Joe Powell shines as Drovers begin their play-off push with a comfortable but scrappy victory in Bridgend over the Ravens, writes Drovers’ rugby correspondent Harri Beckwith
A cagey first 20 minutes saw both teams have attacks in to their opposition’s 22 meter line. Neither side were able to turn attacks into points and a dull affair seemed to be coming.
In the 27th minute, the game was no longer dull as a fantastic breakaway from Adam Warren saw him play a pass to Kian Abraham, who drew his defender before passing back to Warren to cross for the try. Ioan Hughes converted and the Drovers lead by 7.
5 minutes later, momentum stayed with Llandovery as Jamie Hughes crossed powerfully following a series of phases on the Bridgend try line. Ioan Hughes converted comfortably, extending Drovers’ lead. The Ravens pulled 3 points back through a Ben Burnell penalty and the sides went in for halftime.
Llandovery started the second half strongly, crossing through Kian Abraham only 2 minutes in. Another breakaway try, where Harri Doel’s electric pace saw the Drovers to the Ravens’ try line once more. The ball was played wide to Kian Abraham, who came inside to dive over and extend their lead. Ioan Hughes was unable to convert.
The hosts replied instantly, a neat kick through the defensive line saw McCauley Rowley cross and prove Bridgend were not giving up on this game!
With the game heating up and now anything but the dull affair that the first half had been, Harri Doel crossed to further extend the Drovers’ lead. Great hands and quick feet saw the young winger unopposed crossing and tapping the ball down for 5 points. Ioan converted to add another 2.
Adding to the back and forth, exciting nature of the game, Bridgend scored two tries in quick succession through Edd Howley and Ryan Wilkins, but were unable to convert either tries, leaving the score at 18-26, with just over 15 minutes to go.
The final 15 minutes of the game were similar to the first 15, cagey and tense. The game began to turn nasty with instances of players squaring up to eachother. Neither side threatened each other’s try lines, only the players themselves, and the game ended with Llandovery victorious.
This 5 point win sees Llandovery begin what will be a very tough and testing last block of the league phase, as the Drovers look to finish in a top 2 position to ensure a home fixture in the play-offs. Llandovery will look to carry on this form next week, as they host Cardiff, a team who beat the Drovers 37-28 last time the two sides met in the Capital.