LLANDOVERY 40 SWANSEA UNIVERSITY 12
Indigo Premiership champions Llandovery fielded an array of young talent against the university students in the first friendly of the season writes Huw S Thomas.
One making a determined effort to break into the Super Rygbi Cymru squad was young Sam Potter, a student at Trinity College, Carmarthen and Ammanford RFC’s Player of the Year 2023-2024
Morgan Meaclem, the new signing from Merthyr showed up well but the most impressive back on the field was Potter, son of former Ammanford captain Gareth Potter .
The fly half not only orchestrated things calmly and neatly by hand and boot but did some great covering tackles, two of which saved certain tries.
He is in the Llandovery squad for this Sunday’s Aberaeron 7s, captained by another Trinity player in Jordan Evans, when the Drovers will be trying to improve on last year’s runners up spot
The game against Swansea University was played on a second XV pitch as the main Church Bank pitch is being transformed into a 3G playing surface, ready for the new Super Rygbi Cymru season.
Coach Euros Evans had the chance to cast his eye over the many youngsters that have been attending training sessions in the hope of getting into the SRC squad.
“It was pleasing to see how the team gelled and fitted into our all court game just after a few training sessions and some of them will certainly be in the frame for selection somewhere along the line.”
The Drovers took the honours by six tries to two but were tested far more than the scoreline suggests by a side preparing for the British Universities and Colleges Championship.
Potter, Brecon centre Tom Davies and Lampeter lock Harri Holden looked very good prospects but all were outshone by veteran No 8 Nathan Hart who played the full 80 minutes with a gusto and verve that belied his age.
The experience of flanker Lewis Elli-Jones, back at his old club after a four years absence and locks Chris Long and Joe Powel, skipper for the day, helped give Llandovery the edge up front in a game that confirmed all is well at Church Bank.
First half tries by Davies, scrum half Harri Morgan and flanker Daf Francis plus two conversions by Potter trumped a lone Swansea effort from prop Matt Price, to establish a 19-5 lead.
With the advantage of the second half wind, Potter kicked well to turn the students’ defence and although Swansea defended with plenty of spirit, they leaked three more tries – two to busy Aberystwyth hooker Iestyn Thomas and one to the irrepressible Hart.
Replacement Steff Jac Jones added a couple of conversions but the students had the consolation of a try by flanker Evan Weston, converted by full back Osian Jones.
*** The Drovers travel to Llangennech this Thursday evening, will field a young squad for the Bank Holiday Aberaeron Sevens and then play their last pre-season friendly against Merthyr atThe Wern on August 31.
Llandovery
Tries: I Thomas (2), T Davies, H Morgan, D Francis, N Hart
Cons: S Potter (3), S Jones (2)
Swansea University
Tries: M Price, E Weston
Con: O Jones