By: Paul Hopkins
Swansea fell to a 21st successive defeat to a clinical Llandovery side in an incredible record that stretches back to August 2010.
The home side looked to capitalised in the opening seconds when centre Rhodri Wall gathered a loose kick off out of the clutches of the home side, but the Swansea defence managed to quickly secure a turnover to avert the danger.
The Whites were awarded an early penalty after the Drovers were guilty of failing to roll away after the tackle, but fly half James Davies missed his effort at goal.
A driving maul over half way set up a platform for the home backs to work the ball out wide to winger Gareth Rees, but he was well wrapped up.
A good take at the lineout by lock Matt Dodd set the Whites on the attack and a clever long pass by centre Hanno Dirksen saw hooker Owen Thomas make a break into space, only for Rees to spill the ball forward during the next phase.
Lock Osain Davies collected a lineout on half way with winger Callum Williams chipping through, but his opposite number Harri Houston superbly tracked back to clear the danger. A 50-22 kick by fly half Kristian Jones earned the visitors a lineout inside the Swansea 22. A poor throw by hooker Craig Thomas meant the visitors were able to clear.
Wall intercepted a loose pass and sprinted across half way, but Thomas managed to pull him down before he was able to break clear. The Whites regathered possession with Houston kicking long for a 50-22.
Dodd took the lineout and the Swansea pack rumbled towards the line with Thomas claiming the opening try. Davies converted.
Flanker Harry Deaves nipped in at the back of a Llandovery lineout to claim possession for the Whites. He found scrum half Connor Tantum in support, who weaved through the middle, finding prop Tom Sloane. The ball was swept quickly out wide but Houston crucially lost the ball over the try line.
In crucial phase of the match Thomas was sent to the sidelines for 10 minutes for a professional foul and Kristian Jones chipped up to the 22. A clever throw to the front of a lineout by Craig Thomas saw scrum half Scott Maynard race clear to score an opportunist try. Kristian Jones converted from out wide.
The visitors grabbed a second try when Callum Williams took a long pass out wide to beat his man for pace to score. Kristian Jones’ conversion drifted wide of the posts.
The outstanding Callum Williams made a third Drovers score when he showed a superb turn of pace on the wing to feed Kristian Jones for a try, which he also converted.
On the stroke of half time Llandovery were penalised for offside in midfield but Davies missed his effort at goal.
Half-time:- Swansea 7-19 Llandovery
With the Drovers mounting the first attack of the second half, Houston intercepted a long Maynard pass and sprinted clear to score. James Davies missed the conversion.
In another moment of sloppy play by the Drovers, Dodd charged down a kick, but Will Thomas was able to recover and regain possession.
A powerful maul by the visitors saw Maynard peal off, but the supporting Rhodri Jones failed to take the pass and the move broke down.
In a scrappy period of play Swansea failed to deal with a loose ball in midfield, allowing the visitors to hack play upfield. The Drovers kept their cool and got quick ball out wide for winger Ashley Evans to score a bonus point try in the corner. Kristian Jones converted.
A long period of pressure by the Drovers almost saw Kristian Jones score in the corner, and quick ball out to the backs saw the fly half Jones chip into the corner for Will Thomas to collect for a simple try. Kristian Jones converted.
Try number six followed a couple of minutes later when the Llandovery forwards surged towards the line with replacement flanker Iwan Davies stretching over for a try. Kristian Jones missed the conversion.
Number eight Charlie Davies made a break through the middle as Swansea embarked on a rare attack but a turnover soon followed, along with a penalty. Kristian Jones kicked to the corner, but replacement hooker Garan Williams was penalised for holding onto possession a metre from the line.
Swansea refused to give up and replacement flanker Leon McNally burst through the middle, taking a well weighted pass, before a superb break by Houston sent Ben Ley over for a try. Full back Liam Popham missed the conversion.
But the visitors’ excitement was soon dampened when Ashley Evans ripped a ball out of a tackle and raced clear to score. Kristian Jones converted.
Full-time:- Swansea 17-45 Llandovery
Swansea:
Tries:- Owen Thomas (23), Harri Houston (43), Ben Ley (74)
Cons:- James Davies (24)
Yellow cards:- Owen Thomas (30)
Llandovery:
Tries:- Scott Maynard (31), Callum Williams (36), Kristian Jones (39), Ashley Evans (50, 77), Will Thomas (59), Iwan Davies (62)
Cons:- Kristian Jones (32, 40, 51, 60, 78)
Match facts:
Venue:- St Helen’s, Swansea
Weather:- Cloudy, 13C
Referee:- Dewi Phillips
Man of the match:- Callum Williams
Attendance:- 400
Swansea team:
15 Liam Popham
14 Harri Houston
13 Hanno Dirksen
12 Kieran Charles
11 Gareth Rees (rep: Garin Lloyd 35-40+1)
10 James Davies (rep: Chris Morgans 69)
9 Connor Tantum (rep: Ben Ley 57)
1 Tom Sloane (rep: Tom Northy 52)
2 Owen Thomas (rep: Garin Lloyd 57)
3 Alun Dew (rep: Ellis Fackrell 52)
4 Matt Dodd
5 Jay Williams ©
6 Harry Deaves
7 Callum Bowden (rep: Leon McNally 63)
8 Charlie Davies (rep: Aneurin James 72)
Replacements:
16 Anuerin James
17 Tom Northy
18 Ellis Fackrell
19 Garin Lloyd
20 Leon McNally
21 Ben Ley
22 Chris Morgans
23 Matt Billett
Llandovery team:
15 Will Thomas (rep: Lawrence Thomas 69)
14 Ashley Evans
13 Rhodri Wall
12 Rhodri Jones (rep: Craig Woodall 60)
11 Callum Williams
10 Kristian Jones
9 Scott Maynard (rep: Dafydd Land 60)
1 Dino Dallavalle (rep: Berian Watkins 52)
2 Craig Thomas (rep: Garan Williams 52)
3 Harri O’Connor (rep: Jamie Hughes 52)
4 Jack Jones ©
5 Osain Davies
6 Griff Evans
7 Jordan Evans (rep: Iwan Davies 60)
8 Lloyd Pike (rep: Joe Powell 63)
Replacements:
16 Berian Watkins
17 Jamie Hughes
18 Joe Powell
19 Iwan Davies
20 Garan Williams
21 Craig Woodall
22 Lawrence Thomas
23 Dafydd Land