by Huw S Thomas, courtesy of Brecon and Radnor Express
With two thirds of the regular season gone, the Drovers – now in third position in the Super Rygbi Cymru table – are in a fine position to finish in the top four
This would give them a home draw in the play offs that will determine the 2025 champions.
Llandovery, last year’s Premiership and WRU Cup winners. lost three of their four opening games but since then have reeled off eight consecutive wins, the latest a 38-21 crackerjack over Newport.
On 50 points after 12 games, Llandovery are two adrift of Ebbw Vale (52) and just one behind Cardiff (51). Newport are in fourth spot with 41 points but have a game in hand over the top three.
Bookmakers Dragonbet quote Ebbw Vale the 5/6 favourites to finish top of the regular season table, Llandovery are at 15/8, Cardiff 9/2 and Newport a massive 16/1.
The games that will be crucial to the four teams are the Llandovery-Cardiff and Newport-Ebbw Vale clashes.
Llandovery meet Cardiff home and away, likewise Ebbw Vale and Newport are to play each other twice.
Things are finely balanced with none of the four teams likely to go unbeaten in their remaining games. It may come down to the gathering of bonus points in what promises to be an exciting finale to the regular season.
Anyone fancying Carmarthen Quins to upset the form book and finish top can back them at 100/1!
This Saturday, the Drovers entertain Pontypool in a re-arranged fixture, following the postponement of the December game because of poor weather.
“Getting six points against Newport was a huge result for us” said coach Euros Evans.
“The Black and Ambers are many people’s favourites to take the title so to do the double over them – we pipped them 30-28 back in October – gives us a lot of confidence with six games remaining of the regular season.”
“We’ve got to keep our focus ahead of some tough fixtures and in particular the home and away games still left to play against second placed Cardiff.”
The successful combination and integration of experienced squad members with Scarlets players such as Jac Davies, Morgan Jones and Ed Scragg has been a major factor in the recent good form.
6’7” and 120 kilos lock Scragg has been so consistent and a real force in the line out that retired skipper and lock Jack Jones has hardly been missed – praise indeed..
To beat Pontypool is Llandovery’s immediate concern before the league programme takes a break until March.
Victory over Pooler – coached by ex-Dyffryn Aman teacher Tom Hancock – would take the Drovers to the top of the table, given that Ebbw Vale and Cardiff will not be in action this week.
The SRC Cup starts on January 25 when Llandovery entertain Cardiff
The 10 clubs are split into two groups and, after playing a pair of home and away games each, the two table-toppers will clash in the final.
In Pool A, the Drovers face Cardiff and Bridgend at home, travel to RGC and Aberavon.
Newport, Ebbw Vale, Pontypool, Carmarthen Quins and Swansea are in Pool B.