Report by Paul Hopkins
Photo by Riley Sports Photography
League champions Llandovery kept their long winning streak over Swansea intact with a comfortable seven try victory at St Helen’s.
The signs were ominous in the early minutes when the visitors stole the ball from the kick off and set about attacking the All Whites’ 22. A crossfield kick meant for winger Harri Doel sailed into touch but, referee Craig Evans brought play back for a Drovers penalty, which fly half Rhys Jones chipped to the corner.
It was a perfect start for Llandovery with a rolling maul from the lineout resulting in hooker Craig Thomas crashing over for a try. Full back Jack Maynard converted.
Looking to hit back immediately, prop Cameron B Jones nipped in to steal a lineout inside the Drovers half, but the supporting centre Osian Knott was penalised for holding on after the tackle.
Another visitors attack followed though and Thomas tried to burrow through a tackle, but the supporting players were penalised for obstruction.
Rhys Jones found touch on the 22 with a penalty touch finder to give the home side a first attack, but lock Lewis Marsh failed to take the lineout, although Llandovery made a mess of collecting the ball to gift Swansea an attacking lineout.
The home side got quick ball out to the backs and the visitors failed to release full back Harri Houston after he was tackled. Rhys Jones again chipped to touch and another maul was illegally brought down by lock Joe Powell who was also yellow carded. Rhys Jones chipped to the corner with the penalty.
With the Drovers’ defence stretched following the sin-bin, the ball was swept out wide with Rhys Jones collecting a pass to score in the corner. He missed the conversion though.
A booming kick by Rhys Jones found touch on the Drovers 22, with flanker Joe Greaves taking the lineout and feeding the backs. A determined visitors defence drove the Whites backwards and they were penalised for failing to release the tackler.
The home side got their just rewards moments later when Rhys Jones again chipped to the corner, with Marsh taking the lineout and Cameron B Jones using his power to charge over for a try. Jones converted.
A powerful scrum by the visitors earned a penalty, which fly half Ioan Hughes dinked into the corner. The returning lock Powell took the lineout, and the ball was fed into the middle for fellow second row Chris Long to crash over for a try. Maynard converted.
Flanker Stuart Worrall superbly turned over possession inside his own 22 and a chip ahead by Hughes was fielded by winger Matthew Jenkins, but the home side were penalised for obstruction so Hughes chipped up to the 22.
A superb link up between centres Rhodri Jones and Adam Warren got the Drovers inside the Swansea 22 and prop Llyr Green then popped up to score under the posts. Maynard converted.
Hooker Llew Phillips-Taylor was penalised for holding on after the tackle and Hughes chipped up to the 22. A magnificent high kick to the corner was taken by winger Aaron Warren who scored in the corner in an incredible effort that will go down as an all time great try at St Helen’s. Maynard missed the conversion.
Half-time:- Swansea 12-26 Llandovery
The second half began in much the same fashion as the first with Hughes chipping to the corner from a penalty. Powell rose high to collect the lineout and the Drovers got quick ball out wide, with Doel side-stepping a tackler to score. Maynard missed the conversion.
The home side hit back immediately when the outstanding Cameron B Jones ripped the ball out of a tackle and used his strength to power over for a try under the posts. Rhys Jones converted.
An offside offence by the home side gifted Llandovery a penalty which Hughes kicked to the corner. Thomas looked to have powered over for a score, but was held up over the line.
A powerful Drovers scrum earned a penalty with Hughes kicking deep inside the Swansea 22. Flanker Jordan Evans took the lineout, and replacement hooker Taylor Davies crashed over to score. Maynard converted.
Cameron B Jones intercepted a loose Llandovery pass in midfield, but the home side were able to gain a turnover and cleared.
Greaves made a break out wide after a long period of possession for the home side, but replacement winger Brandon Wood’s chip ahead was well dealt with, and the chasing scrum half Aron Hemmings had to stop due to straying in front of the kick.
Rhys Jones took a quick tap penalty as his side went in search for a bonus point as the game began to open up, but Matthew Jenkins threw a loose pass that was well dealt with by the Drovers.
Hughes found touch inside the Swansea 22 with a penalty touch finder and a good take by Powell looked to have set his forwards on the charge, but the visitors gave away a penalty at the breakdown.
In the dying seconds the Drovers pack rumbled forward in search of another try, with replacement winger Callum Dodd tackled just short of the line, before substitute number eight Tom Poole crashed over for a try. Maynard converted.
Next up for Swansea is a home match against Carmarthen Quins, while Llandovery travel to Neath.
Full-time:- Swansea 19-45 Llandovery
Swansea:
Tries:- Rhys Jones (18), Cameron B Jones (23, 48)
Cons:- Rhys Jones (24, 49)
Llandovery:
Tries:- Craig Thomas (3), Chris Long (27), Llyr Green (32), Aaron Warren (37), Harri Doel (46), Taylor Davies 59), Tom Poole (80+4)
Cons:- Jack Maynard (4, 28, 33, 60, 80+5)
Yellow cards:- Joe Powell (17)
Match facts:
Venue:- St Helen’s, Swansea
Weather:- Drizzle, 10C
Referee:- Craig Evans
Man of the match:- Chris Long
Attendance:- 300
Swansea team:
15 Harri Houston
14 Matthew Jenkins
13 Joe Thomas
12 Osian Knott (rep: Jacob Symes 75)
11 Llien Morgan (rep: Brandon Wood 47)
10 Rhys Jones
9 Aron Hemmings (rep: Dan Roderick 72)
1 Cameron B Jones (rep: Daf Davies 64)
2 Llew Phillips-Taylor (rep: Archie Ivens 53-64)
3 Ed Thompson (rep: Scott Jenkins 47)
4 Lewis Marsh
5 Matt Dodd (rep: Sam Pailor 5)
6 Joe Greaves
7 Lloyd Evans (rep: Cai Davies 54)
8 Callum Bowden ©
Replacements:
16 Archie Ivens
17 Daf Davies
18 Scott Jenkins
19 Sam Pailor
20 Cai Davies
21 Dan Roderick
22 Jacob Symes
23 Brandon Wood
Llandovery team:
15 Jack Maynard
14 Harri Doel
13 Adam Warren (rep: Ilan Phillips 60)
12 Rhodri Jones
11 Aaron Warren (rep: Callum Dodd 65)
10 Ioan Hughes
9 Lee Rees © (rep: Daf Land 65)
1 Josh Morse (rep: Dino Dallavalle 52)
2 Craig Thomas (rep: Taylor Davies 56)
3 Llyr Green (rep: Berian Watkins 65)
4 Chris Long
5 Joe Powell
6 Jordan Evans
7 Stuart Worrall (rep: Sam Melmath 65)
8 Nathan Hart (rep: Tom Poole 65)
Replacements:
16 Dino Dallavalle
17 Taylor Davies
18 Berian Watkins
19 Sam Melmath
20 Tom Poole
21 Ilan Phillips
22 Callum Dodd
23 Daf Land