Huw S Thomas reports:

First Division One Narberth got the better of Premiership side Llandovery but the respective coaches Rob Phillips and Gareth Davies were both happy at the way things went at the Lewis Lloyd Ground on Saturday. 

Both coaches used as many players as were available to them in three periods of 30 minutes and Phillips was delighted with the scalp of the Drovers, paying tribute to the superior organisation and rate work of the home pack. “We were quicker to the break down thanks to the grand work of the back rowers – Lewis Woods, Jack Mason, David Beynon, Anthony Griffiths and Colin Davies – and were therefore able to control play that little bit better than Llandovery” estimated Phillips. “We did not have as many players missing as Llandovery but Elgan Vittle, Adrian Chiffi, James Bohana, Andrew Bowen and Andrew Dennis will boost our strength considerably when they return.” 

“The great positive for us was to see the Tenby backs Dan Shooter and Andy Davies and Haverfordwest threequarters Steve Martin and Matthew Davies prove that they can make the step up to a higher grade of rugby.” 

“And our South African signings from Darlington - fly half Mike Geurgeau and big lock Pretorious Naude - look players of some class, so all in all we must be very satisfied at the way things have started.” concluded Phillips. 

Gareth Davies, the new Drovers coach was more than happy at the opportunity of casting his eye over 27 players who featured in one or two of the three periods played by Llandyssul referee Richard Hughes. 

“We have had over 30 players training on a regular basis and all those available deserved game time of equal proportion “ said Davies who has left Division One side Llangennech to coach the Drovers. 

“We also had over a dozen certain or potential first team regulars missing through injury or holiday taking so the result was nothing to worry about.” 

“All credit to Narberth who edged the forward exchanges and looked well organised” added Llandovery assistant coach Lyndon Lewis who is also a newcomer to Llandovery, after moving from Vardre in the close season. 

“We finished the game the stronger with a good build up and try in the last five minutes and can now look to taking that that improvement into this Saturday’s game against an Alliance XV, made up of players from our own feeder clubs” continued Lewis.

Director of Coaching Jeremy Evans thought the game a really good work out for a lot of players who are hoping to make the Llandovery squad.

“A number of players put their hands up for serious consideration and we are delighted to see local players from Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire and Breconshire keen on furthering their careers with us at Llandovery.”

Amongst those who impressed in their first ever outing in the Llandovery red and white hoops were Llandeilo full back fly half Howard Thomas, Amman Utd fly half Rhys Thomas, Loughor centre Peter Smiriglia and Felinfoel flanker Matthew Davies.

There were flashes of promise from Llangennech centre Geraint Davies, a former captain of Llandovery College, Amman Utd lock/flanker Chris Rees, Carmarthen Quins wing Owain Rowlands and Lampeter No 8 Dafydd Jones.

Both new hookers Adam Yelland (Llanelli) and Kevin Allen (Narberth) had trouble in finding the jumpers with their throws but put in useful contributions in the loose.

Llandovery’s best patches were in the first ten minutes and the last ten minutes with Narberth having the edge in the intervening 70 minutes.

After Adam Yelland had got the opening try after neat work from Rhys Thomas and Peter Smiriglia, the Otters responded with a penalty by Mike Geurgeau and the took the lead with an a try by the darting Dan Shooter, converted by Geurgeau.

Very lively scrum half Adrian Killa scuttled over after some driving play from the home pack, led by the evergreen Emouri Katalau, Geurgeau converting for a 17-5 lead.

Replacement fly half Scott Penney increased the lead to 20-5 before Llandovery had an excellent final 10 minutes.

With scrum half Rob Walters injecting more zip into proceedings, the Drovers took hold of the game and minutes from the end Howard Thomas made the score more respectable for Llandovery.

Taking a pass from Rhys Thomas, the Llandeilo man sped in at an angle near enough to the posts for the Amman Utd fly half to convert.

There was little despondency in the Llandovery camp after a closely contested game but the Evans, Davies, Lewis triumvirate will be glad see the players unavailable for Narberth return in the coming weeks.

The likes of forwards Ceri Davies, Tom Walker and  Eifion Gwynne, flying Wales U21 wing Ifan Evans and new men, fly half Tomos Marks (Llanelli) and No 8 Gareth Bennett (Narberth), will no doubt inject momentum into the preparations for the opening game of the Premiership, against Maesteg, on September 3

Team: see below.

Missing through injury/holiday - Ceri Davies, Ioan Davies, Gary Beaumont-Morgan, Aled Williams, Eifion Gwynne, Ifan Evans, Matt Jefferies, Tom Walker, Glyn Davies, Tomos Marks (Llanelli), Gareth Bennett (Narberth) Aron May (Llandeilo), Mark Bowen (Llangennech), Andy Williams (Felinfoel)

See Latest News section for any programme notes.

Llandovery did not have everything their own way at Church Bank last Saturday against an Alliance XV made up of players from local feeder clubs but finished very strongly to eventually run in nine tries without reply. 

Coach Gareth Davies was well satisfied to see 34 of his players considerably sharper and more direct than in the previous week’s 20-12 reversal at Narberth. 

“The tempo was higher and the support play better which meant that we had quicker ball to exploit and we created a lot of chances as the game wore on – testament to the fitness of the squad.” said Davies. 

Some of the players who did not feature against Narberth looked in good fettle, none more so than three of last year’s stalwarts - flankers Eifion Gwynne and Ceri Davies, plus lock Tom Walker. 

Big, bustling centre Mark Bowen who has moved to Church Bank from Llangennech was another to make a big impression in scoring a brace of very well taken tries. 

New signings Loughor centre Peter Smiriglia, the Amman Utd fly half Rhys Thomas who kicked three conversions, Felinfoel flanker Matthew Davies and Llanelli hooker Adam Yelland were others to shine in the hot summer sun. There was, too, a promising display from Iwan Harries, a Cardiff Meds student from Aberystwyth who showed real pace and directness on the left wing. 

Players from Brynamman, Lampeter, Llandeilo, Llandybie and Brecon, plus fringe Llandovery players gave the Drovers a good work out and there were a number of players who showed enough talent to catch the eye of the Llandovery coaching panel. 

The Lampeter pair of full back Aled Morgan and centre Llyr Thomas, Llandybie fly half Rob Gooodfellow, Llandeilo full back Howard Thomas, the Brecon duo of flanker Chris Lewis and scrum half Shane Rees plus Brynamman No 8 Clive Llewelyn all did good things with limited opportunities. 

The Drovers scored two, three and four tries respectively in the three half-hour periods well directed by Ystradgynlais referee Peter Soroko. 

The long striding Bowen burst through for the opening try, followed one from fit from Rugby League prop Dennis Pugh who took advantage of quick ruck ball to crash through tackles. 

Scrum half Iwan Mainwaring, Canadian wing Brad Kiersted and last year’s skipper Ceri Davies added tries in the second period but the Drovers reserved their best for  the final half-hour. 

Wing Rhodri Thomas, flanker Gareth Thomas, Bowen and Harries all took their chances decisively to pull Llandovery over the 50 mark with some conviction. 

Director of Rugby Jeremy Evans, coaches Davies and Lyndon Lewis and conditioning coach Roy James will now sit down to name a 24 man squad to prepare for Saturday’s friendly with Waunarlwydd and the first Premiership game of the season against Maesteg on September 3. 

Still to be seen in a competitive environment is close season signing from Llanelli, Tomos Marks whilst Narberth No 8 Gareth Bennett is out until October because of knee surgery. Marks is expected to be fit to play a part in the game against Waunarlwydd on Saturday (KO 2 30 pm).

The Select XV, made up of players from the Scarlets' four feeder clubs - Carmarthen Quins, Llanelli, Llandovery and Narberth – gave a good account of itself before eventually going down by 6 tries to two at Llandovery’s Church Bank.

Scarlets coach Gareth Jenkins deemed the game a more than useful exercise. “There are many players from our feeder clubs, anxious to make a name in the professional ranks and this kind of game will tell them and us how far they have to go.”

On the evidence of what was on view last night, a number of players have the potential to step out of the semi-pro ranks, some in the near future. Gareth King (Quins) was an adventurous full back, wings Ifan Evans (Llandovery) and Steven Davies (Llanelli) looked pacey with limited opportunities, whilst Ricky Richards (Quins) and Michael Hook (Llanelli) were both busy and alert at half back.

In the loose locks Tom Walker (Llandovery) and Dominic Day (Quins) worked like Trojans and Llandovery hooker Adam Yelland was omnipresent before being injured whilst flanker Ioan Cunningham (Llanelli) led the side with gusto.

The score at half time was just 24-17 to the Scarlets, tries by lock Adam Jones, wing Darren Daniel and flanker Johnathan Edwards trumping efforts from Evans and Walker for the semi pros.

The respective fly halves Craig Evans and Michael Hook missed no kicks, Evans hitting three conversions and a penalty, Hook two conversions and a penalty.

But three tries in eight minutes from centre Paul Mackey, hooker Craig Hawkins and prop Phil John pulled the Scarlets clear soon after the break.

The Scarlets threw on some of their internationals - the likes of flanker Gavin Thomas, centre Salesi Finau and Inoke Afeaki - the difference between pro and semi pro in speed and fitness became evident.

It was to the semi pros' great credit that they summoned up enough determination and energy to keep the score to under 50 in the final quarter.

Barry Davies, Darren Daniel, Garan Evans, Paul Mackey, Tal Selley; Craig Evans, Liam Davies; Phil John, Craig Hawkins, John Davies, Adam Jones, David Duley, Chris Wyatt, Gavin Quinnell, Johnathan Edwards

Replacements used: Dorian Williams, Inoke Afeaki, Jonathan Mills, Gavin Thomas, Salesi Finau,

Semi Pro XV

Gareth King (Carmarthen Quins); Ifan Evans (Llandovery), Mike Jones (Llanelli), Emyr Jones (Quins), Steven Davies (Llanelli); Michael Hook (Llanelli), Ricky Richards (Quins); Ben Grace (Quins), Adam Yelland (Llandovery), Marc O’Kelly (Quins), Tom Walker (Llandovery), Dominic Day (Quins), Ioan Cunningham (Llanelli) (Capt), Chris Jones (Quins), Stuart Phillips (Quins)

Replacements used: Nick Jones (Llanelli), James Bohata (Narberth), Darren Simpson, Dan Smith (both Quins), Andrew Jones, Rob Walters, Matthew Davies (all Llandovery)

Semi Pro XV - Tries: I Evans, T Walker; Cons: M Hook (2); Pen: M Hook

Llandovery finished their pre season preparations by inflicting a six tries to nil defeat on Waunarlwydd  at Church Bank. 

The Towy Valley side will go into next Saturday’s opening Premiership home game against Maesteg with every hope of starting off the league campaign with a morale boosting win over their newly promoted opponents. 

Waunarlwydd, who will play in National Division One this year after promotion from Division Two West last season, gave a good account of themselves against the Drovers. Coach Jason Hyatt was upbeat about the prospects for the new season. “We could have chosen to play our warm up games against less tough opponents than Aberavon and Llandovery but despite losing 50-0 and 40-0, we feel that we have enough talent and determination to compete in Division One.” said Hyatt. “Our fitness was excellent and our scrummaging with a reserve front row was outstanding against an experienced Llandovery front five.” 

The ex Aberavon and Llanelli hooker must have also been pleased with the ambition of full back Simon Crane, the bullishness of skipper and scrum half Mike Harris and the hard work of a very competitive back row in young Andy Gwynne, Simon Hart and James Berry. 

Llandovery President, Phil Davies, a former Waunarlwydd prop of some renown was full of praise for his old team. “They gave us a far better test than the 40-0 scoreline suggests but it was good to see Llandovery playing with more width and directness.” 

Davies also praised the Drovers' defence that has not conceded a point in the last two warm up games and was optimistic of a good start against Maesteg. “We are better balanced than last year but we know that it will be a close battle against “The Old Parish”.” said Davies. 

Llandovery will hope that the players who shone against Waunarlwydd will perform as well on Saturday. Centre Marc Bowen ran hard in the centre, Ifan Evans looked sharp on the right wing and both scrum halves Rob Walters and Iwan Mainwaring had excellent halves apiece. 

Locks Tom Walker and new captain Arwel Davies were strong in the contact area and the whole back row of Eifion Gwynne, Ceri Davies and newcomer Matthew Davies were as busy as bees. 

Ex Llangennech centre Bowen was almost over early on after a long and powerful run before drives from Gwynne and No 8 Ceri Davies fashioned a try for wing Owain Rowlands. More good work from Davies brought a try for Walker and then Evans came off his wing to race through the middle for Llandovery’s third. With ex Loughor fly half Peter Smiriglia converting all three tries, it was 21-0 at the break.

Despite the hard graft in the tight where the reserve front row of Alun Lee, Andy Badger and Andy Edwards played so well and the work rate of James Berry in the loose, Waunarlwydd were to concede three more tries in the second half. 

Matthew Davies was up to support breaks from full back Ioan Davies and scrum half Iwan Mainwaring, Evans chipped the defence for a speed merchant’s try and Mainwaring scored a quite brilliant solo try from half way. 

Berry came near for Waun and the forwards were just short with a catch and drive in an encounter that fitted the bill for both clubs.

I Davies (rep H Thomas); O Rowlands (rep B Keirstead), M Bowen. G Beaumont-Morgan (rep G Davies), I Evans (rep D James); P Smiriglia (rep R Thomas), R Walters (rep I Mainwaring);  D Thomas (rep A Williams), K Allen (rep G Thomas), A Jones, T Walker (rep J Ciaburro), A Davies (capt), E Gwynne (rep K Hughes), C Davies (rep D Jones), M Davies

Tries: I Evans (2), O Rowlands, T Walker, M Davies, I Mainwaring; Cons: P Smiriglia (5)

Famous invitation side, the White Hart Marauders won the Aberaeron Sevens in some style, beating the Carmarthen Warriors 28-10 in the final.

The Marauders had been warm favourites to win last year’s tournament but went down to shock defeat at the hands of a young Ospreys side. They made no mistake when they reeled off a series of comfortable wins in both pool and knockout stages before edging out the Warriors in the final. 

The surprise packet of the tournament were the Warriors, drawn from Carmarthen Athletic, Carmarthen Quins and Llandovery players. They accounted for Bargoed in a rousing semi final before giving the Marauders, from Hampshire, a really tough challenge in the final. 

Bargoed has caused the biggest shock of the tournament in beating the Scarlets  – eventual Plate winners - 24-22 at the pool stage. 

The Warriors had to dig deep to get past Bargoed, the winning try from their flying wing Ifan Evans, his third of the game, earning a close 26-19 decision. 

The Marauders with seven Fijians, British Army scrum half Howard Graham, plus father and son Colin and Matthew Hillman in the squad, beat the Ospreys 28-5 in the other semi final, James Dixon (Maesteg) getting the only try for the losers. 

In the final, Evans – the quickest player on show - and fellow Drover Barrie Thomas got tries but the intricate patterns and wonderful support play of the Marauders fashioned the decisive tries for Fijian quartet Alex Swann, Tom Turagabeca, Taniela Delaitamana and Kim Vaudreu, all converted by the unflappable Graham. 

Semi finals - Marauders 28 Ospreys 5, Carmarthen Warriors 26 Bargoed 19

Final - Marauders 28 Carmarthen Warriors 10 

Tries from Michael Davies (2), Iwan Taffetsauffer, Iwan Mainwaring and Matt Jacob helped the Scarlets beat Lampeter 31-0 in the Plate Final 

The other Aberaeron 7s winners over the three day festival were Merthyr who beat Newcastle Emlyn 40-5 for the Youth title, Crymych (U9s), Mold U13s and Clifton (Women's). Clifton’s Naomi Thomas scored four tries in the final against Wasps .

Huw S Thomas reports:

The Drovers got their Principality Building Society Premiership league campaign off to a great start on Saturday when they came back from a 23-12 half time deficit to score five unanswered tries in a fine display of running rugby. 

Maesteg had lost 57-15 the last time they had faced Llandovery in a league game at Church Bank back in November 1998 but this game was a very different affair. 

The Old Parish, relegated from the First Division at the end of the 1998-1999 season, competed with gusto and shook the Drovers to the core by taking a 23-12 interval lead. 

Well led by No 8 Karl Hocking, Maesteg outscrapped the home eight in the loose and their ability to convert chances into tries put the visitors deservedly ahead. 

Two opportunist tries and a drop goal from wing Grant Epton plus 10 points from the boot of fly half Mark David had decisively bettered four penalties from makeshift home fly half Peter Smiriglia. 

New Llandovery coach Gareth Davies, successor to Iestyn Thomas, made sure that home tactics changed in the second half. “We played into their hands in the first half by trying to take them on too much at the fringes of ruck and maul” explained the new coach. “The likes of Ian Boobyer and Karl Hocking have relished such confrontations throughout distinguished careers and we were playing into their hands. I reminded the boys that we had to avoid getting into hand to hand fighting with the Maesteg back row and to spread the ball wider and far more quickly if we were to turn the tables. We responded in style, moving the ball away from the contact area with speed and using superior pace outside to good effect.” 

It was a wonderful try from half way by on loan Scarlets wing Aisea Havili that was the turning point of the match. Nine minutes after the restart, the five times capped Tongan escaped up the right hand touch line, kicked over the cover and beat defenders to the rolling ball with some ease. 

It made Llandovery realise that the game was there for the taking out on the wide-open flanks. 

Inspired by No 8 Jonathan Mills who was outstanding in all phases and Scarlets lock Inoke Afeaki – a former Tongan captain – who proved a real force in line out and loose, Llandovery hit a purple patch of attacking rugby, not seen at Church Bank for years. 

Between the 60^th and 71^st minutes, the very fit Drovers cut the Maesteg defence to shreds with a combination of slick handling, great support work and deadly finishing. 

Wing Ifan Evans showed he is fast approaching his best after the disappointment of last year’s  injury tainted season by scorching away from the cover before Afeaki made and scored a try from a line out. 

Leggy centre Mark Bowen raced in from 40 metres and then the best try of the day saw a slick build up involving replacement scrum half Iwan Mainwaring, Mills, Bowen and Havili end in Mainwaring sprinting in from near the half way line for a spectacular score. 

There was scant consolation for Maesteg in a third and very late try by replacement flanker Marcus Sainsbury.

Photos of the game, from Ian Williams of Riley Sports Photography, uploaded here

See Latest News section for programme notes.

Tries: A Havili, I Evans, I Afeaki, M Bowen, I Mainwaring; Cons: P Smiriglia (2); Pens: P Smiriglia (4)

I Davies 6/10; I Evans 8/10, M Bowen 7/10, G Beaumont-Morgan 6/10, A Havili 7/10; P Smiriglia 6/10, R Walters 6/10; D Williams 7/10, A Yelland 7/10, A Jones 7/10, A Davies 7/10, I Afeaki 8/10, E Gwynne 5/10, J Mills 8/10, M Davies 7/10

Replacements - I Mainwaring 7/10, C Davies 6/10, G Thomas 6/10 (H Thomas, B Keirstead were very late replacements)

Match ball: Dai and Jean Evans Manchester

Man of the Match: The Committee

The surge of optimism engendered by the 41-33 win over Maesteg was a thing of the past as Llandovery went down to heavy defeat at Pandy Park. Cross Keys so outplayed a listless and leaden footed Llandovery that the only surprise at the end of the day was how the Drovers had escaped so lightly against a side superior in all departments.

Director of rugby Jeremy Evans was honest enough to admit that the defeat was a serious set back after the promising opening against Maesteg. "The whole coaching team are hugely disappointed," he said. "We recognise that the boys under-performed badly but there is enough talent in the side to bring us back to winning ways. Our defence in all areas was poor and we will have to act swiftly to rectify this or we will be in real trouble. The one comfort that we can take out of the defeat was the courage of the side to keep their line intact for the last 35 minutes of the game and we will need to carry this on against Pontypool this week."

More organised at the line out, more forceful in the contact area and far quicker behind the scrum in both thought and deed, Keys looked a different class against a side that based on this performance looks set to struggle in the Premiership this season.

The tempo set by Keys forwards and backs alike continually put the Drovers under pressure and the writing was on the wall for the west Walians as early as the second minute when young Cross Keys lock Scott Marasco celebrated his debut with a try.

The Drovers defence behind the scrum was woeful and the Keys centre partnership of David Price and captain Gareth Turner had a field day as they slipped tackle after tackle to set up promising positions. Turner with two tries and wing Marcus Johnson with one touchdown plus a penalty and three conversions from ex-Wales full back Justin Thomas helped the Gwent team to get 29-0 up at the break.

When tries by Price and Thomas increased the lead to 43-0 just after the break, a cricket score was on the cards only for Llandovery to at last show some resolve and determination.

As desperate as the defeat would seem, there were some positives to come out of the last 35 minutes of the game as the Drovers managed to shut out the home side.

Young Dafydd Thomas at loose head prop lasted the pace better than many of his elders and so-called betters in the pack and was rated Llandovery's best player by Cross Keys coach Rob Beale.

Eighteen-year-old hooker Emyr Phillips played the last quarter with a zest and enthusiasm which was refreshing and back row replacement Dafydd Jones got stuck in with gusto.

Llandovery even created a few try scoring chances thanks to the openings made by scrum-half Iwan Mainwaring and there were useful contributions from replacement backs Ioan Davies and Gary Beaumont-Morgan.

But the relief of avoiding a 50 point drubbing was all the satisfaction that players, coaches and supporters could muster at the end of a bad day out in Gwent.

H Thomas; B Keirstead (rep I Davies 62’), M Bowen, P Smiriglia (rep G Beaumont-Morgan 63’), I Evans; R Thomas, I Mainwaring; D Thomas, G Thomas (rep E Phillips 63’), A Jones, T Walker, A Davies (capt) (rep J Ciaburro 71’), E Gwynne (rep D Jones 70’), C Davies, M Davies

-

Howard Thomas 5/10; Brad Keirstead 4/10, Mark Bowen 4/10, Peter Smiriglia 3/10, Ifan Evans 5/10; Rhys Thomas 4/10, Iwan Mainwaring 5/10; Dafydd Thomas 7/10, Gareth Thomas 6/10, Andrew Jones 5/10, Tom Walker 5/10, Arwel Davies 5/10, Eifion Gwynne 5/10, Ceri Davies 4/10, Matthew Davies 5/10

Replacements Ioan Davies 6/10, Gary Beaumont-Morgan 6/10, Emyr Phillips 6/10, Dafydd Jones 5/10

Director of rugby at Church Bank, Jeremy Evans, was bitterly disappointed to see his side slide to a second successive defeat away to Gwent opposition. Unlike the previous week when the Drovers had been outplayed by a classy Cross Keys outfit this time the Tywi Valley side were the superior team but committed so many errors in both defence and attack that they gifted a poor Pontypool team with their first league victory of the season.

There is obviously good potential in the Llandovery side this season and in this game forwards Adam Yelland, Tom Walker and Dorian Williams all showed up well in the loose whilst the pack as a whole dominated the home eight in the tight scrums. For both sides the line out was a lottery and the side throwing in gained little advantage. Behind the scrum Tomas Marks in his first league game of the season worked hard to try and set his threes in motion and generally looked comfortable at outside half.

After an early penalty miss and a scoring pass put to ground the pressure from the visitors enabled Ioan Davies to record the first try. Llandovery were awarded a penalty under the Pontypool posts and as the defence waited for the kick at goal the full back took a quick tap and dived over the line. Tomas Marks added the extra points with the conversion.

During a period when both sides were guilty of kicking away possession a number of penalty kicks at goal were taken with Tomas Marks successful with one and his opposite number Ross Watts recording two to leave the Drovers leading 10-6 as half time approached.

Excellent breaks by Drovers scrum half Rob Walters and hooker Adam Yelland both ended when handling errors denied the team certain tries. To add to the problems a further handling error saw the ball gifted to the home side who for once kept the ball in hand and worked Lennie Woodard into space. The experienced winger crossed and ran round under the posts to make an easy conversion for Ross Watts and gave Pontypool, pinned in their own half for most of the 40 minutes, a most undeserved and unlikely 13-10 lead at half time.

At half time young prop Dafydd Thomas who had given a good account of himself was replaced by the more experienced Dorian Williams, whilst an early injury saw centre Geraint Davies replaced by Peter Smiriglia. The Drovers, desperate to regain the lead, set up a series of attacks but a long kick out of defence by Pontypool saw the ball roll into touch in the Drovers' 22 m zone. The throw went astray and the mistake was compounded when a penalty was conceded. Taking a tap kick the ball eventually reached Ross Watts who forced his way over in the corner to extend the home side's lead to 18-10.

Tomas Marks was then successful with a penalty kick at goal but then, following good work by Dragons centre Steve Winn, replacement flanker Lloyd Burns followed up to score his side' third try, converted by Watts.

Even when trailing by 25 points to 13 the game appeared to be within the Drovers' grasp as they continued to press a home side gaining in confidence and playing more open rugby. Unfortunately forward passes, knock-ons, turnovers in the rucks and penalties conceded in the Pontypool 22 undid all the good work put in to establish an attacking platform.

Worse was to follow when, with time running out, a passing movement broke down and Ross Watts was able to grab the ball. Finding no one in front of him the Pontypool outside half raced from half way to cross under the posts and then added the conversion in a total haul of 22 points to consign the Drovers to a 32-13 defeat.

Try: Ioan Davies; Con: Tomas Marks; Pens: Tomas Marks (2)

Newport stay unbeaten in the Premiership but had to fight tooth and nail to come back from a 19-10 half time deficit to pip the Drovers by the very narrowest of margins at Church Bank.

“We knew that we would have our hands full at Church Bank” said Newport coach Dai Rees. who is being tipped as the man to coach the newly reformed Wales seven a side team for next year’s Commonwealth Games. ”I have been up to Llandovery too many times in the past to take anything for granted and am more than satisfied to sneak a win by the odd point in 51” admitted a very relieved Rees.

“It could make a vital difference at the end of the season as I believe there to be five or six candidates for the title this year” said Rees who pinpointed Neath, Pontypridd, Bridgend, Aberavon and Cross Keys as other contenders.

Rees thought Llandovery would have no trouble in maintaining their status in the Premiership. “A lot of sides will have as difficult passage as we did and lose rather than win.”

Home coach Gareth Davies had seen his Drovers match Newport in all areas apart from the line out where Matthew Veater stole the home throw at vital times.

“Their edge in the line out made the crucial hairline difference between success and defeat but the boys produced a top performance against a side that has finished first and second in the first two years of the Premiership” said Davies, whose son Paul was in the home pack.

“We are very disappointed to lose by just a point but the boys can take huge benefit out of the game before we receive another unbeaten team in Pontypridd next Saturday.”

“If we can sustain the momentum built up against Newport , improve our line out and tighten up the defence, I think we can give any side a game.”

Plusses for Davies were the promising debut of full back Andrew Williams and the goalkicking of fly half Tomas Marks who put over six penalties in seven attempts and kicked a touchline conversion of the home try for a 20 point haul.

Wing Owain Rowlands was swift and positive in defence and attack whilst up front hooker Adam Yelland showed his class with some stabbing runs in the loose and the back row of Paul Davies, ex Narberth No 8 Gareth Bennett and Matthew Davies scavenged and fought for everything.

Captain and lock Arwel Davies, too, led the side with his usual unbounded gusto to help the Drovers lead 19-10 at half time, fly half Marks kicking four penalties and the conversion of an opportunist try by wing Rowlands to reward the effort of his pack.

Newport hung on with a try from flanker Sam Waldron after a well controlled rolling maul and five points from fly half Dan Griffiths to go in 19-10 down.

A clean break by centre Richard Payne, supported by Waldron, sent hooker Rhys James crashing under the posts right at the start of the second half and with Griffiths adding the conversion and two penalties, Newport looked ready to pull clear at 23-19.

Not a bit of it as the Drovers rallied bravely, two more penalties from Marks shading another by Griffiths to set up a hectic finale.

With the last kick of the game replacement centre Peter Smiriglia had the chance to snatch the game for Llandovery only to see his ambitious attempt from 50 metres drop short.

Photos of the game, from Ian Williams of Riley Sports Photography, uploaded here

See Latest News section for programme notes.

Andrew Williams: I Evans, M Bowen, G Beaumont-Morgan (rep P Smiriglia 69’), O Rowlands: T Marks, I Mainwaring (rep R Walters 55’); D Thomas (rep Aled Williams 55’), A Yelland, A Jones, A Davies (capt), J Ciaburro (rep G Davies 69’), P Davies, G Bennett (rep E Gwynne 53’), M Davies (rep C Davies 69’)

Try: Owain Rowlands; Con: Tomas Marks; Pens: Tomas Marks (6)

Andrew Williams 7; I Evans 6, M Bowen 5, G Beaumont-Morgan 6, O Rowlands 8: T Marks 8, I Mainwaring 6; D Thomas 5, A Yelland 7, A Jones 6, A Davies (capt) 7, J Ciaburro 5, P Davies 6, G Bennett 6, M Davies 6

(Reps: P Smiriglia 6, R Walters 6, Aled Williams 7, G Davies 5, C Davies 5, E Gwynne 7)

Star Choice Llandovery: Tomas Marks

Match ball: Phil Jones

Man of the Match: K L Plant Kidwelly

Llandovery competed well enough against unbeaten Pontypridd only to concede two late tries and go down to their fourth defeat in five league games.

There was little to choose between the two sides for 70 minutes at which stage the score was 6-6 but the more organised visitors eventually got home with a little to spare.

Llandovery director of Coaching Jeremy Evans took the positives out of the game. “After running one of the favourites, Newport to a single point, we were very hopeful of turning over Pontypridd" said Evans “and to our credit we gave another of the favourites all the way to go.”

“Our scrum was superior, we held our own at the line out and competed well in the loose until the last 10 minutes so there is no need to be despondent as I am sure the wins will come.”

The front row of Dorian Williams, Adam Yelland and Andrew Jones often had their opposite numbers in individual and collective trouble, Arwel Davies and Tom Walker got reasonable line out ball and Matthew Davies along with the very busy Yelland scrapped well in the open.

But the Ponty pack was well knit, had the best forward on the field in No 8 Nathan Strong and finished the fitter and fresher.

That said, it was a refereeing decision that was the key to the outcome of the game. It occurred six minutes before the break when Llandovery led 6-3, two penalties by fly half Tomas Marks having trumped one by his opposite number Dai Flanagan.

With the Drovers pack surging forward, Ponty flanker and skipper Dale McIntosh was yellow carded for offside near his own line and from a resulting scrum the home eight drove to the line for what looked to be a inevitable try and easy conversion.

Referee Jonathan Mason then penalised Llandovery tight head prop Andrew Jones for popping his head out of the scrum and smiling Ponty escaped.

Not only did they escape from being down 13-3 but Flanagan took them into the break 6-6 after putting over a point blank range penalty.

After the break, the wet ball made handling difficult and neither side could hang on to the ball long enough to finish off attacks.

It looked stalemate as the game wound down and replacements were thrown on in an attempt to change the course of things. The most effective substitution was made by Ponty who brought on former Carmarthen Quins scrum half Wayne Evans for Gareth Jones.

With No 8 Strong outstanding, the visitors’ pack finished the better, helped by some incisive running and distribution from ex Bro Myrddin pupil Evans.

A sliced kick from Llandovery full back Andrew Williams gave Pontypridd the space to build up a flowing attack which eventually saw hooker Leighton Davies go over in the 70th minute.

Four minutes later, “The Chief” crashed through for the second try, converted by Flanagan, and were it not for a magnificent cover tackle by replacement scrum half Iwan Mainwaring on Evans, Ponty would have gone further ahead.

For Ponty it was a fifth consecutive win in as many games and a move to the top of the Premiership table, for the Drovers another case of what might have been.

See Latest News section for programme notes.

Andrew Williams (rep I Davies 71’);O Rowlands, M Bowen, G Beaumont-Morgan (rep P Smiriglia 75’), I Evans; T Marks, R Walters (rep I Mainwaring 75’); D Williams, A Yelland (rep K Allen 75’), A Jones (rep Aled Williams 75’), T Walker (rep G Davies 72’), V Cooper, A Davies (capt), G Bennett (rep C Davies 60’), M Davies

Pens: Tomas Marks (2)

Andrew Williams 5; O Rowlands 6, M Bowen 5, G Beaumont-Morgan 5, I Evans 6; T Marks 6, R Walters 5; D Williams 6, A Yelland 7, A Jones 6, T Walker 6, V Cooper 5, A Davies 6, G Bennett 4, M Davies 6

(Reps: I Davies 5; P Smiriglia 5, I Mainwaring 6, K Allen 5, Aled Williams 5, G Davies 5, C Davies 6

Match ball: Clee, Tompkinson & Francis

Man of the Match:

It looks like being a long, hard season for the Drovers in their battle against relegation from the Principality Premiership. Cardiff, in gaining their first league win of the season, lifted themselves above the West Wales side and in doing so consigned Llandovery to a fifth consecutive defeat.

Neither side were able to sustain constructive rugby for any length of time, preferring to use the boot rather than the hand to make progress. In addition to this a most unsympathetic referee, who dominated the match with the whistle, played little advantage and was frequently inconsistent in his application of the law, had a hand in twenty nine of the thirty four points scored

Two early penalties from Cardiff outside half Chris Anderson were answered by one from his opposite number Tomas Marks until, with half time approaching, the game saw the first try. The one player from both sides who looked to have the skill capable of breaking the defence, Cardiff full back Leon Andrews, collected a loose kick ahead and waltzed through some weak tackling to set up winger Elgan Jones with a corner try. The conversion failed and at half time the home side led by 11 points to 6.

The second period started where the first had left off. A penalty kick took Cardiff deep into the Drovers half. A second penalty and a yellow card for Llandovery number 6 Eifion Gwynne gave Cardiff a line out 5m from the line. From the maul the Cardiff eight drove over and hooker Michael Leaman was credited with the try.

A second try soon followed. This time from a free kick the home side moved the ball along the backs where Man of the Match Leon Andrews cut in on the angle to cross. Both tries remained unconverted and the lead stretched to 21-6 as the game entered its last quarter.

It was now the Drovers' turn to benefit from the referee’s decisions and they set up a series of attacks on the home line. A yellow card for replacement lock Gareth Knight saw Cardiff now reduced to 14 men and from the 5 m lineout Llandovery drove for the line where replacement lock Tom Walker was able to force his way over. Tomas Marks converted but it was too little too late and the game ended without any further addition to the score.

Gareth Davies, head coach at Church Bank was disappointed with the high error count suffered by his side and realised that next week's visit to the capital to take on Glamorgan Wanders and the home game the following week against Bedwas were going to be crucial in their fight for survival.

Try: Tom Walker; Con: Tomas Marks; Pens: Tomas Marks (2)

A second trip to the capital in successive weeks left the Drovers without an addition to their single victory in the opening game of the season. A sixth successive defeat leaves the side anchored in last place in the Principality premiership.

It could have been so different as Llandovery created enough chances in this exciting open game but more clinical finishing and better discipline secured a home win.

The Wanderers also showed greater tactical awareness, using the slope and wind in the first half to pin the visitors back in their own 22 zone for long periods. Llandovery failed to exert the same pressure when the sides turned round at half time, a factor compounded by a weakness in the line out when crucial opportunities were lost.

Llandovery were 7 points down in 2 minutes. A penalty kick to touch gave a 5m line-out from which Wanderers set up a drive. When the ball was released centre Gareth Morris found himself unmarked to cross for a try converted by Gareth McCarthy.

The Drovers, using the pick and drive method to effectively gain ground up the slope, put themselves in a position where Tomas Marks was able to opening their account with a well struck penalty.

When the visitors did open the game up winger Ifan Evans showed himself to be in excellent form. After a succession of injuries last season the former Wales U21 wing looked back to his best form. His speedy elusiveness opened up the home defence and set up Peter Smiriglia for what should have been a certain try. The centre, however, knocked on in diving for the line and the opportunity was lost.

Back came the home side and, in what proved to be a repeat of the previous week’s game in Cardiff, scored two tries. The first one was scored when flanker Ceri Davies was sin-binned for punching. The penalty was kicked to touch and from the 5m lineout drive No 6 Marcus Leach was awarded the try. The second followed a free kick where open side flanker Richard Thomas found himself unopposed to cross near the posts, allowing McCarthy an easy conversion and set up a healthy 19-3 lead.

However in stoppage time of the first period winger Ifan Evans pulled a try back for Llandovery. A good passing movement found Adam Yelland unmarked wide out. The lively hooker set off on a run and found Evans up in support for the winger to successfully round off a good movement. The conversion by Tomas Marks set up a half time score of 19-10 and with the elements in their favour in the second half there was a degree of optimism in the Drovers camp.

However, Llandovery failed to exert the pressure shown by the Wanderers in the first half. Poor discipline and a stuttering lineout broke up any continuity of territorial advantage. Although keeping the home side pinned in their own half, maintaining a foothold in the 22 zone proved more of a problem.

On the hour, in a rare excursion into the Drovers half, the home side were awarded a penalty. Back chat cost a further 10m and enabled McCarthy to convert the penalty and extend his side’s lead. With the end of the match approaching the Drovers threw everything into attack and with a little more composure could have claimed the victory. Winger Owain Rowlands looked to have scored a good corner try but controversially the touch judge ruled a foot in touch in the action of crossing.

The excitement of the final minutes increased when up popped the Drovers star man Ifan Evans. Following a break by scrum half Rob Walters the winger carried the ball deep into the 22 before releasing replacement centre Gary Beaumont-Morgan to slice through the remaining defence to score under the posts. Marks converted but, despite continuing to try to breach the home defence, no further points were added and the Wanderers emerged victorious with their third win of the season.

Replacements: Tom Walker, Gary Beaumont-Morgan, Iwan Mainwaring, Mathew Davies, Kevin Allen, Mathew Jefferies, Dafydd Thomas

Tries: Ifan Evans, Gary Beaumont-Morgan; Con: Tomas Marks (2); Pen: Tomas Marks

Llandovery missed a golden chance of moving away from Maesteg at the bottom of the Principality Premiership when they went down to Bedwas in front of a pitifully small crowd at Church Bank.

It was as if those that stayed away knew that the Drovers would monopolise possession and do so little with it.

The Drovers were intent on playing the most limited of games despite having two excellent wings in Owain Rowlands and Ifan Evans and refused to bring any expansion into their game.

It was more rugby league than union as their forwards drove and supported virtually any scrap of possession or asked centre Peter Smiriglia to bring the ball back inside to his forwards.

Director of Coaching Jeremy Evans was virtually at a loss for words after this very disappointing result which puts him and his coaching team of Gareth Davies and Lyndon Lewis under a lot of pressure. "We accept that we played a tight game, using our forwards to gain ground but if we had taken our chances and kicked our goals we would have won. Life does not get any easier as we travel to Neath for our next game but the challenge of playing the best side in the Premiership in a game that no one expects us to win, will hopefully inspire the boys."

As the Llandovery forwards dominated the opening exchanges, they surged into the Bedwas 22 but lost the ball in contact when lock Steve Pape smuggled the ball away.

Bedwas centres Lee Mullane and Phil Dolman handled beautifully, flanker Craig Hill supported swiftly and wing Mike Silcox finished off an 80 metre movement with a dash under the home posts. It was a try full of invention and adventure and put the Llandovery approach into stark relief.

Fly half Rhys Edwards converted and swapped penalties with opposite number Tomas Marks but Llandovery eventually turned possession into points.

When Scarlets lock Vernon Cooper won a line out, his pack worked their way relentlessly to the line for flanker Eifion Gwynne to collapse into in goal.

Bedwas No 8 Neil Lewis was yellow carded for collapsing one of the interminable mauls but Marks hit the post with his penalty.

Then Drovers No 8 Matthew Jeffries was nearly over only for great defence from everyone in the Bedwas side to keep them in the lead 10-8 at half time.

Soon after the restart Marks made no mistake with a close range penalty to put his side ahead 11-10.

Although Edwards regained the lead with a penalty, the visitors had to withstand a lot of pressure as the game wound down.

A stream of possession from loose and line out where skipper Arwel Davies was dominant came to nothing when replacement fly half Gareth Morgan missed a real sitter of a penalty.

Wing Rowlands would have posed a huge threat with a bit more ball and nearly worked full back Thomas into the corner on one of the very rare times the ball went wide.

Morgan then scuffed a drop goal attempt before another rolling maul took Llandovery to the Bedwas in goal only for Gwynne to spill the ball in the act of scoring.

It was Llandovery’s last real chance and when Bedwas did get up into the home half on the stroke of time Edwards popped over his third goal to leave the home crowd stunned into anguished silence.

Photos of the game, from Ian Williams of Riley Sports Photography, uploaded here

See Latest News section for programme notes.

H Thomas; O Rowlands, G Beaumont-Morgan, P Smiriglia, I Evans; T Marks (G Morgan 59’), I Mainwaring; D Williams (D Thomas 5’-20’), K Allen, A Jones, V Cooper, A Davies (capt), C Davies (P Davies 70’), M Jeffries, E Gwynne,

Try: E Gwynne; Pens: T Marks (2)

Llandovery Star Choice Owain Rowlands

H Thomas 6; O Rowlands 7, G Beaumont-Morgan 5, P Smiriglia 5, I Evans 6; T Marks 4 (G Morgan 4), I Mainwaring 4; D Williams 6 (D Thomas 5), K Allen 5, A Jones 5, V Cooper 6, A Davies (capt) 5, C Davies 5 (P Davies 4), M Jeffries 4, E Gwynne 5

Match ball: Phil Ratcliffe

Man of the Match:

Showing eight changes from the side that lost to Bedwas the previous week the Drovers travelled to the Gnoll determined to put up a better show. To their credit they remained in with a chance for over the hour when the home side held a slender 20-18 lead.

In fact with a little more luck the Drovers could well have been in the lead at this point. Gareth Morgan, kicking against the wind, missed the corner conversion for his side’s second try and also failed with three long range penalties including one from his own half. All of these kicks had the distance and sailed agonisingly close, one even striking an upright.

Speaking afterwards Neath Coach Rowland Phillips praised the Llandovery effort, “The Drovers always give us a tough game and today was no exception. The score flattered us and wasn’t a true reflection of the game as a whole”.

Five minutes into the game Llandovery took the lead when Gareth Morgan converted an early penalty but Neath quickly hit back with two well taken tries. The first of these fell to James Hook. The Neath outside half, with the first try which he converted, went on to kick 3 penalties and a drop goal in a personal contribution of 19 points to the Neath total.

The Drovers lost a line out in the Neath half and when the ball reached Hook he beat the first two tacklers and then sprinted through the defence for an excellent individual effort which he then converted.

The second Neath try fell to wing and former Drovers centre Steve Thomas who went on to score a second and with former Llandovery Captain Paul Jones gaining a fourth try for the home side it was a good day for the ‘Drovers Old Boys’.

For the first Thomas try full back Gareth Morris entered the line and carved through the blind side defence to set up his winger. The second try came after a quickly taken tap penalty was moved across the backs to set the wing free to dive over in the corner. Neither try was converted.

Between the two Neath tries was sandwiched one from the visitors. Quickly moving a turn over ball from a ruck Tom Walker made a half break as he burst into the line. A well timed pass from the lock set Iwan Mainwaring free on the outside. The speedy scrum half sprinted 40m down the touchline outpacing the defenders before crossing for an excellent try. Gareth Morgan converted the try and, when a penalty against the Drovers was reversed on the intervention of the Touch Judge, Morgan kicked a second penalty to send the sides in for half time with the score well balanced at 17-13.

Hook put the home side further ahead with a penalty early in the second half before a second well executed try by the Drovers former Wales U21 wing Ifan Evans. The try was set up by outside half Gareth Morgan, making an impressive first start of the season. Making a clear break he threw a huge pass directly out to winger Evans who, given the opportunity, used his speed to outflank the defence and touch down in the corner to bring the score to 20-18 with just over 15 minutes left to play.

In these final minutes, playing against the wind and a Neath side with kicker Hook in great form, the Drovers committed the cardinal sin of losing their discipline and gifted a win to the home side.

Firstly a late tackle then offside at the set scrum were penalised by Hook, who added a drop goal in the 70th minute to give the home side a 29-18 lead which they were unlikely to lose.

The final act came in the 80th minute when another penalty gave Hook the chance to set up a Neath line out 5m from the line. From the resulting forward drive the home pack drove Llandovery back, and prop Paul Jones was awarded the try.

Soon after, the final whistle blew and the Drovers had fallen to an 8th successive defeat. They now have the high flying Aberavon coming to Church Bank on Friday night for a 7.15 kick off.

Tries: Iwan Mainwaring, Ifan Evans; Con: Gareth Morgan; Pens: Gareth Morgan (2)

Aberavon kept firmly in second spot in the Premiership with this hard fought win over a Llandovery side desperately searching for confidence and self belief.

Not even the presence up front of the 27 times capped Scarlets back row Dafydd Jones could arrest the Llandovery slide. Jones, keen to get some games under his belt in his search for a return to full fitness, played well enough for 58 minutes but was yellow carded by referee Connett for slowing ball down at a ruck.

Llandovery then conceded ten points in the ten minutes that they were down to 14 men and the game slipped away from them as Aberavon finished by far the stronger.

It was Aberavon’s ninth win in ten games in stark contrast to the Drovers' unenviable record of nine defeats in ten games.

After exactly one third of the 30 match league programme completed, the Wizards are brimming with confidence after a marvellous start to the season. They ride high in second place in the table but the poor Drovers are rooted to the bottom on a paltry three points.

Director of Coaching Jeremy Evans did at least have some good news shortly before the kick off. It was that the WRU had refused to back the demand by Maesteg that the Drovers be docked three points for fielding ineligible players in the opening game of the season against the Old Parish.

But on the pitch, it was the story of the season so far. “We got ourselves into a position to win the game once again, leading 6-3 at half time but then a yellow card for Dafydd Jones upset our rhythm. We conceded a penalty, a try and conversion when Dafydd was off and although we came back to 13-9 we then were hit by a brilliant counter attacking try by the Wizards.”

The home forwards, under lock Arwel Davies, shaded the battle for possession in the first half to allow fly half Gareth Morgan to kick two penalties to the one by opposite number Jamie Davies. They still enjoyed a slight edge with threequarters of the game gone but with the Aberavon pack gaining in power the dismissal of Jones was too big a handicap to overcome.

Davies tied the scores with a penalty and as No 8 Richard Morris consistently took the Wizards over the gain line, Llandovery faded, even their usually sound scrummaging now under pressure from the Wizards eight.

Davies got a solo try and conversion and although Morgan raised hopes with his third penalty, a stunning try by flanker Simon Peters, converted by Davies took Aberavon clear.

The fly half added a penalty in injury time to rack up 18 points in a confident display and consign the Drovers to yet another defeat.

See Latest News section for programme notes.

H Thomas; O Rowlands, I Davies, G Beaumont-Morgan (Peter Smiriglia 5), I Evans; G Morgan, R Walters (I Mainwaring); D Williams, A Yelland (K Allen), A Jones, T Walker, A Davies (capt) (J Ciaburro), C Davies, Dafydd Jones (G Thomas), M Jeffries

Pens: Gareth Morgan (3)

H Thomas 5; O Rowlands 6, I Davies 5, G Beaumont-Morgan 5 (Peter Smiriglia 5), I Evans 6; G Morgan 5, R Walters 5 (I Mainwaring 5); D Williams 5, A Yelland 6 (K Allen 5), A Jones 5, T Walker 6, A Davies (capt) 5 (J Ciaburro 5), C Davies 5, Dafydd Jones 6 (G Thomas 6), M Jeffries 5

Match ball: Wyn 'Chippo' Morgan

Man of the Match:

Llandovery lost their tenth consecutive game of the season when they went down to fellow Premiership strugglers Maesteg at Llynfi Road.

The Drovers have not won a league game since beating Saturday’s winners 41-33 in the first game of the season at Church Bank and there was extreme disappointment at this recent loss, a loss that anchors them to the bottom of the table.

Llandovery led 20-13 at the break and 27-13 one minute after the break but blew up so badly in the last quarter that Maesteg were well deserved winners at the end.

Director of Rugby Jeremy Evans summed up the general mood in the Llandovery dressing room. “Everyone is devastated as we thought we had the game in the bag when we got our third try to go 14 points clear” said Evans “ but a combination of weakness at the scrum, injuries and some excellent Maesteg play were the cause of our demise. We have to put the defeat behind us, prepare hard this week and hope that we can put it all together for the visit of Bridgend on Friday night."

The most disappointing thing for the Drovers was their fallibility at the scrum, traditionally an area of great strength over the years. The front five of Dorian Williams, Adam Yelland and Andrew Jones, Tom Walker and Vernon Cooper looked on paper a formidable combination but were back pedalling at an alarming rate in the last quarter.

With no worthwhile possession the game went right away from the Drovers as the Old Parish scored 23 unanswered points in the second half.

It had all been so different in the first half when two really well worked tries, scored by flanker Matthew Jeffries and new South African centre Jacobus Van Wyk plus 10 points from the boot of fly half Tomas Marks had put Llandovery in command.

A smooth line out where Tom Walker and skipper Arwel Davies took quality ball had trumped a Maesteg try from lock Gavin Ronan and eight kicked points from fly half James Dixon,

It got even better from the restart when wing Ifan Evans slipped tacklers, the ball sped over to the right where Owain Rowlands ran hard up the touch line to send supporting full back Howard Thomas in near enough to the posts for Marks to convert.

From there on it turned into a horror show for Llandovery. Possession was untidy, turnovers frequent, kicking for position weak and wayward, defensive clearances even worse as the Maesteg pack, roused into action by No 8 and captain Karl Hocking, took control.

Veteran scrum half Kevin Ellis used all the increasing possession swiftly and cleverly, taking tap penalties to put the Drovers into defensive disarray and, with Dixon in grand kicking form, Maesteg took the game by the scruff of the neck.

A try by Wareham plus conversion and two penalties by Dixon edged Maesteg ahead 29-27 and when Jeffries was yellow carded for killing the ball, Maesteg got a scrum shove to claim a penalty try, converted by Dixon for a personal tally of 21 points.

Tries: Matthew Jeffries, Jacobus Van Wyk, Howard Thomas; Cons: Tomas Marks (3); Pens: Tomas Marks (2)

H Thomas 6; O Rowlands 6, T Selley 5, J Van Wyk 6, I Evans 6; T Marks 5, R Walters 4 (I Mainwaring 5); D Williams 4, A Yelland 4, A Jones 4 (A Williams 5), T Walker 6 (M Davies 5), V Cooper 6, A Davies (capt) 6, D Jones 5, M Jeffries 7

After the unsettling mid week departure of coaching duo Jeremy Evans and Gareth Davies “by mutual consent”, the Drovers fought hard on Friday night only to go down to another home defeat, this time at the hands of high flying Bridgend.

It was Llandovery’s eleventh consecutive defeat in twelve league games and underlined the huge task that awaits former coach Iestyn Thomas who returns to Church Bank in a caretaker role after a gap of less than 6 months.

“We had our chance to beat Bridgend “ said Thomas “but when your confidence is low, things have a natural way of going wrong. But we must all take encouragement at running one of the best teams in the Premiership very close.”

“It will take a massive effort from everyone at Church Bank to get us off the bottom but the players are in positive mood. They believe we can rally strongly before Christmas when we have key matches against fellow strugglers Swansea, Ebbw Vale, Pontypool and Carmarthen Quins.”

“It’s a great challenge and one to be met.”

Against Bridgend, Llandovery got themselves into a strong position, as on so many occasions this season, only to let the opposition off the hook thanks to a combination of basic errors in thought and deed.

Despite no, or next to no, encouragement or support from a pitifully small crowd, the Drovers dominated most of the first half.

The scrum was solid, the line out profitable and the competitiveness of the back row – Ceri Davies, Matthew Jeffries and Gareth Thomas - far better than it has been for a some time.

Fly half Gareth Morgan kicked a good goal after 15 minutes to convert the hard work of his pack into points and things got even better when South African centre Jacob Van Wyk, wing Owain Rowlands and centre Mark Bowen handled well to work in No 8 Jeffries.

With Morgan’s conversion Llandovery were in control at 10-0 and could have been further ahead if two long range penalties from Morgan had not been just short.

Bridgend had threatened fitfully and had generously spurned an easy kick at goal in the search for tries but their excellent all round full back Gareth David got a penalty somewhat against the run of play in the 40th minute.

Things then slowly started to go wrong for the Drovers.

The second half restart went straight into touch and gave Bridgend the impetus they needed to rally. Despite being reduced to 14 men after a 41st minute yellow card for hooker Andrew Joy, the Ravens, marshalled by fly half Paul Williams, ran and supported imaginatively to stretch the home defence to its ultimate.

Llandovery helped, by badly losing their concentration with some more erratic kicking, poor ball retention in the contact area and some slipshod tackling.

David put over penalties on 49, 56 and 59 minutes to take his side ahead 12-10 and when home flanker Gareth Thomas got yellow carded, Bridgend attacked non stop, their handling deft and their angles of running intelligent.

Llandovery scrambled in defence as best they could with wing Rowlands, on loan Scarlets full back Garan Evans and Van Wyk covering manfully.

The line eventually gave way when, after sweeping attacks left and right, former Bro Myrddin and Welsh Schools centre Roger Davies accelerated away for a try, very well converted by David.

With the return of Thomas, Llandovery came back into the game and regained enough control up front to put the pressure back on the visitors.

With over ten minutes to go, a bad decision to kick for the corner, rather than take three relatively easy points, bore no fruit. A penalty would have brought Llandovery to within a converted try but the decision was repeated a few minutes later in favour of another field position.

Poor ball retention let Bridgend off the hook and a last gasp try for ever busy flanker Ceri Davies only served to remind the handful of die hard supporters of what might have been.

See Latest News section for programme notes.

Garan Evans, Owain Rowlands (Gary Beaumont-Morgan), Mark Bowen, Jacob Van Wyk, Ifan Evans, Gareth Morgan, Iwan Mainwaring (Rob Walters), Dorian Williams, Adam Yelland, Aled Williams (E Howells), Vernon Cooper, Arwel Davies (capt) (Dafydd Jones), Ceri Davies, Gareth Thomas, Matthew Jeffries (G Davies)

Tries: Mathew Jeffries, Ceri Davies; Con: Gareth Morgan; Pen: Gareth Morgan

G Evans 7; O Rowlands 7 (G Beaumont-Morgan 5), M Bowen 6, J Van Wyk 5, I Evans 5; G Morgan 5, I Mainwaring 6 (R Walters 5); D Williams 6, A Yelland 5, A Williams 6 (E Howells 5), V Cooper 6, A Davies (capt) 6, (D Jones 5), C Davies 6, M Jeffries 6 (G Davies 5), G Thomas 7

Match ball: Llandovery Tyres Stuart Davies

Man of the Match:

In a roller coaster of a game in which the lead changed hands seven times, Llandovery held their nerve to beat the holders and 13 times former winners of the Welsh Cup.

It was an injury time drop goal by fly half Tomas Marks and interception try from replacement Rob Walters that took the Drovers into the 4th round of the Konica Minolta Cup.

The win only served to emphasise for the Drovers what Dickens famously wrote as “the best of times and … the worst of times.”

A small market town club, Llandovery have reached the once unimaginable heights of a Premiership place, have excellent facilities and Saturday’s win was an achievement that ranks second only to the famous Cup win over mighty Pontypridd in 1985!

Yet there they are rooted to the foot of the Premiership with one win in 12 league outings and threatened with disastrous relegation.

They recently persuaded former coach Iestyn Thomas to return in a caretaker role and, since his return, Llandovery have lost narrowly to Bridgend and now produced their most resolute performance of the season.

The match itself had few moments of quality but it was rugged, tense and exciting and full of incidents and side issues.

Before the game Thomas had accused some players of “disgraceful under-achievement” and a promise to sack them unless they started producing the goods.

And after a game of squabbles and niggle, both clubs called on the WRU to nominate qualified touch judges in Cup matches, in place of toothless club officials.

Llanelli’s Coaching Director Kevin Williams and Thomas also had a heated exchange outside the referee’s changing room at half time involving allegations and counter allegations of attempts to influence referee Phil Connett.

The home victory was a triumph for former Llanelli player Marks whose late conversion had clinched last year’s 25-24 Cup Final win over Pontypridd.

The diminutive Marks was released in the summer and exacted revenge on his old club by converting the hard work of his pack into 19 points from four penalties, two conversions and a vital drop goal.

In a tough and physical encounter as demanded by the occasion, there was nothing to choose between the sides other than commitment and it was in that area that Llandovery had the upper hand. Re-energised and re-motivated by the return of their old coach, Iestyn Thomas, the Drovers pack played with huge gusto, their impact and support work in the contact area giving them an edge in the roller coasting second half.

Iestyn Thomas paid tribute to their effort – “harsh words were said to the players before the start of the game but everyone accepted them and answered them with a very brave and gutsy performance. We now need to transfer this promise into the league and have two absolutely vital games over the next two weeks.” said Thomas. “We need to beat Ebbw Vale and Pontypool who are not far above us in the league if we are to survive.”

The game against Llanelli was finely balanced at the break. A try apiece – hooker Craig Hawkins from a rolling maul for Llanelli, wing Deian Augustus for Llandovery from a pass by big centre Jacob Van Wyk - plus 8 kicked points each from the fly halves Marks and Ceiron Thomas had the teams tied 13-13.

Llanelli attacks behind the scrum lacked their usual fluency and the dangerous looking Paul Mackey in the centre was starved of prime ball but in the second half the Llandovery forwards were dominant in terms of possession and territory.

Craig Hawkins, locks Tristan Bowen and Dave Duley tried hard for Llanelli but they were up against a determined home pack who had big performers in prop Dennis Pugh, flanker Gareth Thomas, locks Tom Walker and Arwel Davies and there was a vastly improved performance from No 8 Gareth Bennett.

The game swung back and forth as the score went 16-13, 16-18, 19-18, 19-21 after two Marks penalties had been shaded by a second Hawkins try from a driving maul and a Thomas penalty

The Llandovery forwards then surged to the Llanelli line in injury time for Marks to snap over a close range drop goal for a 22-21 lead.

And when Llanelli threw caution to the wind in search of another score, replacement scrum half Rob Walters intercepted to gallop in from the half way line, leaving the last word to Marks who smiled over the conversion to remind Llanelli of happier Cup days.

See Latest News section for programme notes.

I Davies; D Augustus, G Morgan, J Van Wyk, M Bowen; T Marks, I Mainwaring (R Walters); D Pugh, A Yelland (K Allen), A Williams, T Walker, A Davies (capt), M Davies, G Bennett (G Davies), G Thomas

Tries: Deian Augustus, Rob Walters; Cons: Tomas Marks (2); Pens: Tomas Marks (4); Drop goal: Tomas Marks

I Davies 6; D Augustus 6, G Morgan 6, J Van Wyk 7, M Bowen 7; T Marks 8, I Mainwaring 6 (R Walters 6); D Pugh 7, A Yelland 6 (K Allen 6), A Williams 6, T Walker 7, A Davies (capt) 7, M Davies 6, G Bennett 7, (G Davies 6), G Thomas 7

Match ball: Joc Walters & Darrel of Stag and Pheasant

Man of the Match:

Building upon a fine display the previous week when they knocked the holders, Llanelli, out of the Konica-Minolta Cup the Drovers put on by far their best display of the season.

Without a league win since the 41-33 defeat of Maesteg on the opening day of the season Llandovery completely dominated a poor Ebbw Vale side who on this showing will very much have their own battle to avoid relegation.

On their form in the last three matches it is difficult to recognise the Drovers who were so unsuccessful in the opening months of the season. The return of coach Iestyn Thomas has brought about a dramatic change to both the motivation and style of play seen at Church bank.

Team Manager Mark Vince was cautious in his praise for the side. “ We have done well, but there is a long way to go and we are still in 16th place. We must take it a step at a time and the next four or five games will be vital in our survival as a Premiership team”.

The game opened with a flurry of scoring and the Drovers were 13 points up in as many minutes. Two Tomas Marks penalties and the conversion of a Rob Walters try established a lead which the home side never looked like losing.

The rest of the first half was rather low key with the Drovers dominating territory but, mostly through their own mistakes, failing to record any more points.

The start of second half saw the Steelmen have their best period. They opened the half in determined mood and camped in the Drovers 22. Terrific tackling, as the whole side maintained its defensive pattern, was rewarded as the visitors were repulsed time after time.

Gradually Llandovery brought themselves back into the game. An excellently struck penalty by Marks gave a lineout on the Vale 5m line. Vernon Cooper took the catch and substitute hooker Adam Yelland was credited with the try as the pack drove over the line.

It was now all Llandovery as the visitors were pushed back by the increasingly dominant pack. Even changing half their forwards made little difference to the flow of the game and the Drovers looked even stronger and further scores looked inevitable.

The third try came after a 5m scrum. The ball was moved out to South African centre Jacobus Van Wyk who used his power to crash through a number of tackles to touch down near the posts. Marks added the extra points with the conversion.

The final try followed a similar pattern to the second - a penalty, 5m lineout and skipper Arwel Davies being driven over for the touchdown. Marks completed the scoring, with the conversion bringing his personal tally to 17 points.

It was far from a faultless display by the Drovers, who crossed the line twice more but were pulled back for simple errors, and an easy Marks penalty struck a post in a game where their dominance suggested a 50 pointer. However there is no doubt that the Carmarthenshire side have shown considerable improvement in their recent matches.

The next three games in December will play a vital role in the battle against relegation. Next week they entertain Pontypool at Church Bank, followed by the Quins on Boxing Day and then Llanelli on the 31st to round off 2005.

Photos of the game, from Ian Williams of Riley Sports Photography, uploaded here

See Latest News section for programme notes.

Howard Thomas (Owain Rowlands), Mark Bowen, Gareth Morgan, Jacob Van Wyk, Ifan Evans; Tomas Marks, Rob Walters (Iwan Mainwaring); Dennis Pugh (Aled Williams), Kevin Allen (Adam Yelland), Andrew Jones,  Vernon Cooper, Arwel Davies (capt), Eifion Gwynne (Tom Walker), Gareth Thomas (Ceri Davies), Gareth Bennett (Mathew Davies)

Tries: Rob Walters, Adam Yelland, Jacob van Wyk, Arwel Davies; Cons: Tomas Marks (4); Pens: Tomas Marks (3)

Match ball: Cyril Page Lawn and Landscape

Man of the Match:

Pontypool’s recent good run came to an abrupt halt at Church Bank where they were soundly beaten by a rejuvenatedLlandovery side.

After the dizzy heights of winning 45-29 at Swansea the week before, the ineffectual Pooler pack had their old coach Ray Prosser shaking his head in disbelief at the way the Drovers dominated the forward play. At scrum, line out and loose, Llandovery were in control from first to last to the delight of home supporters brought up with the hard uncompromising resilience of Drovers forwards of the last 20 years or so.

After the 37-0 win over Ebbw Vale last week, this was a vital win in for the hosts' recovery, said Team Manager Mark Vince. "We are off the bottom of the table, albeit on a better try count than the Quins and Cardiff (26 to 17 and 19 respectively) but there are still tall mountains to climb, not perhaps the Himalayas but certainly the Alps in our search for survival."

Coach Lyndon Lewis, in control because of the absence of coach Iestyn Thomas, who is holidaying in Malaysia, paid warm tribute to the work of the home pack. "Former Llandovery and Combined Services coach Geri Davies has done same valuable set piece work with the forwards in recent training and we put Pooler through the mill for most of the game, particularly at the scrum," said Lewis.

Boosted by the drive coming through from Vernon Cooper and Tom Walker, they spoiled Pooler ball almost at will and with the flankers Ceri Davies and Eifion Gwynne on the front foot, it was like the good old days at Church Bank, the pack rolling forward with vim and gusto.

Behind the scrum, there were good performances from both scrum halves, first Iwan Mainwaring and then Rob Walters, clattering runs from South African centre Jacobus Van Wyk and slashing breaks from wing Mark Bowen.

As soon as 7 minutes the writing was on the wall for Pooler when home captain Vernon Cooper, a Scarlets loan player, took clean line out ball, forward surged the pack and it was hooker Adam Yelland who got the touch down.

Flankers Ceri Davies and Eifion Gwynne were everywhere in the loose, and once wing Mark Bowen had sliced through the Pooler defence, it was not long before full back Ioan Davies dummied in for another try. Fly half Tomas Marks kicked the two conversions and then a penalty for a 17-0 home lead but Pooler did at least get on the score board just before the break.

Inh a rare incursion into the home half, a slide rule kick from fly half Sam Mills made a try for wing Nathan Daniels, converted from the touchline by Mills.

A strong Llandovery scrum created a try for the powerful Bowen and with 15 minutes to go, replacement scrum half Rob Walters cleverly probed the blind to send Van Wyk galloping jubilantly in for the fourth home try, converted by Marks.

See Latest News section for programme notes.

Tries: Ioan Davies, Mark Bowen, Jacob van Wyk, Adam Yelland; Cons: Tomas Marks (3); Pens: Tomas Marks

Match ball: Geraint Williams

Man of the Match: Llandovery RFC Committee

Acknowledgement: Supporters Linda Cantrell, Limerick

All both sides needed was three Boxing Day league points as the fellow regional feeder clubs struggle to keep pace with the rest of the division. In the end it was a comprehensive win for The Drovers who scored three tries for their first away victory since last April and recorded their first win at The Park in five outings.

The Llandovery front row of Dennis Pugh, Adam Yelland and Andrew Jones gave the platform up front for the Quins pack to go backwards in the scrums, which made life difficult for scrum-half Luke Marsh.

For the Quins it was their 10th defeat in the last 11 league games and with a visit to Swansea on Saturday (kick-off 1pm), they could finish 2005 in deep trouble at the bottom of the Premier League table.

The win moved Llandovery out of the relegation zone while the defeat could bring about the reality next season of another Boxing Day local derby for the Quins in Division One against Whitland or Narberth unless there is a dramatic turnaround in fortunes in 2006.

Fly-halves Craig Evans and Gareth Morgan hugged the touchline to make ground in a forgettable first half for the biggest crowd of the season at The Park. The visitors led 6-3 at the interval with a drop-goal and penalty from Morgan with Evans replying for the Quins with a penalty.

Llandovery prop Dennis Pugh created the only break of the first half with a side stepping run only to see his backs put the ball to ground. No 8 Gareth Bennett crashed over the line only to be held up by centre Emyr Jones and flanker Andrew Thomas.

Wales under 19 fly-half Rhys Priestland was introduced by the Quins after the break and showed his huge potential with some neat touches.

Early in the half Quins prop Robert Jones, on loan from Langharne, was yellow-carded which helped to extend the Llandovery lead to 12-3 after 44 minutes.

It took 62 minutes for the first try to be scored as wily Llandovery scrum-half Rob Walters broke from the side of a ruck to crash over after his forwards had taken play towards the try line in a series of rolling mauls.

Priestland set up a try for Quins centre Darren Simpson on 71 minutes which took the scores to 17-10 in favour of the visitors.

In a flurry of scoring in the last 10 minutes of the game, Evans struck with another penalty but five minutes from time the final nail was well and truly planted by the visitors. Playing catch-up rugby the Quins moved the ball in their own 22 and the result was an interception by man-of-the-match Morgan who scampered over for the final killer blow.

To demonstrate their superiority Llandovery scored a classic wing try in injury time as quick passing gave left wing Ifan Evans the opportunity to show his pace and skills in a confined space as he squeezed in the corner. Morgan converted from near the touchline to complete a faultless display. A late replacement for Tomas Marks, Morgan contributed 24 points.

Tries: Ifan Evans, Rob Walters, Gareth Morgan; Cons: Gareth Morgan (2); Pens: Gareth Morgan (3); Drop Goals: Gareth Morgan (2)

Huw S Thomas reports:

Llanelli took the sweetest of revenges for their Konica Minolta Cup defeat on December 3 when they pipped the Drovers by two points in a keenly fought but uninspiring game at Church Bank.

Llandovery were confident on the back of a four game unbeaten run against a side that had failed to win in December but the resolve and steely determination of the visitors' pack was enough to swing the game their way.

The Drovers were limited in ambition and paid the penalty of not fielding their strongest pack at the start. The pack that had comprehensively outplayed Carmarthen Quins on Boxing Day showed four changes and in the words of former Llandovery hooker Wyn Morgan "failed to produce the goods".

"You decimate the Quins up front one week and then change four key players - it does not make any sense," said Morgan. "We could rue this result come the end of the season."

Coaches Lyndon Lewis and Roy James, in charge during the absence of Iestyn Thomas, defended their selection. "We have full confidence in our squad and there is never a best and second best team, such is the competition for places in at least half a dozen positions," said James.

"It was a shame not to end December unbeaten but there is nothing at all between the sides as the cup and league results show - it is all on the day."

Llandovery were nowhere near as dynamic up front as they had shown in recent games and they were limited in ambition, content to set up field positions to score from penalties and drop goals.

Fly-half Tomas Marks kicked five penalties but hit the post with another and missed two drop goal attempts whilst centre Gareth Morgan missed with a penalty and three drop goal attempts.

Llanelli were never behind in the game, leading 9-6 at half-time after fly-half Ceiron Thomas had out kicked Marks 3-2 in penalties but were lucky to have the interval lead on both territory and possession counts.

It was nip and tuck for long periods thereafter and Marks brought the scores to 9-9 with his third penalty but Llanelli were far the more dangerous behind and should have scored only for centre Gavin Evans to lose the ball in the act of scoring.

Llanelli's best patch of the game came midway through the second half when Thomas added his fourth penalty and patient build ups got them the one try of the game.

Prop Ian Jones was prominent with some angled runs and the home defence finally crumbled when wing Richard Davies twisted his way over from an overlap on the right.

Llandovery were not done with, and with skipper lock Arwel Davies and flanker Eifion Gwynne leading from the front, two penalties from Marks set up a tense final eight minutes of play.

At the death, the home pack set up a promising attacking position only for Morgan to put his drop-goal effort under the crossbar from 35 metres.

See Latest News section for programme notes.

Pens: Tomas Marks (5)

H Thomas 5; M Bowen 6, G Morgan 6, J Van Wyk 6, I Evans 6; T Marks 6, I Mainwaring 6 (R Walters 6); D Pugh 7, A Yelland 6, A Williams 5 (A Jones h/t 6), J Ciaburro 5 (Iwan Davies 5), A Davies (capt) 6, Eifion Gwynne 7, M Jefferies 6 (G Bennett 6), G Thomas 6 (D Jones 5)

Match ball: Gwilym Jones

Man of the Match:

Huw S Thomas reports:

The volatile and highly unpredictable nature of the Premiership was brought into sharp relief by this Llandovery win at Church Bank.

Back in September Cross Keys had overwhelmed the Drovers, scoring six tries in the 43-0 win at Pandy Park but here they had to play second best at Church Bank as Llandovery powered their way to a fifth and very valuable win of the season.

"It was not pretty," said coach Iestyn Thomas, newly returned from Malaysia. "But we did enough to build up a good momentum in the first half and defended very well in the last quarter when Keys came back at us hard. With Maesteg, Pontypool, Cardiff and Ebbw Vale losing, it was an excellent result for us. We will travel to Caerphilly for the Cup in relaxed mood but then will have a very difficult trip to Newport for our next league game on January 31."

Despite an early penalty by full-back Darren Miles, Keys spent most of the time in their own half as the powerful home forwards held all the aces in the scrums and continually rolled Keys back with driving mauls.

The front row of Dorian Williams, Adam Yelland and Andrew Jones put their opposite numbers in a lot of trouble, No 8 Jon Mills, locks Arwel Davies and Tom Walker and flankers Ceri Davies and Eifion Gwynne consistently made good ground and only desperate defence kept the Drovers out.

Fly-half Tomos Marks gave them the interval lead after two close range penalties and when Mills opened the second half with a well taken try at a close range scrum, Keys stared defeat in the face.

But some changes in the Gwent front row allied to an injury to home loose head Dorian Williams suddenly gave the game a new complexion. With Ben Watkins providing some top class possession at the tail of the line out and the scrum steady, Keys started to attack with increasing confidence.

A Miles penalty made it 11-6 and with Scott Mitchell's tactical kicking gaining valuable field positions against a faltering defence, the home crowd started to bite its nails.

Line out possession was erratic and the crowd's nerves were on further edge when scrum half Iwan Mainwaring took a tap penalty 35 metres in front of the Keys posts instead of kicking the penalty when three points would have taken his side more than a converted try clear.

Some woeful defensive clearances and poor tactical kicking from Marks, centre Gareth Morgan and full back Ioan Davies allowed Keys to counter attack at will.

It was all Keys now only for the ever present Mills to rob them of ball, legally or not, in key positions and there were some thundering tackles from man of the match Walker in the five minutes of injury time.

It was nail biting stuff, local GPs John Rees, Rob Salt and Mark Boulter dishing out the tranquillisers to those who were still able to look before going off to check their stock for the Cardiff game on January 28.

The win puts Llandovery up to 15 points, level with Ebbw Vale and Maesteg, one point behind Pontypool and three points behind Glamorgan Wanderers but still three points clear of the bottom two, Cardiff and Carmarthen Quins.

See Latest News section for programme notes.

Ioan Davies, Owain Rowlands, Gareth Morgan, Jacob Van Wyk, Ifan Evans; Tomas Marks, Rob Walters (Iwan Mainwaring); Dorian Williams (Dennis Pugh), Adam Yelland (Kevin Allen),  Andrew Jones,  Tom Walker, Arwel Davies (capt), Ceri Davies, Jon Mills, Eifion Gwynne

Try: Jon Mills; Pens: Tomas Marks (2)

I Davies 4; O Rowlands 6, G Morgan 4, J Van Wyk 5, I Evans 5; T Marks 4, R Walters 6 (I Mainwaring 5), D Williams 6 (D Pugh 6), A Yelland 6 (K Allen 6), A Jones 6, T Walker 8, A Davies (capt) 6, C Davies 7, J Mills 8, E Gwynne 7

Tom Walker

Match ball: Chris Richards Llanwrda

Man of the Match:

Llandovery scraped through to the fifth round of the Konica Minolta Cup by a mere four points in a rousing, well contested game in which sixty points were recorded. Caerphilly, relegated from the Premiership at the end of last season, have been forced to re-build their side following the departure of most of their squad when they fell to Division 1. On this evidence they have done a good job and will be a force to be reckoned with.

In fact the First Division side came close to achieving a giant killing act and were unlucky not to have scored a couple more tries when they enjoyed a long period of territorial advantage over the Premiership team. An injury to Drovers outside half Tomas Marks necessitating full back Gareth Morgan taking over his duties in that position and as kicker had a large influence on the eventual outcome.

In their task they were greatly helped when Caerphilly’s influential flanker, Peter Harrison, was yellow carded for striking an opponent just before the interval. At this point the home side were leading 15-10, but when he returned after half time the score had been turned around to 25-15 in favour of the Drovers.

The first try, of the eight scored, came after only 2 minutes. Following a scrum on their own 10m line lively Caerphilly scrum half Geoff Goodswen broke down the blind side. When his opposite number Iwan Mainwaring slipped Goodswen found his way clear. He sprinted 50 m downfield before a covering tackle from winger Ifan Evans brought him down. When the ball was re-cycled player-coach Christian Ferris was on hand to dive over and open the scoring.

Within minutes the Drovers were back on terms. Following a 5m scrum the ball was flipped out to winger Mark Bowen who used all his strength and size to power over in the corner despite the attentions of two tacklers.

Full back James Balfrey then restored the Caerphilly lead with a well struck penalty which was soon added to when flanker Peter Harrison broke through some weak tackles to score a second try for the home side. Balfrey converted to take the home side into a 10 point lead.

With half time approaching and the ‘Cheesemen’ holding the Drovers in a vice like territorial grip a relieving kick took play into the home half. Here good work by forwards Vernon Cooper and Gareth Bennett paved the way for flanker Ceri Davies to force his way over for a try which went unconverted.

There was still time for Caerphilly to come close to increasing their lead and on two occasions they could count themselves unlucky not to score. In the first instance a driving maul crossed the line but the Referee ruled that the ball was held up, and then a splendid cross kick by outside half Mark Withey found three unmarked attackers. Unfortunately for them the bounce of the ball went back over their heads as they followed up and the home side had to be content with a 15 points to 10 lead at the interval.

Caerphilly down to 14 men at the start of second half with the sin-binning of Harrison found the more experienced Drovers side a handful and within 4 minutes of the re-start Number eight Gareth Bennett had crashed his way over from a five metre scrum to once again equal the scores. Gareth Morgan, taking over the kicking duties, now put the drovers into the lead for the first time in the match when he slotted a 35m penalty.

It was Morgan again who was instrumental in setting up the Drovers fourth try. Receiving the ball from a lineout he made a searing 50m break before sending centre Jacobus Van Wyk over for a try with a well timed pass. Morgan converted the try to give the Drovers a 10 point lead.

At this stage the Drovers should have been able to close the game out but Caerphilly had other ideas and were not about to give up thoughts of a giant killing act. When a miss-pass move amongst the Llandovery backs was intercepted just short of his own line Caerphilly centre Phil Price raced 70m deep into opposition territory where the Drovers conceded a penalty to give Balfrey the chance to reduce the arrears. When the full back kicked his third penalty only a minute later the game was very much open at 21-25.

Gareth Morgan was once again to play an influential role in the tie. A breakdown amongst the home backs spilled the ball and Morgan booted it downfield, gave chase and secured it from under the noses of the defenders. Wing Ifan Evans speeding up in support was able to take a pass and cross for a fifth Drovers try. When Morgan converted the score stood at 32-21 with only a few minutes left.

However in this game nothing was to be taken for granted and back came the home side. Following a quickly taken penalty replacement prop Feao Vunipola forced his way over under the posts to record a third try for the home side. It was too little too late because as the conversion sailed over Referee Mr David Bodily blew the final whistle to end this pulsating tie and ease the Drovers into the next round. The sighs of relief were audible all around the ground.

Photos of the game, from Ian Williams of Riley Sports Photography, uploaded here

See here for more pictures of the Caerphilly Cup game taken by Mark Tamplin of Caerphilly and available from his website for purchase

Tries: Mark Bowen, Ceri Davies, Gareth Bennett, Jacob van Wyk, Ifan Evans; Cons: Gareth Morgan (2); Pen: Gareth Morgan

A dry, firm pitch and bright sunshine provided ideal conditions for open running rugby. An in form home side took full advantage, running in 6 tries against a hard working but eventually outclassed Drovers side who managed one excellently worked try of their own.

The Llandovery pack, usually a strong point in the Drovers' game, struggled from the outset. The set scrum was frequently pushed backwards and the line out was always under pressure. The result of this was that the visitors had little useable ball to run whilst the home side had many more opportunities.

The Whites fielded a very strong front five with props Lee May and Tim Evans providing a sure platform in the tight. Behind them lock Alun Wyn Jones, the former Llandovery College Captain and Under 21 Wales International, was in fine form in the line out where he was ably supported by the experienced Noel Thomas. For the visitors, back row forwards Ceri Davies and Gareth Bennett caught the eye with determined work both in defence and in trying to set up a platform for counter attacks.

To add to the Drovers' woes, usually reliable goal kicker Gareth Morgan was off form with the boot, missing an early opportunity to open the scoring with a penalty.

The opening try for Swansea came after 13 minutes of play. After a series of scrums on the Llandovery line the ball was moved wide where wing Nicky Thomas came in field to cut back inside and pass too easily through the defence. Stuart Thomas added the conversion.

With Swansea having the upper hand in all aspects of play the Drovers to their credit defended well but, with so many opportunities to run and the experienced Ospreys pair of full back Damian Karauna and centre Jonny Vaughton orchestrating the play, further tries were inevitable. It was this pair that created the second try when, from a midfield break, a ruck was set up near the line and scrum half Darren Pittard, awarded the ‘Man of the Match’, dived over. Thomas again added the conversion.

It was now the Drovers backs turn to show what they could have done with more ball. A sweeping movement saw the ball reach Mark Bowen on the wing. Centre Jacobus van Wyk supported inside and the two interchanged passes for Van Wyk to eventually touch down for arguably the best try of the game.

The conversion missed, as did a second penalty chance, and the score stood at 14-5 when it could well have been 14-13 and given the side more encouragement. As it was, in injury time at the end of the first half Swansea struck again for their third try and Nicky Thomas’s second. This time the defence failed to cope with a speculative kick ahead, the ball was allowed to bounce and the wing was up to pounce and score in the corner to bring the half time whistle.

The second half was a repetition of the first with the home side scoring a further 3 tries and nineteen points. Despite brave defensive efforts, outside half Stuart Thomas and centres Jonny Vaughton and Matthew Brayley all secured tries. Thomas converted two of them and the game finished with the Drovers well beaten but never giving up.

Llandovery now face a vital game with the visit of bottom side Cardiff to Church Bank next Saturday. With six teams still in the possible relegation mix at the bottom of the Principality Premiership this is one the Drovers must win.

Try: Jacob van Wyk

Huw S Thomas reports:

Whoever lost this bottom of the table battle would take on the mantle of favourites for relegation and that unenviable position has fallen squarely on the shoulders of Cardiff.

The defeat at Church Bank to the combative Drovers rounded off an awful week for the capital city sides. The Blues had gone down to an ignominious 48-3 Heineken Cup thrashing at the hands of the Guinness Premiership’s bottom side Leeds and now the Principality Premiership side were well beaten by the Drovers.

In a thrilling 70 point game in which one side scored three tries to take a 24-0 lead and then was overtaken by a 21 point spurt inside 5 minutes, the result had huge significance.

The five tries to four Llandovery win eased their relegation worries but Cardiff are now right in the muckiest of mires, six points adrift at the foot of the table with just 11 league fixtures to go.

Drovers coach Iestyn Thomas gave huge praise to his team. “To be 24-0 down and then win is nothing to do with coaching, it is all heart and belief and commitment and I take my hat off to the boys.”

Is it conceivable that Cardiff, the self styled “greatest club in the world”, will slip down to National One to play the likes of Builth Wells, Blackwood and Narberth or will there be a revival to save the honour of the Black and Blues?

Indeed, the talk in the Llandovery clubhouse was whether the WRU criteria for membership to the Premiership might be Cardiff’s saviour from relegation. As it is at the moment, the bottom two in the Premiership are automatically relegated and the third from bottom will meet the winners of National One to decide who will play in the Premiership next year.

But the WRU have issued guidelines on the criteria that must be met to sustain or attain membership of the Premiership and have advised that “at May /June 2006 all clubs in the Premiership which fail to satisfy the Premiership criteria are relegated.”

The four main areas of criteria are finance and administration, regulatory compliance, player development programme and - the most important - minimum ground facilities. Points are awarded for club facilities and there is a danger that some of the Premiership clubs, even if they finish above Cardiff, might not have the quality of facilities to attain the required “pass mark.”

For example high marks are given for such as having one’s own ground - not shared - with security of tenure for 5 years, floodlighting to broadcaster specification, seated accommodation for 499, hard standing covered accommodation for 601, clubhouse on ground, changing rooms for 25 players each, medical and physio room, playing surface fenced on all sides, no free views and adequate toilets for spectators.

Other criteria include facilities for disabled, off road parking for 200 and turnstiles.

Cardiff would score high on all counts but would some of the other clubs in the division and the promoted side - Bonymaen in all probability - reach the required 75% pass mark?

On the field, two tries by full back Leon Andrews and one by scrum half Owen Rutley, all converted by fly half Chris Anderson who also added a penalty, put Cardiff 24-0 ahead after 36 minutes.

It was an amazing scoreline in that Llandovery had enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and created umpteen chances but Cardiff had scored every time they entered the home 22.

A penalty by fly half Gareth Morgan and try from flanker Ceri Davies gave Llandovery some hope before a dramatic 5 minutes early in the second half turned the game on its head. With Cardiff flanker Nick Hampson yellow carded by Pontyberem referee Nigel Owens, the Drovers pack took clinical advantage of the position.

The scrum and line put domination produced three tries through lock and skipper Arwel Davies, wing Owain Rowlands and a penalty try, Morgan kicking all three conversions for an unlikely 29-24 lead.

A Morgan penalty made it 32-24 and although a converted try by excellent No 8 James Malpas brought Cardiff close, replacement Drover wing Ioan Mainwaring skipped over deep into injury time to settle the issue.

The win took Llandovery up to 12th place ahead of Cardiff, Ebbw Vale, Carmarthen Quins and Glamorgan Wanderers but with 4 home and 7 away games to come, they are not anywhere near safe from relegation.

Perhaps they too might be getting their criteria file ready for the end of the season!

See Latest News section for programme notes.

Ioan Davies, Mark Bowen, Gary Beaumont-Morgan (Iwan Mainwaring), Jacob Van Wyk, Owain Rowlands, Gareth Morgan,  Rob Walters (Celfyn Davies); Dorian Williams, Adam Yelland (Kevin Allen),  Andrew Jones (Aled Williams),  Tom Walker, Arwel Davies (capt), Ceri Davies, Jon Mills (Gareth Bennett), Eifion Gwynne (Mathew Jefferies)

Tries: Ceri Davies, Penalty Try, Arwel Davies, Owain Rowlands, Iwan Mainwaring; Cons: Gareth Morgan (4); Pens: Gareth Morgan (2)

I Davies 5; M Bowen 6, G Beaumont-Morgan 5 (I Mainwaring 6), J Van Wyk 6, O Rowlands 7; G Morgan 5, R Walters 7 (G Davies 5); D Williams 6, A Yelland 6 (K Allen 6), A Jones 6 (A Williams 5), T Walker 7, A Davies (capt) 7, C Davies 7, J Mills 7 (G Bennett 5), E Gwynne 7 (M Jeffries 5)

Match ball: Bryan Phillips Myrddin Investigations

Man of the Match:

Llandovery gave a good account of themselves in a highly entertaining contest against second placed Pontypridd at Sardis Road where the teams ended with three tries apiece. The difference between the sides came down to Pontypridd’s Dai Flanagan, aided by Rhondda Referee Mr Gary Davies whom Paul John the Pontypridd coach described as “a homer” whilst the Drovers coach Iestyn Thomas’s comments were unprintable. The outside half finished with 21 points to his credit, from 4 penalties, 3 conversions and a drop goal.

The game was only five minutes old when Flanagan struck the first of his penalties but this was soon replied to by a try from the Drovers. A series of rolling mauls took the ball to the Pontypridd line where flanker Eifion Gwynne was credited with the touchdown. Tomas Marks converted and the visitors led by 7-3.

A second Flanagan penalty reduced the lead to 1 point but he missed the opportunity to put the home side back into the lead when a stream of penalties forced the Drovers back into their own half.

Try scoring flanker Gwynne was then harshly shown the yellow card for offside at a ruck and Flanagan put the home side back into the lead when Llandovery were further penalised 10m for talking back to the referee. With two further Flanagan penalties and two from the Drovers' Tomas Marks the sides reached half time with a slender 13 – 12 lead for the visitors.

Within a minute of the restart it was an opportunity for Flanagan to show his skills in open play. The outside half put in the perfect cross kick, straight into the arms of flying wing Darren Berry who crossed in the corner. Flanagan converted and Pontypridd established a lead they were to hold till the end of the game.

Marks pulled the lead back with a penalty but when the ref failed to spot a knock on by ex-Carmarthen Quins scrum half Wayne Evans Pontypridd were able to force a lineout close to the Drovers line. From there hooker Leighton Davies burst over for Flanagan to slot the conversion, and then soon after add a drop goal to his account.

An unconverted try from Llandovery’s Gareth Morgan was answered by a Flanagan converted second try for Darren Berry before, in the final minutes, Gareth Morgan got his second try. Marks converted and the final whistle blew with the Drovers disappointed to lose but taking some satisfaction from running a top team close and adding three tries to their account when, in the final tallying up for relegation, the try count could be vital.

Tries: Eifion Gwynne, Gareth Morgan (2); Cons: Tomas Marks (2); Pens: Tomas Marks (3)

Huw S Thomas reports:

The Drovers reached the last eight of the cup in the way that all and sundry had predicted. Their forwards were immeasurably too powerful at scrum, maul and line-out for the inexperienced Uwic pack and, with possession assured, Llandovery coasted home.

Predictable, too, was the Uwic intent to play open rugby, but, devoid of six top players and short of ball, they rarely threatened the Premiership side.

With the news that Builth had also made the quarter-finals, Llandovery president Phil Davies dreamed of a money-spinning home tie against their Mid Wales neighbours. "We have always got on well with Builth since a young wing by the name of Mark Jones joined us from there in the late-1990s," said Davies. "Mark was hugely popular at both clubs so a tie against the Bulls would not only bring in a big local crowd but also give one of us a chance to reach the semi-finals."

Nothing illustrated the dominance of the home pack more than the hat trick of tries scored by No 8 Gareth Bennett, who went irresistibly over at five-metre scrums. They were the culmination of intense pressure on the lightweight students pack, while the try by skipper and lock Arwel Davies was the result of an unstoppable line-out surge.

The Llandovery front row of Dorian Williams, Kevin Allen and Andrew Jones gave the Cardiff front row a master class in the art of scrummaging while locks Tom Walker and skipper Arwel Davies provided the boiler room power. The back row of Jon Mills, Gareth Bennett and Ceri Davies hit the students back in the loose and made big yards as ball carriers to nullify the threat of a sprightly looking UWIC back row.

Uwic managed a kick-and-chase try and two penalties, all by fly-half Nicky Roberts, but were powerless to stop two well-taken tries from Drovers wing Ifan Evans. The first was made by a chip through by full-back Ioan Davies but the second was very special. Centre Howard Thomas, back from duty with home town Llandeilo, put the ex-Wales U21 wing into space on half-way and Evans swerved past defenders to race in for a try.

Fly half Tomas Marks enjoyed a good day with the boot, hitting five out of six conversions and a penalty for a 13 point haul. It capped a comprehensive and comfortable win for the Drovers.

See Latest News section for programme notes.

Ioan Davies, Iwan Harries, Howard Thomas, Jacobus Van Wyk, Ifan Evans, Tomas Marks,  Iwan Mainwaring (Rob Walters); Dorian Williams (Aled Williams), Kevin Allen,  Andrew Jones (Dennis Pugh), Tom Walker (Glyn Davies), Arwel Davies (capt), Jon Mills (Dafydd Jones), Ceri Davies (Gareth Thomas), Gareth Bennett

Tries: Arwel Davies, Gareth Bennett (3), Ifan Evans (2); Cons: Tomas Marks (5); Pen: Tomas Marks

Iestyn Thomas, Joc Walters, Mark Vince, Geri Davies, Lyndon Lewis, and a Guinness glass (with Roy James attached)

Gareth Bennett

Match ball: The A Team

Man of the Match: Jeff Mills Patron

Previous encounters between these sides had seen an average of nine tries per game scored. In this tense, hard fought match the only try went to Newport lock Neil Watkins.

The sides were even in most aspects of the game, Newport having a slight edge in the lines out but the Drovers establishing a degree of dominance in the set scrums. However the cold, strongly swirling wind was to have a considerable effect on the play and the visitors suffered here with many promising attacks breaking down through handling errors.

In the first quarter Newport established a 10-point lead. Firstly outside half Daniel Griffiths struck the first of his four penalties, followed by the game’s only try converted by Griffiths.

The try came from a catch and drive from a line out with Watkins emerging from the pile of bodies with the ball and being awarded the try. Unfortunately for the Drovers they were to drive over the Newport line four times during the remainder of the game but each time referee Mr David Davies ruled that he was unsighted or that the ball had been held up, each time awarding a 5m scrum to Llandovery.

Speaking afterwards Drovers Coach Iestyn Thomas reported that his forwards were convinced that they had scored on at least two of the occasions and were disappointed that the touch judge, in a good position, had failed to support the claims for the try.

Thomas praised his team’s efforts and particularly their determined attitude going into this difficult away game at seventh placed Newport, adding “I am certain we will keep this approach and will go on to gain sufficient points to keep us clear of the relegation zone”.

After the initial Newport lead had been established it was all down to the respective kickers. Tomas Marks for Llandovery converted three penalties from three attempts whilst his opposite number Daniel Griffiths also put over three more.

For the Drovers the whole pack worked tirelessly but none more so than the outstanding back row of Ceri Davies, Jon Mills and Gareth Thomas who made enormous contributions to the side's efforts. Rob Walters at scrum half was also in dominant form at the base of the scrum, stifling many Newport attacks before they began until he was yellow carded at the start of the final quarter.

Amongst the backs young Howard Thomas from Llandeilo showed some nice touches in only his second game at centre and looks a more assured player since his conversion from full back.

In the final stages of the match Newport’s replacement flanker Richard Dale also found himself in the sin-bin and the game ended, after an amazing eleven minutes of stoppage time, as the first half had ended, with the Drovers pounding away at the home side's line but the defence holding firm.

Pens: Tomas Marks (3)

Llandovery earned a priceless away win at Bedwas last Friday night to keep hopes very much alive that they will avoid relegation from the Principality Premiership.

With the news that fellow strugglers Glamorgan Wanderers and Carmarthen Quins had lost, it was a good night for the Drovers although the Cardiff defeat of Llanelli stopped any over celebration.

The Llandovery pack, well led as always by skipper and lock Arwel Davies, was again in rousing form in the loose, their ball carrying and close support work gaining the better quality possession. Their hard work in the contact area set the tone early on and it took Bedwas a good forty minutes before they began to offer a serious challenge.

In a confident first half, a try by wing Mark Bowen plus 14 points from the boot of fly-half Tomas Marks - a conversion and four penalties - had the Drovers in a well deserved 19-6 lead. And with a bit more luck, they could have been far more ahead as two close range line outs and two close range scrums were scrambled away in desperate fashion by Bedwas at a time when they had lock Bryn Griffiths in the sin-bin.

The Gwent side lifted its game in the first quarter of the second half and centre Phil Dolman added two penalties to his first half brace to make it 19-12.

But Llandovery tackling was hugely committed and all embracing, with the evergreen and ever wily Ceri Davies leading the way and the other flanker Eifion Gwynne doing some tremendous work on the ground to rob Bedwas of quick ball.

Half backs Rob Walters and Marks had fine games, Walters chasing and harassing his opposite number Simon Jones without stop and covering like a No 8. Marks, in his best game for Llandovery since his transfer from Llanelli, kicked beautifully out of hand and off the ground and it was fitting that it was the half backs that sealed only the second away win of the season.

Walters snatched the ball out of the grasp of scrum half Jones at a retreating Bedwas scrum and was away like a shot before turning an inside pass to supporting flanker Gareth Thomas for a try in the corner with three minutes to go.

Marks kicked a wonderful conversion from the touch-line to send Supporters Club Chairman Malcolm Page screaming into the bar in delight at a great result for his favourites.

With eight games left - four at home against Neath, Carmarthen Quins, Swansea and Glamorgan Wanderers, and four away against Aberavon, Ebbw Vale, Bridgend, and Llanelli – the season is now drawing to the most exciting of ends.

Club house pundits are of the opinion that the Drovers need three wins out of their last eight games to be safe - easier said than done given the quality of opposition remaining which includes the top three in the division in Neath, Aberavon and Bridgend.

Champions Neath are at Church Bank on Friday night (KO 7 15 pm) and will not have happy memories of last year’s visit when they lost 27-13 to a pumped up Drovers. What Llandovery coach Iestyn Thomas would not give for a similar result this Friday.

Ioan Davies; Ifan Evans, Gary Beaumont-Morgan (Howard Thomas), Jacobus Van Wyk, Mark Bowen; Tomas Marks, Rob Walters; Dorian Williams (Dennis Pugh), Kevin Allen (Adam Yelland), Andrew Jones,  Glyn Davies, Arwel Davies (capt ), Ceri Davies, Jon Mills (Gareth Bennett), Eifion Gwynne (Gareth Thomas)

Tries: Mark Bowen, Gareth Thomas; Cons: Tomas Marks (2); Pens: Tomas Marks (4)

Compiled by Huw S Thomas, Marks out of 10:

I Davies 5; I Evans 6, G Beaumont-Morgan 6 (rep H Thomas 5), J Van Wyk 6, M Bowen 6; T Marks 8, R Walters 8; D Williams 7 (rep D Pugh 5), K Allen 6 (rep A Yelland 5), A Jones 6,  G Davies 6, A Davies (capt 7 ), C Davies 7, J Mills 7 (rep G Bennett 6), E Gwynne 7 (rep G Thomas 6)

The Neath bandwagon rolls inexorably on but the champions had to call on all their know how and determination to beat the ever competitive Drovers at icy cold Church Bank last Friday.

It was only in the penultimate minute of a match that at one stage they looked like losing that the All Blacks won their 20th league game out of 21.

All Blacks coach Rowland Phillips remembered only too well last season’s surprise 27-13 defeat at Church Bank and had drummed home the necessity of stepping up to the mark right from the start. “If you do not get it right up front at the home of the Drovers, you are in trouble” explained Neath coach Rowland Phillips. “We kept stressing this in training this week but even then it took all our nerve and energy to come back from a 13-3 deficit.”

Llandovery coach Iestyn Thomas was of the opinion that the red card given to prop Dennis Pugh by referee Neil Ballard was the defining moment of the game.

“When Pugh got his second yellow card for killing the ball after just 51 minutes and was automatically red carded, it meant that a seven man pack had to take on the champions eight for over half an hour. It was to everyone’s great credit that we were still ahead with four minutes of normal time left before the effort took its toll in the end. I’m not saying that we would have won but the Pugh dismissal put just too much pressure on us against the class side of the Premiership.”

With a strong wind which they did not use to full advantage Llandovery led through two penalties by Tomas Marks to one by his opposite number Arwel Thomas for most of the first half.

Neath had won plenty of ball but imprecise finishing and strong home cover had denied them on several occasions - a superb ankle tap by lock Tom Walker on the flying Richard Johnston saving a certain try.

Then Marks kicked long out of defence in the last moments of the half, wing Ifan Evans won the long chase with ease and suddenly Neath went into the break 13-3 down after the successful Marks conversion.

Llandovery scrapped and fought for every ball from then on and, despite being on the defence for most of the time after losing prop Dennis Pugh on a red card for persistent infringement, they still led 13-3 going into the final quarter.

Neath attacked wide out and adventure brought its reward when wing Steve Thomas, grandson of the doyen of Welsh rugby writers, the late JBG Thomas, reduced the deficit with a try after 61 minutes and then got his second to tie the scores 13-13 after 76 minutes.

In injury time Arwel Thomas missed a long penalty from near half way but Man of the Match Thomas, who turned out briefly for the Drovers last year, weaved through five exhausted tacklers to set up a try for replacement scrum-half Gareth James, converted by Thomas, with a minute left.

The Drovers, in 13th place, travel to third placed Aberavon this Saturday and will hope to see the return of their front-line props Dorian Williams and Andrew Jones. It will be a big ask to win at the Talbot Athletic Ground but general morale is good in the Llandovery camp and confidence high that relegation can be avoided.

Ioan Davies (Gary Beaumont-Morgan); Ifan Evans, Howard Thomas, Jacobus Van Wyk, Mark Bowen; Tomas Marks, Iwan Mainwaring (Rob Walters); Aled Williams, Adam Yelland (Kevin Allen), Dennis Pugh (Dale Williams), Tom Walker, Arwel Davies (capt) (Vernon Cooper), Ceri Davies (Gareth Thomas), Jon Mills (Mathew Jeffries), Eifion Gwynne

Try: Ifan Evans; Con: Tomas Marks; Pens: Tomas Marks (2)

Compiled by Huw S Thomas, Marks out of 10:

I Davies 5 (G Beaumont-Morgan 5); I Evans 6, H Thomas 5, J Van Wyk 5, M Bowen 5; T Marks 5, I Mainwaring 5 (rep R Walters 6); A Williams 5, A Yelland 5 (rep K Allen 5), D Pugh 5 (rep Dale Williams 5), T Walker 7, A Davies (capt 6) (rep V Cooper 6), C Davies 7 (rep G Thomas 7), J Mills 7 (rep M Jeffries 6), E Gwynne  6

Match ball: Mrs Evelyn Davies

Man of the Match: Alfred McAlpine Special Projects

Continuous heavy rain throughout the game saw large puddles forming and as the game approached its final quarter around fifty percent of the playing surface was under water. It was surprising that in these conditions the game was allowed to proceed for its full eighty minutes. By the end 30 virtually unrecognisable figures were splashing around in something more resembling mud wrestling than rugby.

Aberavon, in scoring 10 points when conditions were at their best in the first 20 minutes, established a lead they were not to relinquish for the rest of the game and although the Drovers ran them close they were never able quite gain the advantage.

Both sides were below full strength through injuries and the home side were forced to press their forwards coach Mark Jones, the former Wales lock, into turning out in the second row. They were also missing a couple of backs but in these conditions that made little difference to the outcome. For the Drovers the loss of experienced front row trio Dorian Williams, Kevin Allen and Andrew Jones was compounded by the loss of captain and lock Arwel Davies. Further difficulties arose when hooker Adam Yelland failed a fitness test during the warm up and had to be replaced by Emyr Phillips. In such conditions it was a hard start for the UWIC student who last season was playing his rugby at Llandovery College. To his credit, after a shaky start he settled down and put in a creditable performance.

The first score of the game was a penalty from in front of the posts by Aberavon outside half Jamie Davies, who soon after converted a try by Number 8 Richard Morris. When a driving maul was stopped Morris broke free and forced his way over the line.

The Drovers fought back with an easy penalty for Tomas Marks and then just before half time scored their first try through Dennis Pugh. The prop forward quickly took a tap penalty and before the defence had time to organise themselves crashed over the line to bring the score to 10-8 at half time.

With very little chance for any constructive rugby the game focussed on forward play and the Drovers, with four of the front five missing, had to give second best to Aberavon in the driving mauls. Any back play was mainly restricted to kicks up-field by the half backs. In the dreadful conditions former Llandeilo Youth product Howard Thomas had an excellent game at full back for Llandovery. His line kicking drove the home side back into their own territory on numerous occasions and one outstanding tackle saved a certain try.

When Llandovery failed to clear their lines and an attempted kick was charged down Jamie Davies grabbed the ball, brushing off some weak tackling to score an unconverted try in the corner and extend the lead. In a similar chaotic passage of play at the other end, with 5 minutes of the game left Tregaron student Dennis Pugh grabbed his second try of the match to bring the score to 15-13. Unfortunately Tomas Marks was unable to raise the ball far enough out of the all embracing glue to get the ball over the bar.

As the players slipped and splashed their way into injury time, created mostly from washing of faces and eyes, Aberavon’s Richard Morris grabbed his second try near enough to the posts for Jamie Davies to complete the conversion and give the home side their 18th victory in 24 league outings.

Next week it’s cup duty for the Drovers when they travel to the capital city to take on Cardiff in the quarter final of the Konica Minolta Cup. No doubt they will be hoping that their injured front five players are fit enough to boost their chances of a semi-final spot.

Tries: Dennis Pugh (2); Pen: Tomas Marks

The Drovers narrowly failed to reach the semi-finals of the Konica Minolta Cup after going down to fellow Principality Premiership strugglers Cardiff in an error-ridden encounter at the Arms Park.

Llandovery enjoyed territorial advantage but could not finish off numerous chances either with or against the wind but Drovers coach Iestyn Thomas phlegmatically shrugged off the Cup loss. "It would have been great for a small club with limited resources like Llandovery to get to the semis - and if we had taken our chances we would have won. We were crucified by the referee – 14 penalties to five - but even then could have won it in the second half when we had three gilt-edged chances to score."

" Funnily enough, we will take as much out of the game as Cardiff, as most neutrals will agree that the game was there for the taking. In the league, we have three games at home v Swansea, Glamorgan Wanderers and Carmarthen Quins and three away v Bridgend, Ebbw Vale and Llanelli and I guess that we need four wins to make sure of staying up."

"As three of these games are against fellow strugglers in Ebbw Vale, Carmarthen Quins and Glamorgan Wanderers, we know exactly what we have to do."

If commitment was whole hearted on both sides then execution was poor with a catalogue of errors preventing any score for the first 65 minutes.

Despite failing to use the wind to good advantage, Llandovery had much the better of the first half. Props Dennis Pugh and Aled Williams dominated the front row exchanges and back row men Ceri Davies, Jon Mills and Eifion Gwynne often made ground with ball in hand but there was always a knock-on, forward pass, accidental off side or penalty whistled by Mr Mason to destroy prime positions.

Flanker Gareth Gravell was outstanding in the Cardiff pack which came right back into the game in the second half but it was Llandovery that let slip the better chances. They lost their own line out five metres from the Cardiff line, then two slashing breaks, by scrum-half Iwan Mainwaring and by Gwynne, should have produced tries for wing Ifan Evans only for the final pass to be deflected by the last desperate Cardiff coverer.

Fast-improving full-back Howard Thomas threatened with ball in hand but it was the Blue and Blacks who seized the initiative late on.

It took a magnificent tackle by wing Iwan Harries to stop Cardiff wing Jonathan Hill from scoring before fly-half Nick MacLeod, who had missed two penalties, kicked the vital one in the 65th minute. With full-back Leon Andrews kicking long, the game was sealed with four minutes of normal time left. Replacement No 8 James Malpas brilliantly flicked a ball off the back of an attacking scrum to Anderson who cut the line on the blind side before putting wing Elgan Jones over.

Compiled by Huw S Thomas, Marks out of 10:

H Thomas 8; I Harries 7 (M Bowen 5), I Davies 5, J van Wyk 5, I Evans 6; T Marks 6, I Mainwaring 6 (R Walters 6); D Pugh 7 , A Yelland 5 (E Phillips 5), A Williams 7 (D Williams h/t 6), T Walker 7, A Davies 6, C Davies 7 (G Bennett 5 ), J Mills 7 (G Davies 5), E Gwynne 7 (G Thomas 5)

Bridgend, equal on points with Premiership leaders Neath, had to battle until the 80th minute before they scored a late try to ensure victory over the battling Drovers.

Llandovery, involved in the relegation battle at the foot of the table, were a match for the home side in all aspects of play and had the edge in the tight. In the open, fast game, with both sides taking their opportunities to run the ball on a hard dry pitch, the Carmarthenshire side played some of their best rugby of the season.

Speaking afterwards a desperately disappointed Llandovery coach Iestyn Thomas highlighted three significant incidents that he felt turned the game and resulted in Bridgend snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. “The freak bounce of the rugby ball, indiscipline in talking back at the referee and the seemingly arbitrary use of the yellow card all contributed considerably to our defeat”.

The Drovers took an early lead when, following good interpassing involving both backs and forwards, No 8 Gareth Bennett used his strength to force his way over for a try which went unconverted. Bridgend replied when they scored a try through their number 8 Andrew Williams and took the lead with a Matthew Hutchins conversion.

From the kick off the ball reared up on its point from the hard ground and sailed over the heads of the chasing forwards, landing in the hands of a retreating Bridgend player who, finding himself in space, sprinted into Drovers' territory where he found centre Ryan Howells and outside half Mark David up in support for the latter to cross in the corner. Llandovery, leading 5 nil within 3 minutes, found themselves trailing 12-5.

Worse was to follow when talking back to the ref after a penalty for a high tackle cost 10 metres and put the kick within the range of Hutchins who kicked the goal to increase the home lead to 10 points.

With half time approaching the Drovers pulled the deficit back to only three points when lock Tom Walker, supporting good play by the threes, crossed for a second Drovers try converted by Tomas Marks.

With the wind in their favour in the second half the visitors were optimistic that they could inflict a rare defeat on the high flying Bridgend side.

The home side, under pressure, resorted to illegal tactics at the ruck and maul to nip promising attacks in the bud and prevent the Drovers increasing their try count. Hands in, collapsing the maul and offside all resulted in penalties and each time the referee was seen to give a talking to the offending player. Tomas Marks was presented with five goal attempts and was successful with four, taking the Drovers tally to 24 points.

With much of the game taking place in Bridgend territory it was against the run of play that they broke out and, with their speedy backs combing in an excellent move, full back Hutchins was able to make the extra man and breach the defence for an unconverted corner try.

As the game approached its finale Bridgend mounted one last attack. A penalty kick gave them a 5m lineout and kept the pressure on with a series of driving mauls. The Drovers now resorted to illegal means to stop the attack and this time there was no talking to the player - a yellow card was given to scrum half Rob Walters. With one short in defence replacement centre Roger Davies, who last season was seen in Llandovery colours, found a gap and crossed under the posts for a try converted by Hutchins.

There was only injury time for the kick off before the full time whistle was blown and a desperately frustrated Drovers had to concede to an undeserved victory by a highly relieved Bridgend side.

Tries: Gareth Bennett, Tom Walker; Con: Tomas Marks; Pens: Tomas Marks (4)

The Llandovery pack put in one of their very best performances of the season to lay the foundations of a decisive home win over their old Towy Valley rivals.

Completely dominant at the scrum and steam rolling the Quins pack with a succession of rolling mauls in the loose, Llandovery should have won by far more in this tense game between two sides still in danger of relegation.

That they did not was down to first-half indiscipline which saw two yellow cards inside four minutes for wing Mark Bowen and flanker Eifion Gwynne and a very good Quins line-out in which locks Dominic Day and Euros Evans excelled.

It was a good job for the Quins that they did so well at the line out as they were comprehensively out thought and out muscled in the other forward exchanges. The Drovers front row of Dorian Williams, Andrew Jones and the outstanding Andrew Bryn Jones put youngsters Nathan Williams and Dan George through the mixer and only some heroic shoring up from tight head Marc O’Kelly kept the Quins afloat.

“It was one of our best performances up front although I tore a strip off the side at half time after seeing us throw points away because of poor discipline and a lack of concentration at the line out” said coach Iestyn Thomas. “We have four games left starting with Swansea at home on Saturday and we will take huge encouragement for this win which takes us up the table into 13th place. The camp is completely positive and looking forward to the other challenges posed by Ebbw Vale and Llanelli away and Glamorgan Wanderers at home.”

The Quins had little answer to the rolling maul, the first Llandovery try coming at the end of a 40 metre drive that ended in a penalty try when the desperate and frustrated defence were forced to pull down the maul.

The other great influence on the game was Llandovery’s diminutive fly-half Tomas Marks whose goal kicking and touch finding was of the highest class. Marks kicked six penalties out of six, none of them simple, to emphasise his marked all round improvement since moving from Llanelli last year.

Although the Quins twice led 10-9 at one stage in the first half and 17-15 four minutes into the second half, they were never favourites to take the spoils. They changed their line out tactics to try and stop the Llandovery drives and clung on bravely to hold Llandovery to 25-20 but it was a lost cause when replacement flanker Ceri Davies got the reward for yet another great surge by his pack five minutes from time.

The only surprise for the 1000 strong crowd was that Marks failed to kick the conversion from a difficult angle.

Howard Thomas; Ifan Evans, Gary Beaumont-Morgan (Ioan Davies), Jacobus Van Wyk, Mark Bowen; Tomas Marks, Rob Walters; Dorian Williams, Andrew Jones, Andrew Jones (Aled Williams), Tom Walker, Arwel Davies (capt), Jon Mills (Glyn Davies), Eifion Gwynne, Gareth Bennett (Ceri Davies)

Tries: Penalty try, Ceri Davies; Con: Tomas Marks; Pens: Tomas Marks (6)

Compiled by Huw S Thomas, Marks out of 10:

H Thomas 5; I Evans 6, G Beaumont-Morgan 6 (I Davies 5), J Van Wyk 6, M Bowen 6; T Marks 9, R Walters 5; Dorian Williams 8, A Jones 7, A B Jones 8 (A Williams 5), T Walker 8, Arwel Davies (capt) 8, J Mills  7 (G Davies 5 ), G Bennett 6 (C Davies 7), E Gwynne 7

Match ball: Mr Brian Edmunds and Mr Wynford Williams

Man of the Match:

Llandovery sank further into the pit of relegation when a far more skilful and inventive Swansea side outscored them by five tries to three at Church Bank. The Towy Valley club now stare relegation in the face after putting in one of their most disappointing displays of the season at a critical time.

“Swansea bossed us out of the contact area, we failed to clear out convincingly and also spilled a lot of ball against some very aggressive tackling in the first half” said Llandovery coach Iestyn Thomas.

“We have to get back on track quickly and refind the form of a week ago when we dismantled the Quins pack.” said Thomas. “We need at least two wins if not three in our remaining games.”

Llandovery have a home game Wednesday against Glamorgan Wanderers and away games at Llanelli on Saturday and Ebbw Vale a week Friday

All may not be entirely not lost however for the Drovers - even if they finish in the relegation zone - as the WRU have, it is understood, sent letters to a number of rival clubs informing them that they have not fulfilled the criteria demanded by the Union for Premiership membership next year.

Llandovery have superb facilities, including floodlights for three pitches, are solvent and are a vibrant community club – virtues that the WRU hold in high respect.

They might not be able to pay £500 a game to a wing or be in a position to have a five figure overdraft at the bank but come the hour, they can hold up their heads to meet most or all of the criteria set out by the union.

On Friday (April 28), the 16 Principality Premiership clubs will be told if they have met the standards required for future membership. They will be informed that if they have not, they will have until May 31 to reply and set out an immediate plan of rectification and revamping of facilities and structures. Such modifications would have to be completed by August 1.

Rumour has it that up to half a dozen clubs will fall short of the demands of the criteria but will the WRU have the courage to throw out old and well established clubs with a long history in the game?

On Saturday the Drovers were brave enough to admit that Swansea were the better side but they were done few favours by a wavering referee in James Jones who denied them two tries and possibly fourteen points when they trailed 33-19 halfway through the second half.

Jones penalised Swansea wing Nicky Thomas for a very high tackle on wing Ifan Evans a few yards from the try-line but did not award a penalty try. Jones then refused a try by Tom Walker in the belief that he - the referee - had obstructed a Swansea defender. Video replay proved no case of obstruction.

Swansea had done their home work well on the home pack after consulting with ex-Swansea flanker Rob Appleyard, the current Carmarthen Quins coach and they challenged Llandovery constantly in the contact area. They disrupted Llandovery fluency but the home side were also guilty of poor ball control and retention plus some wayward kicking in defence.

It offered the All Whites plenty of chances in the first half and by half time they led 26-7 through tries by fly half Stuart Thomas, centre Adrian Thomas plus wings Aaron Bramwell and Leigh Bevan, all down to a combination of Llandovery mistakes and Swansea adventure. Thomas added three conversions and Llandovery’s only response was a try from a line out, scored by hooker Andrew Jones, converted by fly half Tomas Marks.

The game was as good as won by half-time and when the irrepressible Hibbard took advantage of a long run by Bevan to put Swansea ahead 33-7 clear with the conversion, it was definitely over.

To Llandovery’s credit the pack came back strongly with tries from prop Dorian Williams and evergreen flanker Ceri Davies and they should have had a clear penalty try when wing Ifan Evans was tackled very high by the covering Nicky Thomas with the line at his mercy.

That and another disallowed try by erratic referee James Jones would have brought Llandovery right back into it but Swansea then battened down the hatches for Stuart Thomas to seal a decisive win with a late penalty.

Howard Thomas; Ifan Evans, Tal Selley (Ioan Davies), Jacobus Van Wyk (Barrie Thomas), Mark Bowen; Tomas Marks, Iwan Mainwaring (Rob Walters); Dorian Williams, Andrew Jones (Adam Yelland), Andrew Jones, Tom Walker, Arwel Davies (capt), Ceri Davies, Gareth Thomas (Eifion Gwynne), Gareth Bennett

Tries: Andrew Jones, Dorian Williams, Ceri Davies; Cons: Tomas Marks (2)

Compiled by Huw S Thomas, Marks out of 10:

H Thomas 5; I Evans 6, T Selley 6 (I Davies 5), J Van Wyk 5 (B Thomas 5) , M Bowen 5; T Marks 6, I Mainwaring 5 (R Walters 6); D Williams 6, A Jones 6 (A Yelland 5 ), A B Jones 6, T Walker 6, Arwel Davies (capt) 6, C Davies 7, G Bennett 7 G Thomas 5 (rep E Gwynne 6)

Match ball: Martin Edwards

Man of the Match: Mrs Ann Williams, Berllan

The Drovers gave themselves a lifeline in their bid to avoid relegation when they won their last home game of the season at the expense of the Wanderers.

With two away games left - against Llanelli on Saturday and Ebbw Vale a week on Friday - one more win might be enough to keep Llandovery out of the bottom three, two wins will make it a certainty.

Nobody yet knows how WRU criteria on facilities, management structure, finances, three-year business plans, development and coaching strategies might affect the future of the Premiership clubs.

"But all we can do is to get it right on the field," said coach Iestyn Thomas. "And hope we meet WRU demands."

They scored three entertaining tries in all through fly-half Mark Roper and replacements flanker Sam Feehan and wing James Thatcher.

Compiled by Huw S Thomas, Marks out of 10:

Match ball: Peter Price

Man of the Match: Mrs Ann Williams, Berllan

Llandovery had enjoyed a confidence-boosting 35-15 win over Glamorgan Wanderers in the week and went to Stradey Park needing nothing but a win to keep alive their hopes of Premiership survival. They did it in decisive fashion thanks to the magnificent work of their hard working pack of forwards and now look all set to keep their Premiership status, criteria withstanding.

With Maesteg, Pontypool and Carmarthen Quins all losing, the Drovers are now firm favourites to stay in the Premiership, win or lose at Ebbw Vale. They travel to Ebbw Vale this Friday evening and will be going all out to reel off three successive League wins to finish the season in style.

Last Saturday, under the inspirational leadership of lock and captain Arwel Davies, the Drovers eight took a stranglehold on the game from the very start and none but the one-eyed Llanelli supporter would have denied the justice of the worthiest of wins.

Both Llanelli’s Director of Coaching Kevin Williams and Team Manager Gren Cole were generous in defeat. “The oldest truism in the game is the one that states that without the ball, it is very difficult to win a game of rugby,” mused Williams, who leaves Stradey at the end of the season.

“We knew Llandovery’s strengths from having already played them in the Cup and league but trying to counter their driving, close support game is a different matter. We could not get our hands on the ball often enough as their tight play was so cohesive and their loose play so dynamic”, admitted Williams.

Gren Cole was equally frank - “No quibbles as Llandovery were the hungrier and outfought us in tight and loose and particularly in the contact area. We really wanted this win to take us into third spot but they had the greater commitment on the day. We look forward to entertaining Newport next week and finish off what has been an excellent season with a win,” summed up Cole.

Llandovery played as if their very lives depended on it and from one to fifteen played with huge heart, their set piece solid as a rock and their loose play on a different plane to the Scarlets.

Coach Iestyn Thomas could not have asked for more – “Every man jack of them put their bodies on the line and to come away with our first ever league win at Stradey Park at such a vital time in the club’s history speaks volumes for the spirit at Church Bank”.

Dorian Williams, Adam Yelland and Andrew Bryn Jones had individually and collectively their best games of the season at scrum and loose and locks Arwel Davies and Tom Walker had immense games at both line out and loose.

The back row of Ceri Davies, Gareth Bennett and Eifion Gwynne outplayed the much vaunted home trio of Ioan Cunningham, Dan Godfrey and Johnathan Edwards and were the stars of the day, their ball carrying and power in the contact area securing good ball and causing many a turnover.

The eight surged forward time after time to deny Llanelli the chances their backs craved for but there were heroes too behind the scrum. Half-backs Rob Walters and Tomas Marks did all the right things, Walters aggressive in defence, sniping in attack and Marks confident in his handling and vastly improved in his kicking both off the ground and out of hand.

The three-quarter line of Ifan Evans, Gary Beaumont-Morgan (Jacobus Van Wyk after the break), Barrie Thomas and Mark Bowen all tackled hard to a man and full back Ioan Davies did a crucial cover tackle on Ryan Llewellyn late in the second -half

Llandovery should have been well clear by half -time instead of having the most tenuous of 13-12 leads.

They managed a try from skipper Arwel Davies after a quite stupendous tackle-breaking run from wing Mark Bowen, and little Tomas Marks – back at the club that had released him last year - popped over a conversion, drop goal and penalty.

But three times they were denied at the death. Twice, rolling mauls took them to the shadow of the Llanelli posts only for them to inexplicably lose the ball on the line, and wing Ifan Evans sped away only to be forced into touch inches from the try line by a great cover tackle from Nick Jones.

On just three visits to the Llandovery 22, Llanelli came away with two tries - the first from Gavin Quinnell when the backs handled crisply to put the giant lock over, the other an uncharacteristic defensive slip by Llandovery at a line-out, Edwards pouncing on a loose ball.

The second half saw the Drovers forwards turn the screw even more, Marks making it 16-12 with a penalty before a yellow card for an offside Quinnell cost his side dearly.

A set of close range attacks from ruck, maul, line out and scrum stretched the under-strength Llanelli defence to the limit and No 8 Gareth Bennett twisted over from a close range scrum to make it 21-12.

The coincidence of the return of Quinnell and a tiring Drovers pack made the last minutes more tense than it should have been for the Llandovery supporters.

The Llanelli backs showed their potential when a tap penalty from hard working No 8 Dan Godfrey, support from scrum half Lee Williams and replacement wing Stephen Davies sent full back Darren Daniel haring away under the Llandovery posts with five minutes to go.

But the Drovers were not to be denied and key turnovers by flanker Eifion Gwynne and hooker Adam Yelland guaranteed a totally deserved win, watched by Gareth Jenkins whose appearance in the stand had been warmly applauded by one and all.

Ioan Davies; Ifan Evans, Barrie Thomas, Gary Beaumont-Morgan (Jacobus Van Wyk), Mark Bowen; Tomas Marks, Rob Walters ; Dorian Williams, Adam Yelland, Andrew B Jones (Aled Williams), Tom Walker (C Bonnell), Arwel Davies (capt), Ceri Davies, Gareth Bennett, Eifion Gwynne (Gareth Thomas)

Tries: Arwel Davies, Gareth Bennett; Con: Tomas Marks; Pens: Tomas Marks (2); Drop goal: Tomas Marks

Compiled by Huw S Thomas, Marks out of 10:

I Davies 7; I Evans 7, B Thomas 8, G Beaumont-Morgan 7 (J Van Wyk 7), M Bowen 7; T Marks 8, R Walters 8 ; D Williams 8, A Yelland 8, A B  Jones 8 ( A Williams 6), T Walker 8 (C Bonnell 6), A Davies (capt), 8 C Davies 9, G Bennett 9, E Gwynne 9 ( G Thomas 6)

To their credit, Llandovery came back hard in the last ten minutes as the pack at last started to get behind the initial line of defence and it was thoroughly fitting that by far their best player on the night – lock Tom Walker – crashed through for a consolation try.

Ioan Davies; Iwan Harries, Gary Beaumont-Morgan, Barrie Thomas (Jacobus Van Wyk), Mark Bowen (Iwan Mainwaring); Tomas Marks, Rob Walters; Dorian Williams, Andrew R Jones (Adam Yelland), Andrew B Jones (Aled Williams), Tom Walker, Arwel Davies (capt) (Glyn Davies), Ceri Davies, Gareth Bennett, Eifion Gwynne (Gareth Thomas)

Tries: Tom Walker; Pens: Tomas Marks (3)

Compiled by Huw S Thomas, Marks out of 10:

I Davies 5; I Harries 5, G Beaumont-Morgan 6, B Thomas 5 (rep J Van Wyk 6), M Bowen 6 (rep I Mainwaring 5); T Marks 6 , R Walters 6; D Williams 6, A Jones 5 (rep A Yelland 5), A B Jones 5 (rep A Williams 5), T Walker 7, A Davies (capt) 5 (rep G Davies 5), C Davies 5, G Bennett 5, E Gwynne 5 (rep G Thomas 5)