Swansea had looked none too impressive in squeezing home against Dunvant in their pool and London Nigerians in the quarter-final. They had been forced to come back from 12-19 to pip their city neighbours 24-12 thanks to late efforts from internationals Matthew Robinson and Kevin Morgan and victory over the Londoners was due to the inspiration of Robinson. With time up and Swansea leading by only two points, the wing brought off a magnificent tackle to prevent Nigerian flier lk (IK) Okoli winning the game, before snatching up the loose ball to sprint home from 50 metres. The All Whites swept aside Llanelli Under 19s 56-12 but in the final looked in trouble at half time, trailing 12-17 to Samurai tries by Stuart Dixon (2) and Samoan international Mike Umaga against gutsy efforts by Morgan and Paul Moriarty. But then, urged on by a partisan crowd, Swansea tackled with venom, in the image of old war horse Moriarty, and kept possession well, none doing better than the revelation of the day, Gavin Henson, last year’s Welsh Youth fly-half. The 18-year-old Henson and fly-half Arwel Thomas who had shared time and duties with Cerith Rees throughout the day got tries to edge Swansea into the lead for the first time. Although the excellent Russ Earnshaw kept the Samurais in touch, Swansea brought on fresh legs in Chris Wells, Cerith Rees and coach John Plumtree (standing in for injured Hywel Jenkins) and it was scrum-half Rhodri Jones, fit and industrious, who scaled victory and prize money of £5,000 with a chip and chase in the final move of a hugely entertaining encounter. In the plate final, Dunvant , with scrum-half Steve Wake in top form, beat Merthyr 33-24, the same score as the main final.

Llandovery games in Pool C were: Llandovery 31, Pontardawe 5; Llandovery 0, Samurai 47; Llandovery 24 Cwmgors 10

"Fair comment" said home coach Iestyn Thomas, who was still adamant that there was a lot to come from his squad. "There were new faces in the side who were overawed by the physicality of the opposition at times, but once we use possession better we'll improve a lot."

With the wind, Llandovery were only down 14-10 at the break. Veteran lock Dai Giles got a try and fly-half Peter Lloyd a conversion and penalty against two touchdowns by quick wing Nick Bonham and full-back Peter Roberts who converted both. Llandovery should have scored at least one more try but the Bonymaen forwards took firm control in the second half with lock Chris Gittins and props Andy May and Nigel Evans outstanding up front and the midfield trio of Gareth Jones, Gareth Thomas and Mark John positive and accomplished behind. Clean ball winning, incisive running and passing and a 20-minute purple patch brought tries for Gareth Jones, Andy May and replacement lock Tristan Bowen, all converted by Roberts, who also added a monster penalty.

The Drovers had good individual performers in No 8 Dafydd Jones and prop Dorian Williams and it was Williams who steamed away to get Giles over. Llandovery even had the guts to get a third try by wing Glyn Davies before replacement scrum-half Adrian Killa scorched clear to score Bonymaen's sixth and final try, converted by Roberts.

Adding insult to injury Quins replacement centre Kevin Bevnon scored inside a minute of taking the field. Llandovery are now going to have to pull out all the stops when they take on Abercynon on Saturday.

Two moments of madness cost the visitors their first points of the season and handed the Drovers their first win of the term. First, fly-half Stuart Davies astonishingly refused the option of a straight penalty from 35 metres and elected to kick for position only to see Llandovery clear the lineout danger. Then in the dying minutes after a free kick awarded five metres from the Llandovery line, skipper Andre Bernard booted the ball into touch in the mistaken hope of getting prime line-out position only to see referee Aplin give, quite correctly, the line-out throw to the Drovers.

Llandovery's second-half defence had been top-class, none doing better than the back row of ex-Whitland flanker Phil Morgan, No 8 Rob Price and Dafydd Jones.

Abercynon must have thought themselves in a good position in the first half when they led 15-6. Home full-back Peter Lloyd had kicked two penalties but tries from Bernard and quick wing Gareth Davies plus a conversion and penalty from fly-half Stuart Davies had secured a solid lead. The two tries emphasised the extra speed of the Abercynon backs but the Llandovery pack, with prop Dorian Williams and makeshift hooker Matt Monaghan to the fore, competed well to bring their side back into the game. Lloyd kicked his third penalty and the clever work of fly-half Dai Lloyd-Jones fashioned a well taken try for wing Ioan Davies. Lloyd's touchline conversion sneaked the 16-15 win.

The game was virtually over as a contest inside the first 15 minutes as the hosts crossed for three tries to build up a 17-3 lead. Flanker Paul Morgan benefited from weak tackling to score the first try and lock Paul Jones easily breached the defence to set the platform for a Matthew Tatchell try. A kick ahead and race to the line enabled Alun Brown to score and the wing doubled his account just before the interval.

A brace of penalties by Peter Lloyd were Llandovery's only successes as they trailed 22-6. Drovers' Paul Morgan didn't enhance his side's cause as Tondu scored twice while the flanker was kicking his heels in the sin-bin. John Purnell was driven over from a line-out and Ken Morris followed up his attempted drop goal to score one of the more unusual tries. Adrian Phillips compounded the visitors' misery with a late try.

Lewis put in some telling bursts and although Berryman got a second penalty Adrian Davies finished off a five metre strong scrum with a try converted by Lloyd-Jones and a 20-6 lead. Abertillery could not pick up the pace despite the sterling efforts of flanker Martin Williams, and Lloyd-Jones finished off a good day’s work with his third penalty and a converted solo try for a personal tally of 20 points.

The game swung in the Drovers favour when they stole two tries much against the run of play late in the first half and only trailed 33-17 at the break when it could easily have been much more. After the champagne rugby of the first half everything went a bit flat as the fizz went out of the game, but Llanharan deserved their success which lifts them into a comfortable mid table position.

But significantly, The Drovers failed to press home the advantage. Llandovery had first use of the strong wind and although fly-half David Lloyd-Jones kicked well out of hand, his goal kicking was wayward. But Aberavon’s acting captain, scrum-half Daniel Hawkins, sparked the revival by darting 45 metres for his first league try for the club. A superb Ricky Price try, allied to a pair of Jamie Davies penalties, made it 18-18 on the hour. The Wizards turned on the magic during the final quarter, with wing Sam Greenaway twice crossing for tries.

Pontypool scored three tries before the interval through prop Uiniati Moa, centre Lee Jones and full-back Scott Mitchell, with lock Jared Nolan, wing Chris Batsford and replacement back Neil McKim crossing during the second half.

All the visitors’ points came from first half penalties - full-back Peter Lloyd grabbing a hat-trick and outside-half Dai Lloyd-Jones landing another long-range effort to restrict Pontypool to a 21-12 interval lead.

Llandovery had a scare right at the end when their skipper David Giles was left lying motionless on the ground after a heavy tackle. Thankfully, the No 8 recovered following a long period of treatment which continued well after the final whistle.

The weather conditions did not dampen the spirit of the teams, who deserve credit - as do the officials - for providing an enthralling encounter. Although the elements were against them in the first half, Llandovery were the quicker to get into their stride. They opened the scoring in the 12th minute with an opportunist interception try by wing Tracy Lewis which went unconverted. It was 12-0 shortly after as lively hooker Andrew Jones crashed through to score and fly-half Gary Williams added the conversion. 

Gradually the visitors got their act together and were rewarded with a penalty by prolific points-scorer Matthew Silva. The physically impressive South African Under-21 cap No 8, Mark De Maringer, was a constant threat to Rumney, and he put the Drovers 17-3 in front with their third try. Silva kicked his second penalty before Rumney drew closer with tries either side of the interval. 

Full-back Christian Wills made it 17-11 at half-time before a blindside snipe by scrum-half Glyn Welsh reduced the deficit to a single point one minute into the second period. A titanic second half played in driving rain could have brought reward for either side, but the hosts sealed victory just before the final whistle. Jones crossed for his second try after Rumney lost possession from their own throw-in. Williams converted to get Llandovery home but hardly dry.

The Oval is the place to visit if you want-a points bonanza as Treorchy followed up a 90-point match feast against Llanharan with a 73-point epic against visiting Llandovery. There were 10 tries in the match, five for each side, although at the interval with Treorchy 29-5 ahead the Drovers looked a well-beaten side. But the visitors' South African connection clicked into gear in the second period with No 8 Mark De Marigny touching down twice to add to his first-half effort, and fellow countryman Hillman Bosman, at centre, also crossed for a brace of tries.

The Zebras were in majestic form in the first half, crossing the visitors’ line four times and totally dominating play. Centre Gary Beaumont- Morgan touched down twice, wings Neil Thomas and Karl Rees also benefited from Treorchy’s expansive style to score tries and De Marigny’s first try was the visitors’ only first-half score. Beaumont-Morgan completed his hat-trick of touchdowns in the second half but Llandovery’s four touchdowns were converted by Peter Lloyd.

Treorchy were distinctly wobbly at 37-33 but a late Mathew Pearce penalty settled their nerves.

Llandovery moved clear of the basement zone of the Welsh National League first division with a clear-cut victory in bitterly cold conditions at Church Bank. They moved three places up the table with their fourth success of the campaign.

The Drovers led just 11-3 at the interval, but they played much better after the break, defying the conditions and putting together some enterprising moves.

Blackwood had two players yellow-carded - wing Matthew Pizzey for punching and flanker Ben Morris for for persistently killing the ball. Blackwood made five substitutions but it was to no avail and the Gwent side stay just one place off the foot of the table.

Fly-half Gary Williams had a good afternoon, landing three penalties and converting one of the three tries. Tracy Lewis and Gary Davies, the two wing-threequarters, each scored tries and captain Andrew Jones also went over the take the Drovers' try total for the season to 26 in 10 games. Blackwood could only manage a penalty by fly-half Martin Jones.

Newbridge grit and determination gained an unlikely win at Church Bank, where Llandovery dominated the second half without turning loads of possession into points.

Coach Mike Watkins was fulsome in his praise of Newbridge's rearguard action in keeping out Llandovery in a tense second half, but was realistic enough to admit that the Drovers could have won. "If their backs had handled anywhere near tidily and their forwards not spilled balls in prime positions we would have lost, but we defended with huge character and this was our fifth away win of the season," said former Wales hooker and captain Watkins.

Home coach Iestyn Thomas was speechless - his pack, with South African No 8 Marc De Marigny and lock Matthew Monaghan outstanding ball-carriers in the second half, had done enough to win the game.

The Drovers did the First Division proud last night when they pushed a Llanelli side, full of experienced players, all the way before going down to this narrow defeat. Both sides scored four tries, the only difference being the success of fly-half Matthew Davies, who kicked all four Llanelli conversions to only the one by Llandovery.

The Scarlets fielded a far stronger side than the one that had gone down 26-14 to Neath last Friday. Six of the pack have played European Cup rugby this year and the threequarter line contained three Welsh internationals in Wayne Proctor, Neil Boobyer and Garan Evans, plus Tongan centre Salesi Finau.

Coach Gareth Jenkins looked happy enough at half-time when tries by busy scrum-half Dwayne Peel, wing Garan Evans and lock Craig Gillies had put Llanelli 21-5 up, Llandovery’s only try coming from wing Archie Mitchell. But after the break it was all Llandovery, who have found in the trio of South Africans, centre Herman Bosman, No 8 Marc de Marigny and Mitchell, three players of some quality. The home pack, in which none did better than de Marigny, young lock Andy Powell, on permit from Newport, and prop Dorian Williams, played with a gusto and skill that shocked Llanelli.

Llanelli No 8 Mike Buckingham did get a try early in the second half but the Drovers’ pack were in almost complete control thereafter. Tries for de Marigny, elusive scrum-half Jamie Roberts and the enterprising Mitchell brought the Drovers to within four points and it was the Scarlets who ended on the ropes, saved only by the bell.

When the season is over, Merthyr may well look back on Saturday's game as an important turning point after a disappointing start to the campaign. The Ironmen hinted in their 22-12 defeat at Aberavon last week that better times may lie ahead for them, and this victory over Llandovery - their first in seven games - gave encouragement for those who hold that view.

Llandovery failed to exploit the gale-force wind behind them in the second half. Merthyr had taken advantage of it in the first period, when they built up a useful 21-8 lead.

The visitors scored the first try of the match after Jeremy Lloyd had slotted over a brace of penalties for Merthyr and Peter Lloyd one for the visitors. The try came when hooker Andrew F Jones stormed over after a forward drive led by impressive South African No 8 Mark de Marigny.

But Merthyr hit back in impressive style and, after Lloyd had restored their lead with his third penalty, home centre Gareth Williams hit the visitors with a double whammy in a four-minute spell. Both tries came as Merthyr spread the ball to the right, and Lloyd topped one of them up with a conversion to give the home side a comfortable interval advantage.

With the elements in their favour in the second period Llandovery should have done better than to secure two penalties by full-back Lloyd. But their cause was not helped by the fact that they were unable to obtain good possession from the line-out. But the Wern faithful, waiting for the final whistle, had a heart-stopping moment 30 seconds from the end, when Llandovery's replacement wing Gary Davies sprinted away only to be brilliantly tackled just short of the line by Kristian Owen.

Glamorgan Wanderers seemingly had the game in the bag when they led 30-12 early in the second half, only to be overtaken three minutes from time by a try from veteran flanker Chris Davies.

The Wanderers' quicker and more inventive backs created space to fashion tries for centre Nick Bellamy (2), wing Adrian Evans and flanker Andre Medcraft, and with Bellamy in good form with the boot to add two conversions and a penalty, no one could disagree with the handsome lead they held  with a third of the game to go.

South African centre Herman Bosman and flanker Davies had got tries to keep Llandovery in touch but the Drovers looked ponderous up front for most of the game and indecisive behind.

Tries for prop Matt Monaghan and lock Gareth Phillips plus two Williams conversions got them down to within four points at 26-30. The Drovers mounted a late challenge and Davies snapped up a deflected pass from replacement lock Phil Morgan to plunge through for the conclusive try, converted by Gary Williams.

The interest in Junior Rugby is down to a husband and wife team, Dai and Helen Thomas. Plus many thanks to all the helpers, coaches and parents also involved.

Llandovery did not have everything their own way but their superior technique and fitness took them through against a very spirited Seven Sisters outfit.

The Drovers scored six tries, three in each half, and despite the wind and driving rain put together some fluent movements with backs and forwards combining well. Ebbw Vale, visitors to Church Bank in the next round of the cup, will be assured of a very warm welcome.

The Division Three West visitors, well led by No 8 Anthony Thomas, ran their hearts out, but they had neither the firepower up front nor sufficient pace behind to threaten seriously. Llandovery had the boost of an early try by fast-improving wing Gary Davies. When the other wing, Tracy Lewis, and then hooker Andrew F Jones also crossed to make it 19-0 at half time, things looked bleak for the minnows. They looked even bleaker when on-loan Newport No 8 Andy Powell finished off a crisp counter instigated by No 8 Marc de Marigny and centre Gareth Thomas, but Sevens stuck to their task with admirable will and resolve. Replacement wing Kevin Lewis was sent in  by another replacement, centre Hywel Jones, for a try.

Although fly-half Gary Williams and Davies, again, crossed for the Drovers, the visitors had sufficient energy to get close enough to the line for excellent referee Huw Watkins to award them a penalty try for deliberate offside.

Llandovery gained a thrilling victory in this Towy Valley derby at Church Bank by scoring 33 points after the break against second-placed Quins. The visitors had looked in control at half-time when they held a 16-3 lead after a try by flanker and skipper Alan Mason and 11 points from the boot of fly-half Giles Thomas. The Drovers for their part seemed just about ready to be overrun.

Their only score had been a penalty by fly-half Gary Williams, but the transformation in both the urgency and decisiveness in the Drovers’ play in the second half was remarkable. It all started when No 8 Chris Davies burrowed through for a try very early after the break to give his side the confidence they needed to mount a come-back.

Ebbw Vale became the very first club to get into the last 16 of the Principality Cup when they overcame the determined, albeit fitful, challenge of the First Division Drovers at Church Bank. “Without playing particularly well we won,” said Ebbw Vale coach Mike Ruddock. “And winning brings confidence. I am still hopeful that Ebbw Vale will climb the league table in the near future. We were well in control in the first half only to let our foot off the pedal in the second half but full credit to Llandovery, I thought their commitment was huge after the break.” 

The Welsh-Scottish League team underlined the difference in class that exists between the two divisions. They controlled the forward exchanges in the first half with a weightier aggression and ran behind with a crispness and sharpness that the home crowd could but not admire.

The return after injury of fly-half Shaun Connor considerably helped the Ebbw Vale cause. Connor has not yet found full fitness but his confident decision-making and swift distribution made him stand out, but he will be the first to thank the good early work of his pack. Skipper and veteran No 8 Mark Jones, prop Alun Phillips and lock Chay Billen always had that little bit of extra know-how that comes from playing professional rugby. And as hard as the Drovers pack tried in the shape of No 8 Dai Giles, and flankers Andy Powell and Chris Davies, they were never really able to impose their will on proceedings until a worthy last 10 minutes. 

A crowd of 1,500 came with hopes of a cup upset but once Connor had steadied nerves with two penalties in the first quarter of an hour, there was only one side going to win. Lock Billen repeatedly punched holes in the midfield and it was the pace of wing Andrew Wagstaff that created a try for centre Rhys Shorney, converted by Connor. Ebbw Vale played with greater freedom with Connor and half-back partner Gareth Betts, a late replacement for flu victim Richard Smith, moving the ball quickly into space. Wagstaff appeared on the other wing to crash over for Vale’s second try which, with Connor’s wide out conversion, put the visitors into a 20-0 lead.

Llandovery were nothing but brave and although their line-out was never consistent, they did exert a lot of pressure just before half-time, and a magnificent individual run from broken play by the veteran Giles got the Drovers a deserved try. 

After the break Llandovery changed scrum-halves and the speed of Jamie Roberts began to give their game more fluidity. Connor, however, kept sniping and probing and although he missed a straight penalty Ebbw Vale increased their lead when Wagstaff intercepted a pass to race in from 50 yards for a converted try. 

Llandovery simply would not give in and their forwards managed to find an extra gear, much to the surprise of Ebbw Vale. Wing Tracy Lewis went on a long gallop before being hauled down deep inside the Vale 22. To their credit the Drovers’ pack dominated the late exchanges without being able to get over the line for the try that their efforts deserved.

It looked like a totally miserable weekend for Abercynon as they trailed Llandovery with Llanelli waiting in the wings. But showing guts and determination they hauled themselves back into the game at 28-30 with seconds remaining. With the clock ticking away the ball found its way to fly-half Stuart Davies – and he coolly dropped the match-winning angled goal. The three points gained could be priceless at the end of the season as the Cynon Valley side battles against relegation.

The Drovers looked on target for a resounding victory with three tries in the opening ten minutes, two of which Gary Williams converted. All resulted from weakness down Abercynon’s blind side. Centres Herman Bosman and Gareth Thomas and full-back Ioan Davies took advantage. Another try by wing Dave Kings made it 24-8 at the interval, Cynon’s points coming from a Robbie Savage penalty and a try by wing Edryd Jones.

The second half saw a transformation. The home pack took control and the Drovers wilted. Savage kicked another penalty and James Lynch, Dean Thomas and wing Gareth Dixon all crossed for tries. Savage added one conversion.

With Williams kicking two penalties for the visitors, Abercynon’s fightback looked in vain – until Davies’s dramatic last-ditch dropped goal.

Tondu stopped a run of five successive defeats with a well-deserved six tries against a Llandovery side whose generosity in defence was astonishing. For the neutral supporter this 73-point encounter was quality entertainment but both coaches, Carl Yardley of Tondu and particularly Iestyn Thomas of Llandovery will call for rudimentary tackling practice in the week. Every time the ball was moved wide a try looked on for the attacking side and the 10-try tally could easily have been doubled such was the fallibility of defence.

The visitors had the two best forwards on the field in lock Paul Jones and 19-year-old No 8 Rhys Long, still a youth player but whose footballing skills mark him as player of the future.

Llandovery waved people in for most of the first half to let scrum-half Brendan Roach, flanker St John Towell, full-back Austin Howells and centre, captain Richard Dyke, cross for tries.

When Llandovery took advantage of Tondu largesse to come back to 29-25 with a try by wing Gary Davies, plus two penalties for Gary Williams, there was the promise of a full recovery. But centre Matthew Tatchell and Towel then ran through suspect commitment to nail two converted tries into the Llandovery coffin.

The Llandovery forwards looked the better unit, the Llanharan backs the more inventive, but the highlight of the afternoon and the crucial difference between the two sides was the scintillating 60-metre try from home scrum-half Jamie Roberts. His first-half try came after a quick tap penalty had given him the space and time to run at a retreating defence and his pace took him clear of all defenders.

It was 13-13 at half-time, tries by hooker Hywel James and Roberts plus a Gary Williams penalty answered by a try for excellent Llanharan center Rhodri Davies plus eight points from the boot of full back Wayne Jervis.

When replacement fly-half Peter Lloyd added a penalty and the conversion of a try by Herman Bosman, following good work by co-centre Gareth Thomas the Drovers looked ready to dominate. But a counter-attacking try by Llanharan's Rhodri Davies made home nerves twitch but Lloyd kicked a penalty for the Drovers.

Despite opening the scoring with an eighth-minute try from wing Darren Berry, Dunvant were unable to shake off the Drovers until the final quarter.

Llandovery showed good commitment early on and levelled when scrum-half Jamie Roberts broke and an inside pass sent wing Gary Davies under the posts. Fly-half Simon Daniel then failed with a 35-metre penalty, and the sides changed ends at 7-7.

A simple Daniel penalty earned the Swansea side a 49th-minute lead, and they showed signs at this stage of monopolising possession. And when full-back Stuart Harries broke soon afterwards a barn-storming charge by flanker Stuart Jenkins secured a try under the posts. A second Daniel conversion made it 17-7, and more pressure paved the way for centre James Baker to touch down at the flag.

A patched-up Llandovery pack gradually gave best and Dunvant had a 68th-minute try by impressive full-back Harries ruled out for an infringement in the build-up.

The Wizards' renowned forwards turned the screw and were the driving force during the last gruelling moments on a stamina-sapping surface. Llanharan import Greg Dix had a fine game at tighthead for Aberavon, while the Drovers were well served by lock Dai Giles.

Aberavon, unbeaten at home, never looked back after taking a 15-0 lead after half an hour. Tries by centre Shane McIntosh and a gem from wing Daran Grffiths left the Wizards in the driving seat.

Llandovery fly-half Hermann Bosman missed a couple of penalties at vital moments, but later atoned with a smart try. But it was too little too late, because Aberavon had added a third try through New Zealander Scott Leighton and signed off with a late effort from centre Paul Morgan.

Pontypool's vastly underrated fly-half Stuart Lawrence gave a five-star performance in an exciting match of fluctuating fortunes at Church Bank to help the once all-powerful Gwent outfit to a narrow victory. A tall and rangy player, who would not look out of place in the Welsh-Scottish league, he scored his side's first and last tries and amassed 21 points.

Pooler, lying third in the First Division, were made to fight every inch of the way by a tenacious Drovers team who fought back from a 29-13 deficit to come within a single score of their visitors. Pontypool out-scored their hosts 5-4 on  tries, Lawrence and left wing Stewart Pennell getting two tries apiece with the remaining touch-down coming from No 8 Danny Ogg. Lawrence contributed another eleven points with the boot, converting four of the five tries and landing a penalty.

Llandovery's tries came from Matthew Monaghan, flanker Phil Morgan and replacements Jamie Roberts and Lyndon Bateman. Herman Bosman converted one of the touch downs and put over two penalties, while Gary Williams kicked two conversions.

Llandovery gained their first Division One away win of the season thanks to a touchline conversion kick by fly-half Gary Williams. Peter Roberts missed a second-minute penalty for Bonymaen before Llandovery hit back as left wing David Kings was almost over. Kings was halted, but fellow wing Andrew Richards went in for a 10th minute try to open the score.

Bonymaen lost fly-half Matthew McCarthy with injury which caused their backs to reshuffle, but after 30 minutes they produced a good score. Adrian Killa and Tristan Bowen led the way and flanker David Hills was up to score, with Roberts converting and then adding a penalty.

Roberts landed another penalty in the second half, but Llandovery gradually came back into the game. Roberts had wasted a chance with a penalty miss from in front of the posts and both sides rang the changes with the next score being vital. Williams kicked a penalty for Llandovery and then full-back Gary Davies scored a try to level the scores. Williams kept his cool and kicked the conversion.

Any team that wins silverware requires a never-say-die attitude and Dunvant, 17-3 adrift at the interval and in deficit until the 70th minute, had that in abundance. Fourteen points in the dying moments of the game, with tries by wings Darren Berry and Anthony Rees both converted by Simon Daniel, turned the crisis into a drama.

But Llandovery will rue the fact that they should have nailed a victory firmly to the Church Bank mast in the first half. With the elements in their favour, they dominated the game, but only crossed twice through centre Tracy Lewis and a brilliant 40-metre burst from scrum-half Jamie Roberts. Both tries were converted by Gary Williams who also kicked a penalty. Dunvant's only reward was a Daniel close-range penalty.

The visitors clawed their way back into the match with a brace of Daniel penalties, but Williams replied with another penalty to put Dunvant on the back foot again. Replacement Anthony Piper touched down for the visitors' first try, converted by Daniel, before Dunvant staged their remarkable late Houdini escape act.

In the opening quarter Treorchy took the lead with a try by fly-half Richard Langmead after a dart by centre Mark Shepherd. A cut through by Drovers' full-back Gary Davies, carried on by ex-Treorchy wing Andrew Lewis, made huge inroads into the Zebras' defence on the right, and when the ball was switched left, the sprightly Giles was on hand to score, fly-half Gary Williams converting.

With the wind, it was all Llandovery after the break, the driving loose play of the pack building up the pressure on the beleaguered visitors, but it took an interception try by Tracy Lewis converted by Williams to take Llandovery a score clear.

Williams penned Treorchy back with some long diagonals and kicked two penalties before centre Herman Bosman jinked through for the clinching score.