posts. Captain Tom Law converted. An injury to centre Liam Littleton saw the appearance of Robbie Winchle for the first time in 2013. Winchle soon showed his class as he collected a pass and glided around a Llandovery defender to score under the posts. Again Law converted. Before half time the United added a third try when flanker Ashley Brown took an inside ball from another returning injured player, Joe Garner, to score. Law easily converted.

Garner scored a spectacular forty metre unconverted try to commence the second half and at 26-0 the United looked set for an emphatic scoreline. That they didn’t get one owed as much to their own failings but huge credit must go the spirit and resilience of their opponents who simply would not lie down. Two converted Llandovery tries reduced the deficit. Two more United tries from scrum half Ollie Whiting, following a break from a ruck twenty metres out, and hooker Jamie Tsang after a short range line out and driving maul. Both tries were converted by Law and the United seemed to have restored their superiority. However, inexplicably the United wilted, in the last fifteen minutes as Llandovery finished far the stronger as a team. The Welshmen added three further tries, of which two were converted, to leave a far closer scoreline than the United were comfortable with.

Tries: Joe Morgan (2), Dylan Williams; Cons: Ioan Davies (2)

Tries: Joe Morgan (2), Andrew Owens, Ioan Davies, Arwel Davies; Cons: Ioan Davies (2); Pens: Ioan Davies (2)

Tries: Gareth ‘Tymelyn’ Davies, Jake Gurring, Aled Walters, Rhys Jones; Pens: Ioan Davies, Joe Morgan

Only a lone penalty by Llandovery wing Dan Davies early in the first half separated two well matched sides who slugged it out head to toe for the full 80 minutes.

Thirty players and another dozen replacements – almost all of whom had come through the Junior Drovers ranks – deserved medals for surviving an icy wind, spitting rain, a hailstorm and cloying mud before retreating to the comfort of the clubhouse to watch the televised Wales v Italy game.

“Both sides gave it their all,” said winning coach Geraint Williams. “We are a running side so the conditions did not favour us but we are delighted to win the local derby.”

Llangadog coach Tomas Marks – a former Drovers fly half – rued the missed chances and the failure of his backs to kick for field position but could not fault the efforts of his players. “It was a rousing battle between players who know each other’s game so well and neither side deserved to lose, such was the commitment,” said Marks, “but it was good to see so many spectators brave the weather and come to the early kick off game.”

In the first half Llandovery ignored the conditions with veteran fly half Ioan Davies trying to move the ball and they came near to a couple of tries. Pressure did bring a penalty to wing Dan Davies – son of Llandovery RFC Chairman Handel Davies – and with the advantage of the elements the visitors had the lion’s share of possession and territory.

The back row of Craig Davies, Aled Walters and Tom Bailey, hooker Dylan Jones and prop Rhys Jones caught the eye in the loose but Llandovery were at fault in trying to handle too often rather than kick their way downfield.

Llangadog defended hard, with the back row of Aled Thomas, the outstanding Owain Jones and Dylan Morgan always in the thick of things but after the break it was Llandovery’s turn to have their backs to the wall. Llangadog half backs Aled Jenkins and Matthew Bailey kept feeding their big forwards on the charge and prop Dewi Howells and lock Adam Thompson made good ground only to hit rock solid defence.

The glutinous mud slowed everyone down to a standstill as the players neared exhaustion but Llandovery came near to snatching a try against the run of play when replacement back Rhodri Davies was just beaten to the race for the loose ball. Such huge effort from all the players warranted a draw but Llandovery clung on to their slender lead in the arctic like conditions.

Llandovery caused a huge upset when they won the Carmarthenshire Tyres League Cup by beating hot favourites Carmarthen Quins 8 – 14 on their own Park patch.

The Quins had got the better of the Drovers twice in the league and were strongly fancied to end the season without losing a game but had to give second best to their Tywi Valley rivals.

The second XVs of the two Premiership clubs have astute coaches in Simon Rogers and Geraint Williams and their charges did them proud in an entertaining and well contested final.

It was Llandovery’s fifth Cup in eight years and testament to the valuable contribution that former captain Williams has made to the well-being of the club in recent years

Williams was delighted at the result, not so much as for the win as for the way his players responded to the challenge of coming back strongly in the second half.

“We were under a lot of pressure in the first half when the Quins had much the better of play,” said the former Newbridge and Llandovery centre, “but a few tactical changes after the break plus some outstanding individual contributions turned the game around.”

The Quins led 5-0 after a great counter attacking try covering the length of the pitch ended with centre Lloyd Williams going over. Hooker and skipper Paul Gravelle, along with back rowers Ricky Davies and Dion Howells, kept the Quins on the front foot and the lead would have been greater if both tactical and place kicking had been more accurate

Llandovery stayed in the game with a huge defensive performance in which the back row of Jake Guerin, Craig Davies and Tom Bailey were outstanding and got back into the game just before half time when wing Dan Davies kicked a 30 metre penalty.

The Drovers upped the tempo and pace in the second half with the move of scrum half Andrew Owen into the centre producing quick dividends. Owen, fly half Arwel Davies and full back Dylan Williams threatened in attack and Owen made a number of incisive breaks to put the Quins defence on the back foot.

With lock Aled Walters dominating the lineout with and against the throw and his partner Gareth Davies full of life in the loose, the Drovers went ahead. Dan Davies kicked a penalty before Quins briefly regained the lead with a penalty from Williams but the Drovers’ fitness levels gave them the advantage in the final quarter.

Davies put over his third penalty and in a strong finish prop Rhys Jones finished patient pressure with a corner try to guarantee the Cup was going back to Church Bank.