A true battle it was for the Drovers to secure their first win of the season. With three yellow cards and end to end action, three points separated the sides at full time. Written by Seán Richards, Llandovery RFC Media.
A brace by Kian Abraham and tries from Dino Dallavalle and Joe Powell secured the bonus point, while Ioan Hughes’ returning boot proved crucial with three conversions and a penalty.
Bridgend started with a bang as Ioan Hughes was dusting off his cobwebs on his first game of the season. The kick was short and Ben Evans of Bridgend was through, but the hard work of Isaac Murray-Macgregor brought him down just short in an heroic effort.
A try did come eventually through the Ravens openside Benji Williams. A risk to go to the corner instead of touch paid off with an early seven point score. An overlap was begging for the home side, but the forwards got it done as a quick pass past the pod saw Benji Williams cross untouched from short range.
The Drovers, after a slow start, got themselves into the game with a try from Dino Dallavalle. Controlling more of the game with it all played in the Bridgend half, some ill discipline from the Ravens was enough to mount up for a try. The prop was there looping around and a strong carry sent him under the posts with ease. Ioan Hughes then converted with ease to tie up the game.
No team got their foothold in the game in the early stages, but the score was the priority and the Drovers went in front. Captain Joe Powell broke well and after making some yards, Kian Abraham was with him to finish it off. The Drovers led the game for the first time despite the conversion being unsuccessful.
Bridgend thought they finished off the first half with a powerful maul finished by prop Nathan Evans. This wasn’t long after Lloyd Pike saw yellow. Harvey Nash lost the footrace to Isaac Murray-Macgregor as the Drovers scrambled back to defend shortly before, but it wasn’t enough to hold out Nathan Evans. Frazer Jones then kicked the home side in front.
With the clock red, the Drovers responded with Kian Abraham grabbing a second of the afternoon. With an advantage in hand, Ioan Hughes placed a kick over the defence and the bounce was there in favour of Kian Abraham. With plenty of time, Abraham ran it to the posts to allow Ioan Hughes to convert and close the half leading 19-14.
With a penalty awarded, an almost perfect kick by Ioan Hughes in the corner allowed Tiaan Sparrow to cross through a driving maul. There was no stopping that maul, as the strong heave from the pack allowed the skipper to score. Hughes marked off his brilliant kick with one through the uprights to lead 26-14 around the hour mark.
That capped the fourth try and secured the bonus point. The Drovers played some smart rugby and Ioan Hughes slotted a penalty to extend the lead. The Drovers almost scored with Ioan Hughes’ tip pass inside to Kian Abraham, whose out the backdoor attempt was poor and found Bridgend hands. A coast to coast effort looked like Isaac Murray-Macgregor pulled off a miraculous try saving effort. After some discussions with the ref and touch judge, the decision was a penalty try and a yellow card for
Murray-Macgregor.
Edd Howley crossed shortly after for the home side in the corner and Frazer Jones missed
the conversion, but a thirteen-man Drovers were now only three points ahead. Under a lot of
pressure, and with only five backs on the field, the Drovers had done enough to get their first
win of the season.
Three points is all that separated the sides and the Drovers are finally back to winning ways.
A heartbreaking loss in Pontypool and a tough test against Newport and today the right side
of a narrow game. Aberavon are next for the Drovers, as we welcome the Wizards to
Churchbank.
Llandovery Starting XV (Coach: Euros Evans)
Dino Dallavalle, Cameron Lewis, Jac Pritchard (SCA), Morgan Jones, Joe Powell (C), Lloyd
Pike, Tiaan Sparrow (SCA), Ben Evans, Lucca Setaro, Ioan Hughes, Jac Davies (SCA),
Gryff Watkins (SCA), Corey Baldwin, Kian Abraham, Isaac Murray-Macgregor (SCA).
Replacements
Finn Thomas, Tom Phillips, Llyr Green, Kai Jones (SCA), Dan Gemine, Tom Hughes, Sam
Potter, Josh Thomas.
Bridgend Starting XV (Coach: Scott Baldwin)
Harry Olding, McKenzie Scales (OSP), Nathan Evans, James Richards, Lewis Jones (OSP),
Ioan Davies, Benji Williams, Thomas Jevons, Harvey Nash, Ben Burnell, Mccaulay Rowley,
Ryan Wilkins, Ryan Conbeer, Ben Evans (OSP), Fraser Jones.
Replacements
Iestyn Merriman, Marc Thomas, Callum Donoghue-Proud, Kyle Harris, Zach O’Driscoll, Nick
Fisk-Jones (OSP), Cameron Ellis, Edd Howley.
(SCA) – Denotes Scarlets allocated players.
(OSP) – Denotes Ospreys allocated players.
Tries
Bridgend – Benji Williams, Nathan Evans, Penalty Try, Edd Howley.
Llandovery – Dino Dallavalle, Kian Abraham x 2, Joe Powell.
Conversions
Bridgend – Frazer Jones x 2
Llandovery – Ioan Hughes x 3
Penalties
Llandovery – Ioan Hughes
Yellow Cards
Llandovery – Lloyd Pike, Isaac Murray-Macgregor, Kian Abraham.