Principality Premiership
Cardiff 40
Llandovery 34
LLANDOVERY headed to Cardiff with a vastly changed team for their final game of the regular Principality Premiership season with the next two weeks huge games against Carmarthen Quins in the Swalec Cup Final and the Principality Premiership play-off game (confirmed as being against Ebbw Vale after they triumphed over Aberavon) firmly in mind.
Cardiff’s stop start season was in danger of petering out after five straight defeats and as such the Blue & Blacks came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders.
After securing the kick off the home side worked their way down field through a series of pick and drives before unleashing the backline. When that move was stopped impressive debutant Rhys Carre was able to burst through and with three would be tacklers hanging on to him plough a way to the line to score.
James Whittingham added the extras and was on target again as the Blue & Blacks doubled their lead two minutes later. This time the backs move did work, Richard Smith cutting a great line off a pass by Ceri Young to race through unopposed.
Llandovery then started to play some rugby themselves. Former Blue & Black Will Thomas gliding through from 25 metres out, James Davies adding the conversion. And they were on level terms five minutes later.
A catch and drive was in initially stopped a few metres short, but Number 8 Richard Rees was able to get his hands on the ball and dive over in the corner. Davies levelled things with a beautifully judged conversion from the touchline.
The Blue & Blacks were still determined to play running open rugby and whenever they got their hands on the ball they ran hard at the Drovers defence. A series of penalties just before half time lead to the home side’s third try.
Although the lineout near the Drovers line was stopped Cam Dolan was on hand to pick up a loose ball and power over. Whittingham landed the conversion to give Cardiff a 24-16 half time lead.
The second half started with another Blue & Black try. Again the ball was secured from the kick off and was moved quickly into midfield.
When the quick ball was recycled swift hands made a gap the Smith and Young were able to exploit putting James Loxton over in the corner for the bonus point try. Callum Halls expert conversion form the touchline added gloss to an outstanding team try.
And three minutes later the lead was extended. Carre continued a burst up field by Olli Smyth. When he linked up with Smith he was able to outpace the defence for his second. Hall was again on target with the extras.
The Drovers though were not in the mood to throw in the towel. Jake Baker got a try back from short range, but the conversion was wide from Thomas and when Shaun Miles went over near to the posts with eight minutes left a grand stand finish looked on the cards.
The conversion though was charged down leaving the Drovers six points behind. And that is where they stayed as the Blue & Blacks controlled the remaining minutes and smashed the ball into the stand as the referee blew for time.
Cardiff finished 9th in the table with Pontypridd topping the pile. Llandovery will now play Ebbw Vale in a play off at Church Bank to see who will go on for a tilt at the title at Sardis Road a week later.
Teams:
Cardiff: 15. Harry Davies 14. Olli Smyth 13. Ceri Young 12. Richard Smith 11. Elis Wyn Benham 10. James Whittingham 9. Tom Slater: 1. Rhys Carre 2. Ethan Lewis 3. Joe Jones 4. Cam Dolan 5. Macauley Cook 6. Johnathan Edwards 7. Matthew Marley 8. Ben Thomas
Replacements: 16. Rob Lewis 17. Joe Tomlinson 19. James Murphy 20. Jordan Viggers 21. James Loxton 22. Callum Hall 23. Wayne Decruz
Llandovery: 15. Will Thomas 14. Sam Soul 13. Mike Evans 12. Rhodri Jones 11. Aaron Warren 10. James Davies 9. Rhodri Williams: 1. Dean Howells 2. Luke Lewis 3. Rhodri Jones 4. Bryn Griffiths 5. Jake Baker 6. Stuart Worrall 7. Shaun Miles 8. Richard Rees
Replacements: 16. Scott Jenkins 17. Jamie Kaijaks 18. Phil Day 19. Richard Brooks 20. Dafydd Hughes 21. Matthew Jacobs 22. Rhodri Davies 23. Lee Rees
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