Online bookmaker Dragonbet which specialises in Welsh sporting events has made Llandovery strong favourites to complete a rare Indigo Premiership league and WRU Cup double writes Huw S Thomas.

The online arm of the well known John Lovell Racing company quote the defending champions at no higher than 6/4 to win the end of season Premiership play offs and the WRU Cup.

James Lovell admitted that the firm were very wary of Llandovery.

“They have only lost one league and cup game in 20 outings, are the heaviest scorers and best defenders in the semi pro game and are in top form.” said Lovell

“They will almost certainly have a home draw in the play offs so we consider 6/4 a fair price.”

“Rugby punters are showing lot of interest in the semi pro game as a betting medium and the rest of the season looks exciting for us and them.”

But to pull off the double, Llandovery must overcome strong and difficult opponents, led by Ebbw Vale, Newport and Cardiff.

Llandovery’s first concern is this Saturday’s WRU Cup semi final against Ebbw Vale.

They meet at Aberavon whilst in the other semi final Merthyr and Swansea join battle at Bridgend

Dragonbet has made Llandovery the 4/11 favourites to win and they are also priced at 10/11 on a – 8 handicap, meaning that the Drovers will need to beat Ebbw by nine points or more for Drovers backers to collect on the handicap..

Ebbw Vale are 2/1 to beat Llandovery and +8 on the handicap at 10/11.

The Steelmen are the only side to have beaten the Drovers this year, – 25-17 at Eugene Cross Park early in the season – and only lost narrowly 17-15 at Church Bank so they must rate a huge threat.

If normally reliable fly half Evan Lloyd had not missed a late penalty from in front of the posts, Ebbw would have completed a notable double.

Whoever wins Saturday’s semi final at Aberavon will be warm favourites to beat Swansea or Merthyr in the final.

In the Indigo Premiership, Llandovery look almost certain to finish first or second, such is their current lead – 15 points clear of Newport and Ebbw Vale.

If things pan out as predicted, Newport, Ebbw Vale and Cardiff look set to finish in that order behind the Drovers.

Top spot for Llandovery would give them a home draw in the end of season Premiership semi final play offs and against the side that ends up fourth.

That is likely to be Cardiff although Pontypool, Aberavon and even seventh placed Pontypridd are not completely out of contention for that fourth spot.

If the Drovers were to finish second, then they would entertain the third placed side- likely to be Ebbw Vale, possibly Newport.

But before such permutations become clearer, there are the fast approaching WRU Cup semi-finals to concentrate minds and ambitions.

To understand the route to success and bring off the 6/4 league and Cup double, Llandovery will have to win four tough games, two in the play offs, two in the Cup.

On Saturday, much will depend on the weather and playing conditions with Ebbw Vale likely to be best suited by a forward battle, Llandovery more suited to faster and drier conditions.

Newport, too, have a big, bruising pack and are yet to play Llandovery at home in the league and are, to many people’s mind, pose the biggest danger to the champions keeping their Premiership title..

DRAGONBET SPECIAL: LLANDOVERY TO WIN PREMIERSHIP PLAY OFF FINAL AND WRU CUP FINAL 6/4

2023/2024 Indigo Premiership as it stands 23/02 (top 7)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	TA	TB	LB	PTS
Llandovery	19	18	0	1	636	281	355	88	36	13	0	85
Newport	17	14	0	3	564	315	249	81	37	13	1	70
Ebbw Vale	19	14	0	5	590	353	237	75	43	11	3	70
Cardiff	18	10	1	7	503	413	90	63	48	9	3	54
Pontypool	17	10	0	7	414	383	31	48	45	3	4	45
Aberavon	17	8	0	9	398	437	-39	53	56	8	4	44
Pontypridd	18	8	1	9	400	418	-18	47	52	5	4	43