In a pre-season friendly at Church Bank, Brecon Youth confirmed the promise of a good season by deservedly beating their Llandovery counterparts.

On a billiard table smooth pitch – beautifully prepared by groundsman Roger James – the more physical Brecon boys had the edge up front where No 8 Sam Maggs was everywhere in both attack and defence. Lock Rowan Starkey was another key man with his work at line out and loose whilst centre Tudor Roderick caught the eye with his straight running and hard tackling

Llandovery, who had the more creative backs, suffered from a lack of possession and although there were telling contributions from fly half Ryan Williams, centre Kasper Andreasen and wing Owain Rowlands, the Drovers could not finish some good chances in the latter stages.

Brecon coach Al Taylor was happy at what he saw. “We were strong and well knit up front but had to work to get the better of a good and young Drovers side,” said Taylor. “We scored a great try but our defence too was on top of its game when Llandovery threatened in the last 10 minutes.”

Llandovery coach Stuart Doel was also upbeat. “Twelve of the side were in last year’s U16 side that won the Carms Cup so to challenge a bigger and older opposition will hold us in good stead,” said Doel. “We need better possession for our backs but I’m sure that we will be very competitive when the boys get more experience.”

After wing Lewis Watkins was denied a try by the corner flag, Brecon took the lead with a close range try from prop Tom Whitcomb but Llandovery were level at the break when an Andreasen break and smart finish by Rowlands made it 5-5.

Full back Dafydd Evans restored the Brecon lead with a penalty before Maggs made a wonderful cover tackle to stop Llandovery wing Yoke Price in full flight.

A fine counter attack led by replacement Gareth Price and finished by the impressive Evans pushed the Powys side 13-5 ahead but the Drovers found a new lease of life at the end. Brecon had to defend for their lives and to their credit did so, helped by Llandovery failing to exploit some clear overlaps in a hectic finale.

It was the Drovers’ 4th league match of the season, and the result sees them mid-table in the Scarlets Region – East Carmarthenshire league

By agreement between the two clubs the match kicked off at 2pm which enabled supporters at Church Bank to attend the Llandovery v Cross Keys Premiership game to watch some of the Youth game before the Premiership 230pm kickoff. The Drovers and Cefneithin boys were then able to see a large part of the 1st XV game.

Llandovery just came out on top of this hard fought game in the second round of the WRU Bowl Competition.

The Drovers started well, with some strong running by Kasper Andreason which eventually led to Llandovery’s first try, by outside half Ryan Williams. Ryan converted his own try from the touch line.

A good spell was then enjoyed by Swansea Uplands, scoring 2 tries in quick succession to lead 14 7 after 25 minutes.

A second Llandovery try came after a barnstorming run by number 8 Rhodri Williams to bring the scores level at half time.

The second half proved to be just as competitive, with Dafydd Land a thorn in Swansea Uplands side. Two penalties by Ryan Williams proved to be the only scores in the second half, with Swansea Uplands pressing hard at the end of the game but thwarted by good tackling from Llandovery backs and forwards.

Tycroes Youth are the visitors to Church Bank next Saturday.

In very difficult and heavy conditions, Llandovery reached the semi-final of the WRU National Youth Bowl with this impressive win over the visitors from Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The defences on both sides were rock solid and it took a very well worked try from Llandovery to make the difference and snatch the spoils.

Rhodri Williams and Dafydd Land brought off a slick 8-9 move from a scrum and the scrum half sprinted 40 metres for the only try of the game to the delight of the reassuringly large Church Bank crowd.

The young Drovers squad contained no fewer than eight sons of former Llandovery players including past captains Chris Davies, Geraint Williams and Carwyn Williams and all played a full part in a fine team effort.

The sons of the three past captains – full back Rhodri Davies, fly half Ryan Williams and No 8 Rhodri Williams – showed both their fathers’ competiveness and feel for the game and made telling contributions.

So too did hooker Garan Williams – son of forwards coach Rob Williams- in a pack well led by flanker Iwan Davies from Trecastle.

Scrum half Land and Ryan Williams formed an impressive half back partnership with Land – the recent scorer of three tries for Crawshays Youth against Llandovery College – looking as sharp as a needle in taking his try.

Centre Mark Pritchard kicked a penalty for Ynysybwl to make it 5-3 at the break and from there on both sides went at it hammer and tongs in search of any kind of score.

Llandovery centres Casper Andreason and Hari Thomas kept Ynysybwl out with some outstanding tackles whilst lock and Man of the Match Rhys Evans and back rowers Iwan and Tom Davies were ever present in the tough forward exchanges.

Garn Williams made vital yards in the increasingly frenetic final minutes which saw Ynysybwl flanker Jason Griffiths yellow carded and allow Llandovery to hold out for a semi final place.

Llandovery Youth travelled to Ammanford for a semi-final against highly fancied Treorchy. Treorchy with a MUCH bigger, older and more experienced team looked odds on to brush a very young Drovers Youth aside. But oooohhhhhh no. That was not going to happen as this young side showed massive determination and a never-say-die attitude from the start.

Treorchy eased to a 10 nil lead but then came the move of the match. Showing wonderful handling skills from inside their own half the ball was transferred to young Yoke Price. Beating 3 men swerving and dummying and gaining fully 40 yards he made it to within 15 yards of the line then up popped the ever present Dafydd Land to swallow dive under the sticks. Brilliant.

10-7, and despite a thrilling closing 20 minutes in which the Drovers threw everything at this very big side it was Treorchy who were delighted to hear the final whistle.

A massive effort and very well played boys. You did The Drovers name proud.