DROVERS STILL TOP AFTER REST DAY

Llandovery were not in action over the weekend in the 13 team Indigo Premiership but Ebbw Vale’s defeat of Newport means that the Drovers stay top of the league writes Huw S Thomas

Newport who trailed the Drovers by four points – 35 to 39 – had a chance of going top with a bonus point win over the Steelmen but went down 28-20 at the Newport Stadium.

The Black and Ambers loss means that they still trail Llandovery by four points  with Pontypool  – 24-12 winners over Neath –  and  Ebbw Vale a further point behind.

It sets up an intriguing contest at Church Bank this Saturday when Newport will be the visitors and desperate to close the gap on the Carmarthenshire side.

Even at this early stage of the season, it looks as if the current top four could well finish the season in the same position and so qualify for the four team play off in April.

Merthyr who beat Carmarthen Quins 22-18 with a late try and Cardiff – 22-12 winners at Swansea  – are still in touch, although 10 and 12 points respectively behind the fourth team, Ebbw Vale.

A home win on Saturday will put the Drovers  in a commanding position as we approach the half way mark to the season but Newport have always caused Llandovery a lot of problems over the years.

The last time they met on May 6 was an exciting affair at Rodney Parade with the Black and Ambers winning 52-33.

The Drovers led 33-31 with a quarter of an hour to go before yellow cards for flanker Lloyd Pike and wing Aaron Warren weakened the defence so much that Newport pulled away with three late tries to give the score-line a false look.

Llandovery’s last home game against Pontypool on November 11 attracted a very big crowd and with another Gwent side expected to bring plenty of travelling support to Church Bank, another absorbing day’s rugby is in prospect.

TEAM P W D L PF PA PD T TA TB LB PTS
Llandovery 9 8 0 1 325 152 173 42 19 7 0 39
Newport 9 7 0 2 294 179 115 40 19 6 1 35
Pontypool 10 8 0 2 253 214 39 28 25 2 0 34
Ebbw Vale 9 7 0 2 243 170 73 28 18 4 2 34
Merthyr 8 5 0 3 208 180 28 27 21 3 1 24
Cardiff 9 4 1 4 218 217 1 24 25 3 1 22
Bridgend Ravens 9 4 0 5 182 211 -29 18 24 2 3 21
Pontypridd 9 4 1 4 188 239 -51 20 30 2 0 20
Aberavon 8 3 0 5 180 205 -25 23 24 4 3 19
RGC 1404 8 3 0 5 186 235 -49 25 32 3 1 16
Swansea 9 2 0 7 207 245 -38 28 29 4 4 16
Carmarthen Quins 8 1 0 7 186 254 -68 21 35 2 2 8
Neath 9 0 0 9 133 302 -169 17 40 1 2 3