Llandovery play two key games in the Premiership within the space of four days when the play Llanelli on Saturday (December 21) and Carmarthen Quins on Boxing Day, writes Huw S Thomas.

At the moment the Drovers currently sit in third place on 37 points just behind Pontypridd (39) and Carmarthen Quins (38) and need to win at least one and preferably two games over the festive season if they want to stay in contention for the end of season play offs involving the top three clubs.

The Drovers reach the exact half way mark in this season’s 22 game Premiership campaign when they travel to Llanelli this Saturday.

After winning seven, drawing two and losing once, Lyndon Lewis’s boys will find it tough to at Parc Y Scarlets in this 11th game of the season.

The Llanelli side will be thirsty for revenge after the 41-3 drubbing they suffered at Church Bank and the likelihood is that they will be reinforced by one or two Scarlets.

Wing Aaron Warren was the Llandovery star in the big win on November 29, scoring four tries - two from long distance - in a top class display of clinical finishing and Lewis will hope that the Wales U20 wing will again be in try scoring form at the Parc.

But the big game of the Scarlets region will be at Church Bank on December 26th (KO 1 00 pm) when Llandovery entertain the Quins in the Tywi Valley derby.

The kick off has been brought forward to one o’clock because of the Scarlets - Ospreys game clash on the same day and the result is predictably very hard to forecast.

The Quins coached by former Llandovery lock Louie Tonkin have been the surprise packet in the Premiership in adopting a free flowing game of quick movement and outstanding support play.

They have won none of their ten games with the only defeat at home to champions Pontypridd 25-8 on November 29

Llandovery held Ponty to a 27-27 draw on October 5 after leading 27-15 with ten minutes to go and continue to play attractive attacking rugby under their in-form skipper and flanker Phil Day who was short listed for the November Premiership Player of the Month.

The Quins will have former Drovers in Howard Thomas, Rhys Williams and Haydn Pugh in their ranks to add some spice to a game that is sure to attract a bumper holiday crowd to Church Bank.

Bookmakers are offering 16/1 the draw and with such a tight contest in prospect that could be worth a small flutter to pay for the port and mince pies.