DROVERS TAKE NEWPORT’S UNBEATEN RECORD

NEWPORT 28 LLANDOVERY 30

Llandovery really put the cat amongst the pigeons with this fine, combative win over Newport in front of the S4C cameras writes Huw S Thomas.

Few had given them a chance against unbeaten Newport but they played with a confidence, fearlessness and élan that belied their league position.

The last time these two had met was in the Premiership play off final in May and it was the Drovers who again prevailed in the closest of contests.

After a hesitant start to the season which had seen them win just once in four outings, Llandovery rediscovered their exciting form of last year under the leadership of scrum half Lee Rees.

Coach Euros Evans was fully aware of the importance of the win.

“We have not been playing badly but tonight we looked more like the team of last year.” said Evans.

“Our discipline was far better, especially at the breakdown, scrum and line out were stronger and we created three nice tries against the side that is widely tipped to win the SRC.”

“We needed this win to get our confidence back after three defeats on the trot and it will, hopefully, give us the momentum to go up a gear.”

The well knit Llandovery forwards made light of the absence of key forwards in the unavailable Joe Powell and injured Stuart Worrall to put in a rousing performance against the strongest of eights..

Jamie Hughes, Taylor Davies and young, hugely promising Gabe Howley had the edge in the front row, the work rate of locks Chris Long and Ed Scragg was exceptional and the back row of Osian Davies, Nathan Hart and Ed Sheldon were everywhere in the loose.

The backs looked sharp from full back Jac Davies through to ebullient skipper Lee Rees who enjoyed a quality of ball that had been in short supply of late.

Centres Adam Warren and Rhodri Jones probed and defended with gusto, Ioan Hughes controlled things beautifully at fly half and there was always Rees looking to inject pace into the game.

The first Llandovery try was crafted by a well timed pass from Jones and support from Warren who broke clear to send Rees scuttling under the posts.

Hughes converted and the Drovers were never to lose the lead. The fly half kicked a penalty before Newport got on the scoreboard against the run of play, a solo effort from the athletic Lloyd Lewis, converted by fly half Matt O’Brien. 

With Newport lock Joe Peard in the sin bin, the Llandovery forwards fashioned a patient, determined series of attacks on the home line,

They ended with Jamie Hughes crashing in for the second converted try to establish a well deserved 17-7 interval lead.

Two Hughes penalties and a well taken corner try by wing Toby Baldwin trumped a close range score from skipper Ben Roach to make it 30-14.

The Black and Ambers responded furiously in the last ten minutes and salvaged two bonus point at the end, thanks to the quick thinking O’Brien.

Swiftly taken tap penalties got centre Chay Foster-Smith and replacement Barney Nightingale powering through tackles for14 late points – it was as close as Newport got to the jubilant Drovers.

*** Swansea are the visitors to Church Bank this Thursday (Oct 17), a game that will be alive on S4C clic (KO 7 30 pm)

 

Llandovery

Tries: L Rees, J Hughes, T Baldwin

Cons: I Hughes (3)

Pens: I Hughes (3)

Newport

Tries:L Lewis, B Roach, C Foster-Smith, B Nightingale

Cons: M O’Brien (4)

 

Llandovery: J Davies; T Baldwin, Adam Warren, R Jones, Aaron Warren; I Hughes, L Rees (capt); J Hughes, T Davies, G Hawley, C Long, E Scragg, O Davies, N Hart, E Sheldon

Replacements: D Dallavalle, F Thomas, B Watkins, L Ellis-Jones, T Poole, I Phillips, J Maynard, H Morgan

 

Newport: I Davies; J Morris, C Foster-Smith, E Frewen, L Lewis; M O’Brien, D Buckland; H Fry, H Palmer, O Drake, J Peard, N Thomas, G Young, J Reid, B Roach (capt) Replacements: T Olding, T Workman, N Evans, M Williams, K Tayler, L

Crane, C Penny, B Nightingale.