writes Huw S Thomas

Last Thursday’s won over Bridgend took the Drovers to the top of the Indigo Premiership

Table and with it a home draw against Cardiff in the semi final Championship play offs on May 4.

Church Bank promises to be full on Saturday evening (KO 5 15 pm) as Llandovery attempt to reach their second successive Premiership Championship final.

The win over the Ravens clinched Llandovery’s first ever top finish in the regular season of Premiership fixtures and whether they win or lose in the play offs, it marks the apogee of the club’s fortunes since its foundation in 1878.

The Drovers have had highs and lows on a number of occasions since the revamped Premiership started in 2003-2004

They finished up runners-up on four occasions in 2023 2018, 2016 and 2013 but often struggled in the early years when – more often and not – finishing in the bottom two.

They famously won their first WRU Cup in 2007 after finishing bottom of the league, only to be saved from relegation by a change of WRU rules.

Llandovery have won two further WRU Cups – in 2016 and 2024 – under the stewardship of Head Coach Euros Evans who took over from Lyndon Lewis in 2015.

After finishing second in last year’s Premiership regular season, they went on to win Premiership play off final against Cardiff to end up as league champions

Impressive as they are, those three achievements must take a back seat  to the more difficult task of finishing top of the league table after the grind and sweat of 24 tough games in rain, sun, cold and sleat, on soft, heavy, muddy or hard and quick grounds.

The question now is – can they lift themselves twice more to complete the treble of Cup winners, Premiership table winners and Championship play-off winners.

Since the advent of the Premiership in 2003-2004, only Pontypridd have succeeded in doing such a feat – in 2013 and 2014.

Cardiff and either Newport or Ebbw Vale stand in their way but coach Evans has eyes just on the Cardiff semi final.

“We look no further than May 4 and the visit to Church Bank of the most famous club in Wales if not the world”.

“Their coach Steve Law and I have had many a famous battle both when he was at Bedwas and then Cardiff”

“It will be no different this time – Steve will have the Blue and Blacks prepared to the minute and be keen to take revenge on us for their Championship Final 24-8 defeat last year.”