British and Irish Cup Melrose 14 Llandovery 29 (From South Wales Guardian)

British and Irish Cup Melrose 14 Llandovery 29

7:00am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Sport

LLANDOVERY climbed to the top of Pool 8 in the British and Irish Cup after this hard fought win, writes Huw S Thomas.

Their five tries in Scotland gives them nine points and they remain the only unbeaten side in their four-strong pool.

The first half was a tight affair with the Drovers outscoring the Borders club by two tries to one.

In form centre Jack Roberts ran very well to make the first for wing Chris Knight, converted by fly half James Garland before fly half Andy Skeen drewhis team level with a self converted try.

Hard work up front where skipper Lloyd Phillips showed his best form of the season with his driving play and quick support chiselled out a try for prop Dean Howells.

Garland’s conversion gave Llandovery a 14-7 interval lead but soon after the restart Llandovery had got their third try when a sweeping move sent wing Jake Randall racing in.

It seemed to take the wind out of the Melrose sails and in the final quarter busy scrum half Rhodri Williams sealed the bonus point with try number four to make it 24-7.

The Scots did get a second try from very good flanker Roddy Grant, converted by Skeen but with substitutes as determined and hard working as those they replaced, the Drovers finished in style.

No 8 and Man of the Match Luke Kendall, lock Bryn Griffiths and flanker Shaun Miles were to the fore and North Walian Roberts got a smart 77th minute try to cap another excellent display by the in-form Drovers.