Principality Premiership

Llandovery14 Cardiff 10

The Drovers continued their winning ways against Cardiff with a sixth consecutive win at a wet and windy Church Bank, writes Huw S Thomas

The capital city club came with serious aspirations of a win after running Pontypridd so close in the British and Irish Cup qualifier but were denied by a Llandovery side that was as full in its commitment as it was canny in its execution of play.

It was interesting to see Blues coach Phil Davies in attendance and the rumour around the ground was that a number of Llandovery players were being looked at by Davies.

Flanker and skipper Phil Day, prop Wyn Jones and lock Llew Jones showed why there is interest in them outside the Scarlets region after outstanding performances and big spending Cardiff will be envious of the burgeoning talent in the Llandovery ranks.

Rain and wind stopped all hopes of an open game and it was disappointing for the Drovers - with the elements in their favour - that they had only a four point advantage at half time

A penalty try from a collapsed maul against a penalty from Cardiff fly half Ceiron Thomas reflected little on home dominance and a 7-3 interval lead did not look enough for the Drovers in the hostile conditions.

But the side put in a quite outstanding second half performance with the forwards – superbly led by skipper and flanker Phil Day – driving up field and the backs either supporting or tackling in equal huge measure.

The pack with hooker Luke Lewis playing his best ever game for the club quite outstanding kept the ball with Scrooge like greed and when Cardiff skipper and flanker Johnathan Edwards was yellow carded at a ruck the Drovers took control.

They went ahead with an opportunist try from classy centre Adam Warren, converted by James Garland and with veteran prop and replacement Andrew Jones mangling his poor opponent Llandovery looked winners.

But a yellow card for lock and key forward Bryn Griffiths gave Cardiff a glimmer of hope and a converted try from replacement lock Nick White made the issue in doubt before the home eight shoved the Cardiff pack off the ball in spectacular style at the last scrum of the game.