Brains SA Cup

Llandovery 33 Skewen 13

The Drovers brought the curtain down on another very good season by beating their plucky Division Two West opponents in the final of the Brains SA Cup at Broadacre, Dunvant, writes Huw S Thomas.

It was the sixth time for Llandovery to win what used to be called the West Wales Tovali Cup after success in 1998, 2002, 2003, 2012 and 2013.

They fielded a number of second team players and some promising youngsters and had to work hard to overcome a well organised, combative and in no way overawed Skewen side.

Skewen had done well to finish runners up to Maesteg Quins in Division Two West and well coached by former Neath wing Kevin James, they confirmed that good form with an outstanding defensive performance in the first half.

Llandovery had 80 percent territory and possession but could not find a way through tough tackling opponents who had outstanding performers in back rowers Richard Davies and skipper Wayne Mitchell plus centres Cameron Morris and Tom Kingdom.

Poor finishing cost the Drovers and when dangerous Skewen wing Mark Harvey broke away it was only a last-ditch tackle by full back Mike Evans that saved the Drovers.

But the high tackle cost Evans a ten minute visit to the sin bin and in his absence hooker Steffan Bond gave the minnows a lead when he burst over from close range to secure a 5-0 interval lead.

On Evans’s return the Premiership side took the lead almost immediately with a try from fly half Ian Brooks, converted by scrum half Lee Evans but a penalty by fly half Anthony Buselli restored the Skewen lead.

The huge commitment started to take its toll on the Division Two side and flanker Shaun Miles twisted over from a driving maul.

With skipper and lock Bryn Griffiths making sure that the Llandovery forwards kept pounding away, more gaps started to appear in the tiring Skewen defence.

With more time and room, the centre pairing of Craig Woodall and Rhodri Jones made clear breaks and it was no surprise when Athletic wing Dylan Williams ran well to grab a brace of tries, both converted by Evans.

Jones delivered the coup de grâce with another converted try to make it 33-8 but to their great credit the losers had just enough energy left for replacement Richard Evans to grab a consolation try at the death.