Brains SA Cup – Semi-final

Llandovery 28 Carmarthen Quins 0

Llandovery qualified for the final of the Brains SA Cup – formerly the West Wales Cup – with a decisive four tries to nil defeat of fellow Premiership club Carmarthen Quins writes Huw S Thomas

The Drovers will meet the winners of this week’s tie between Skewen and Glynneath in the final, date to be decided.

Things got even better for the Drovers in the week when Llandovery RFC 1st XV was awarded 'Team of the Year' at the Carmarthenshire Sports Personality Awards in Llanelli.

At Church Bank, the Cup holders coped with the wind and rain far better than did the visitors with some of their handling quite outstanding in the hostile conditions.

Neither side fielded their very best starting XVs but there was plenty of experience to complement a sprinkling of promising players from both clubs.

“It was a very good match played at high pace and will set the sides up for the coming Premiership games at the week end” said coach Lyndon Lewis.

“It also gave both clubs a good look at some fringe players who have been pushing hard for a place in Premiership starting line ups”

Former Drover Howard Thomas – the converter of the winning touch line conversion to beat Cardiff in the 2007 Konica Minolta Cup final at the Millennium Stadium - was at fly half for the Quins but was outshone by opposite number Ian Brooks.

Brooks – handled, distributed and kicked cannily – and there was some eye catching running from centre Matthew Jacobs whilst wing Lee Evans set up a try with a great pickup, chip ahead and pass to send in No 8 Lawrence Reynolds.

Brooks put over a fine conversion from the touchline to give the Drovers a 7-0 interval lead.

The Quins could not match the fluency of the home side who had excellent performers in hooker Lee Lewis, lock Bryn Griffiths and flanker Richard Bloomfield.

Centre Rhodri Jones got Llandovery’s second try, soon followed by a second for Reynolds after the Quins pack was shunted back at a close range scrum.

Both were converted by Evans but with the introduction of scrum half Rhodri Wells, the Quins had a good patch of attack in the last quarter.

They came close to tries on a couple of occasions but it was the Drovers who finished the stronger with a converted try from scrum half Rhys ap Garth.

This Friday third placed Llandovery travel to face a Bedwas side that will be cock a hoop after their stunning 22-12 win over Cross Keys.