Three six point wins on the bounce for the Drovers as a strong second half performance beat Bridgend. The substitutes were a great impact, with the experience of Hughes and the replacement front row helping to earn victory. Both teams went head to head, but the weather was the real dictator in the way the game was played. Written by Cardiff Met sports media student Seán Richards.
The Drovers piled on the pressure from kick off with Bridgend taking almost 3 minutes to see the ball out of their own 22 meter line. With 3 visits in quick concession, the drovers failed to punish. When the Ravens had their opportunity it was taken well as a break from fifteen
meters out saw Kyle Harris cross the line. The Bridgend openside pounced on to a tip pass from lock Barnaby Waddell and used great power to finish off, leaving Lloyd Wilkins to add the extras and a 0-7 lead for the visitors ten minutes in.
In difficult weather conditions, Bridgend fought hard up front, winning three scrum penalties in the opening 20 minutes. From penalty number three Wilkins coolly converted to extend the Ravens’ lead to 0-10.
A penalty for Llandovery caught Bridgend off guard as Rees as he often does taps and sent a troublesome kick for Fraser Jones to deal with. As the ball knocked out of his hands into touch Llandovery were set up five meters out with a lineout. The ball, always slippery in these conditions meant they couldn’t quite punish.
Just before half-time, Llandovery had a chance to reset, but both sides opted to kick in the slippery conditions. Heavy rain lashed down, and the Drovers were not clinical enough in the first half, with Harris’ try and the boot of Wilkins made the difference at the break.Their struggling scrum, which conceded three penalties in 20 minutes, did not help their cause.
The pressure piled on but after a few close calls the Ravens got an exit getting over the ball to earn a penalty. The Drovers only just short and a penalty count building before half time, a golden opportunity went begging. A chance unconvertible as they head down the tunnel 0-10 down.
Chances came again for Llandovery as they couldn’t convert in the second half. With a few chances from short range the maul wasn’t an area to punish today, as Llandovery went wide but couldn’t hold on to the slippery ball from a few meters out. Only a few minutes later another maul let Corey Baldwin hit a hard angle to go under the posts to put the scores at 7-10 with Steff-Jac Jones converting.
Continuing his fine scoring form, a third try in two games from Cam Lewis as he shows an instant impact off the bench. The ball wasn’t put through the hands much due to the weather, but Cam Lewis found himself on the end of a pass and made his way over from short range.
Ioan Hughes converted for the home side to lead for the first time 14-10. The second try didn’t take long after as only two minutes later Lee Rees supported a Kian Abraham break to go over with ease under the posts for Hughes to convert leading 21-10.
The half back duo of Hughes and Rees together brought far better control for Llandovery. With the new pack earning a penalty instantly, a much better Llandovery side in the second half.
Cam Lewis is turning out to be prolific around the try line with a second try for him from the bench. A much better Llandovery with impact and energy, brings a maul try for Cam Lewis. Not an easy conversion but it sailed over the uprights for Hughes to extend the lead to 28-10.
As the Drovers looked much better in the second half, unfortunately for them a stray pass allowed Gabe Lacey to kick through and edge Harri Doel in the footrace and dive on to the ball and bring the score to 28-17 following a Wilkins conversion with five minutes remaining.
On the brink of the full time whistle, Llandovery eagerly wanted the six point win, which they found through a fifth try to extend the lead to 33-17 in the dying stages. Corey Baldwin crossed for his second try with a good show of pace to get over the line out wide. A tough conversion wasn’t converted by Ioan Hughes, but to extend past the 15 point margin is all the Drovers would’ve wanted. Cam Lewis first kicked the ball out at a wrong time, but just after the lineout he was able to run the ball over the touch line to secure the six point victory. With the ref blowing for full time with the scores at 33-17 to the Drovers.
Similar to the Swansea game at Churchbank recently, a game of two halves as a much
improved second half side secured victory. A strong start to the SRC Trophy campaign for the Drovers with a third six point victory in the competition and the top spot in pool B. The substitutes used perfectly for Llandovery as they showed true impact.
Llandovery Starting XV ( Coach – Euros Evans )
Josh Morse, Harry Thomas, Berian Watkins, Kai Jones, Joe Powell, Evan Sheldon, Tiaan
Sparrow, Osian Davies, Lee Rees, Steffan-Jac Jones, Llien Morgan, Rhodri Jones, Corey
Baldwin, Harri Doel, Kian Abraham.
Replacements
Cameron Lewis, Tom Phillips, Liam Tobias, Griff Evans, Tom Curry, Tiaan Evans, Ioan
Hughes, Lucca Setaro.
Bridgend Starting XV ( Coach – Scott Baldwin )
Harry Olding, Tyler Olding, Nathan Evans, Barnaby Waddell, Evan Hill, Alfie Thomas, Kyle
Harris, Thomas Jevons, Harvey Nash, Lloyd Wilkins, Mccauley Rowley, Tommy Morgan,
Rhydian Greenhall, Gabe Lacey, Fraser Jones.
Replacements
Alex George, Jared Williams, Eli Cowan, Ethan Evans, Morgan Boobyer, Chris Williams,
Jake Thomas, Edd Howley.
Tries
Llandovery – Corey Baldwin x2 , Cam Lewis x2 , Lee Rees.
Bridgend – Kyle Harris, Gabe Lacey.
Conversions
Llandovery – Steff-Jac Jones x 1, Ioan Hughes x 3.
Bridgend – Lloyd Wilkins x 2.
Penalties
Llandovery –
Bridgend – Lloyd Wilkins x 1.