BRIDGEND 18 LLANDOVERY 26
The Drovers had recorded three times as many wins as the Ravens in 14 SRC outings but were taken all the way by lively, confident opponents at the Brewery Field writes Huw S Thomas courtesy of Brecon and Radnor Express
With just three games remaining, this win keeps Llandovery in third spot and pushes them ever closer to a top four place and home draw in the knockout quarter finals on April 25.
It would be even better if they were to finish in the top two as it would also guarantee a home draw were they to win their quarter-final match.
Much will depend on the outcome of Saturday’s evening kick off game with Cardiff at Church Bank (KO 5 15 pm)
Newport’s surprise 44-17 annihilation of leaders Ebbw Vale makes predictions a hazard and the race for the four top spots ensures a thrilling climax to the end of the regular season.
Only Swansea have an outside chance of breaking the monopoly of the current top four but one of their remaining games is against leaders Ebbw Vale
Llandovery coach Euros Evans will rue the fact that his side were in a strong position to gain a six point haul when they led Bridgend by 18 points going into the last quarter.
Impressive contributions from centre Adam Warren, wing Harri Doel, fly half Ioan Hughes, prop Jamie Hughes, hooker Cameron Lewis and lock Joe Powell looked to have made the groundwork for a clear cut win.
Multiple team changes then saw the departure of a number of key players and a possible explanation of a stuttering final 20 minutes for the visitors.
The Ravens back division – orchestrated by fly half Ben Burnell – ran in two tries to close the gap to just eight points before the Drovers clung on to victory.
The home side had plenty of chances early on but even with Llandovery scrum half George MacDonald off the field, they failed to control the ball in prime attacking positions.
Llandovery’s centre Adam Warren reminded everyone of his international class with a classic break and off load to full back Kian Abraham before accepting a return pass for a very fine try.
Ubiquitous loose head rop Jamie Hughes then finished off a tap penalty move to move the score on before Burnell made it 14-3 at half time with a 40 metre penalty.
A slashing run through the middle by top-form wing Harri Doel ended with an Abraham try but an unlikely, speculative cross kick from Bridgend hooker Corey Lewis paved the way for wing McCauley Rowley to reply.
Llandovery then scored a trademark try to put Doel over in the right hand corner.
Great ball retention, patient continuity, support and slick distribution got the ex- Worcester Warrior strolling over to secure the bonus point in a movement that saw Bridgend No 8 Tom Jevons yellow carded.
Fly half Ioan Hughes’s third conversion of the day pushed the score to 26-8 before the home side got cleaner possession and more attacking opportunities to mount a rally.
Wing Edd Howley and replacement centre Ryan Wilkins both ran hard and true to close the gap and if the home line out had functioned better there would have been even more pressure on the visitors in the closing stages.
Despite a yellow card for their fighting No 8 Evan Sheldon, the Drovers kept their composure for a valuable five point win.
Bridgend
Tries: M Rowley, E Howley, R Wilkins
Pen: B Burnell
Llandovery
Tries: Adam warren, J Hughes, K Abraham, H Doel
Cons: I Hughes (3)
Bridgend: F Jones; E Howley, J Gatt, T Morgan, M Rowley; B Burnell, C Williams; H Olding, C Lewis, B Warren, A Thomas, E Hill, K Harris, T Jevons, Z O’Driscoll (capt)
Replacements: M Scales, A George, N Evans, B Waddell, M Boobyer, H Nash, L Wilkins, R Wilkins
Llandovery: K Abraham; H Doel, Adam Warren, R Jones, Aaron Warren; I Hughes, G MacDonald; J Hughes, C Lewis, B Watkins, H Holden, J Powell (capt), O Davies, E Sheldon, T Sparrow
Replacements: T Phillips, F Thomas, Y Cook, D Gemine, T Curry, L Morgan, J Maynard, L Rees
All remaining SRC fixtures
March 28: Llandover v Cardiff; Aberavon v Pontypool; Newport v Bridgend; RGC v Carmarthen Quins; Swansea v Ebbw Vale
April 2: Cardiff v Newport
April 4 : Pontypool v Llandovery; Carmarthen Quins v Aberavon; Ebbw Vale v RGC; Swansea v Bridgend
April 9: Newport v Pontypool
April 11: Aberavon v Llandovery; Carmarthen Quins v Ebbw Vale; RGC v Bridgend; Swansea v Cardiff