By: Paul Hopkins
Swansea’s long wait for a win over Llandovery continues after an Ellis Mee-inspired Drovers side swept to a convincing 42-13 win at Church Bank.
In fact, it’s now 5,164 days (or 5,171 if you’re ready this in today’s match programme) since the All Whites last tasted victory when James Dixon starred with 17 points against a Llandovery side that featured today’s captain Lee Rees and replacement Adam Warren.
It was an even start to the match when full back Ellis Mee looked to run back a Harri Williams chip through, but the home side lost possession with winger Brandon Wood making good yards, however a mistake by the home side brought an end to the move.
Hughes again kicked into touch, with Scragg taking the lineout, and it was déjà vu as the visitors were warned for another offside offence, with Hughes chipping to touch. Scragg took the lineout as his side drove forward, but hooker Finn Thomas was superbly held up over the line.
Hughes chipped to the corner with a penalty after the visitors’ backs strayed offside in midfield. For the fourth successive lineout Scragg rose high to collect the ball and the home forwards were held up just short, before winger Aaron Warren picked up and charged over for a try. Hughes converted.
Prop Gabe Harvey was penalised for holding on after the tackle with Phillips kicking his second penalty goal to reduce the deficit to a single point.
Mee took a high ball and raced through the middle as the home side were penalised for killing the ball. Scrum half Lee Rees took a quick tap, but a mistake saw the Whites able to regroup in defence. Hughes turned down the kickable penalty and instead chipped into the corner.
From the lineout, lock Morgan Jones collected possession and an unstoppable rolling maul saw Finn Thomas power over for a try. Hughes converted.
Prop Dino Dallavalle charged over half way and flanker Stuart Worrall almost made a break, but was well tackled. The visitors managed to regain possession, although a forward pass by centre Sam Matthews to Wood brought an end to the move.
A superb break by centre Rhodri Jones saw the Drovers gain metres upfield, but a Hughes crossfield kick was diffused by the home side, with lock Chris Thompson yellow carded for a high tackle. Hughes again chipped to the corner and Rees tried to snipe over but was stopped just short of the line, and moments later the home side lost possession forward.
The Whites gave away a free kick at the scrum, and after a patient build up from the quick tap, Rhodri Jones fired a long pass out wide for Mee to score. Hughes converted.
Scragg dropped a high ball from the restart and Lewis Edwards looked to make him pay, but crucially spilled possession forward over the 22.
A poor mistake from Llandovery gifted Swansea an attacking scrum on the 22, but scrum half Iwan Temblett was caught napping at the base of the set piece and was turned over. Aaron Warren tried to make a break but was halted in his tracks and lost possession forward.
Number eight Joe Greaves took the lineout and Lewis Edwards chipped ahead, gathering his own kick, with Matthews well tackled in midfield before the home side gave away an offside penalty.
Williams kicked to the corner and lock Matt Dodd took the lineout, with a rolling maul almost resulting in a try for Dodd, before the Drovers’ defence managed to turn over possession.
Aaron Warren made a break out on the wing against the run of play, but his chip ahead sailed out on the full to give the visitors a lineout on half way, with the Whites awarded a penalty soon after.
Williams chipped up to the 22 with his touch finder and flanker Geraint Powell took the lineout, as the Drovers’ defence was caught napping when Temblett took a quick tap. In fact, Morgan Jones was sent to the sidelines for killing the ball.
With the man advantage, Swansea opted for a scrum under the posts and the decision paid dividends when flanker Luca Giannini picked up the ball from the base of the scrum and raced around to score a first visitors try. Phillips converted.
Half-time:- Llandovery 21-13 Swansea
Phillips spilled a high ball but the Drovers kicked possession back to the visitors, with Williams comfortably finding touch just shy of half way.
Superb tackling by the visitors knocked the Llandovery forwards back over half way, forcing Rees into a high kick that was taken by Phillips.
Aaron Warren danced past a couple of tackles, but the visitors stole possession with number eight Evan Shelton shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on centre Joe Thomas.
A booming kick by Williams took the Whites up to within a few metres of the Llandovery line, and hooker Jamie Cox was stopped a couple of metres short, before the home side somehow managed to turn over possession, allowing Rees to clear.
Giannini ran in on a superb line as the visitors looked to attack the depleted Drovers’ defence and it looked as though Wood had scored in the corner, but the try was ruled out for a forward pass.
Finn Thomas stole a lineout as the Drovers looked to attack, but replacement prop Berian Watkins dropped the ball and Swansea were able to run the ball clear, although a wasteful kick by Temblett sailed out on the full.
A Rees box kick was well taken by Phillips, but a superb break by Mee split the Swansea defence and despite the Whites managing to get back, Morgan Jones picked up to score Drovers’ bonus point try. Hughes converted.
The home side managed a turnover but Matthews chipped straight into touch. An overthrow by Finn Thomas was picked up by Cox who chipped through, finding touch just shy of the Llandovery 22.
Powell was yellow carded for diving over the top after the Drovers collected a chip through, but another mis-firing lineout throw by Finn Thomas gave Swansea unexpected attacking possession. The home side gave away a penalty and Williams chipped into the corner.
Dodd took the lineout and replacement scrum half Aron Hemmings just about kept possession after a powerful maul was stopped. The ball was fed out wide to Lewis Edwards but a superb tackle forced him to hold on, allowing Hughes to clear with a penalty touch finder.
Phillips ran back at the home side, finding Lewis Edwards in support, but Dodd dropped the ball, although Lewis Edwards superbly kept alive a chip through. The Drovers came again though when Hughes weaved through a couple of tackles, before Finn Thomas powered over to score. Hughes converted.
The home side were awarded a penalty on the 22, which replacement fly half Jack Maynard chipped deep into the corner. From the lineout the home side were held up short of the line, before a super pass by replacement scrum half Harri Morgan sent Phillips under the posts for a try. Maynard converted.
Next up for Llandovery is a trip to Aberavon, while Swansea host Pontypool.
Full-time:- Llandovery 42-13 Swansea
Llandovery:
Tries:- Aaron Warren (11), Finn Thomas (18, 74), Ellis Mee (27), Morgan Jones (58), Ilan Phillips (79)
Cons:- Ioan Hughes (12, 19, 28, 59, 75), Jack Maynard (80)
Yellow cards:- Morgan Jones (40+4), Evan Sheldon (47)
Swansea:
Tries:- Luca Giannini (40+5)
Cons:- Josh Phillips (40+6)
Pens:- Josh Phillips (4, 14)
Yellow cards:- Chris Thompson (24), Geraint Powell (67)
Match facts:
Venue:- Church Bank, Llandovery
Weather:- Clear, 11C
Referee:- Keith David
Man of the match:- Ellis Mee
Attendance:- 800
Llandovery team:
15 Ellis Mee
14 Toby Baldwin
13 Ilan Phillips
12 Rhodri Jones (rep: Adam Warren 77)
11 Aaron Warren
10 Ioan Hughes (rep: Jack Maynard 77)
9 Lee Rees © (rep: Harri Morgan 77)
1 Dino Dallavalle (rep: Jamie Hughes 51)
2 Finn Thomas (rep: Iestyn Thomas 80)
3 Gabe Hawley (rep: Berian Watkins 51)
4 Morgan Jones (rep: Chris Long 67)
5 Ed Scragg
6 Osian Davies
7 Stuart Worrall (rep: Dom Kossuth 62)
8 Evan Sheldon
Replacements:
16 Iestyn Thomas
17 Jamie Hughes
18 Berian Watkins
19 Chris Long
20 Dom Kossuth
21 Adam Warren
22 Jack Maynard
23 Harri Morgan
Swansea team:
15 Josh Phillips
14 Brandon Wood (rep: Matthew Aubrey 80)
13 Joe Thomas (rep: Tom Edwards 48)
12 Sam Matthews
11 Lewis Edwards
10 Harri Williams
9 Iwan Temblett (rep: Aron Hemmings 55)
1 Ed Thompson (rep: Freddie Chapman 75)
2 Jamie Cox (rep: Ellis Fackrell 78)
3 Kian Hire (rep: Chris Davies 59)
4 Matt Dodd
5 Chris Thompson (rep: Sam Pailor 75)
6 Geraint Powell
7 Luca Giannini (rep: Cai Davies 70)
8 Joe Greaves
Replacements:
16 Ellis Fackrell
17 Freddie Chapman
18 Chris Davies
19 Sam Pailor
20 Cai Davies
21 Aron Hemmings
22 Matthew Aubrey
23 Tom Edwards