Llandovery 28
Bedwas 24
LLANDOVERY followed their impressive away victory at Cardiff with a thrilling home victory over fellow mid-table side Bedwas, which will provide a confidence boost ahead of the Swalec Cup quarter-final match against high flying Pontypridd at the weekend.
History has suggested that the game would be a tight affair and Friday nights encounter was no different, as the Drovers overhauled a thirteen point deficit to claim victory at the death. It was result that leaves Llandovery now looking up the table rather than looking nervously over their shoulder.
With six minutes on the clock the hosts took the lead through James Garland’s well taken penalty and little over two minutes later the lead was extended as winger Richard Williams received the ball on the opposite flank before weaving his way over the line. Garland missed the extras but it was a fine start from the home side.
The hard work was undone when prop Greg Cunliffe was yellow carded for illegal use of his feet at the breakdown, giving the visitors a man advantage. They made it count as they stretched the homeside from left to right before creating the overlap which allowed Lewis Hudd to go over in the corner. Fly-half Richard Powell added the extras on top of two brilliant long range penalties to give the vistors a 13-8 lead at the break.
The second half started with Bedwas on the attack and after Mike Callow had made a superb break his resulting pass to prop Dan Preece didn’t go where it was intended and an opportunity passed with the try line beckoning. This spurned opportunity was punished further when Garland added another penalty to reduce his sides arrears.
With the penalty count getting ever higher the score was in a state of flux, but Bedwas can be forgiven for thinking they had won it when Matthew John went over to put his side 11-24 ahead. This lead looked all the better as the home side were again reduced to 14 men as lock Bryn Griffiths was given a ten minute rest for dissent.
The home crowd were unhappy with the refereeing decisions, but were given hope when substitute Sam Soul showed good awareness to crash over for a converted try.
With the deficit reduced hopes were further raised by the yellow carding of Bedwas’ inspirational back rower Deri Mattravers.
The loss of the key figure of Mattravers led to the visitors conceding a late penalty try to complete a sensational turnaround for the hosts. Bedwas grabbed a losing bonus point as reward for their part in a thrilling encounter.
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