Welsh Colleges League Cup

Coleg Gwent 12 Llandovery College 19

Llandovery College won their first game in the Welsh Colleges League Cup when they beat Cross Keys based Coleg Gwent away from home, writes Huw S Thomas.

A try from Dutch international flanker and College hooker Jordi den Hartog plus 14 points from the boot of full-back Jac Evans secured a hard-fought win against difficult opponents.

It was the first of 12 fixtures that the College will play between now and March 15 against defending Cup champions Coleg Sir Gar, Coleg Y Cymoedd, Bridgend College, Cowbridge CS and Coleg Gwent on a home and away basis.

The top two teams at the end of the league programme will contest the cup final at the Millennium Stadium.

The Lilywhites found conditions strange on a slippery and unpredictable 4G surface and an error strewn first half ended all square at 6-6.

Llandovery's points came from two penalties by Evans, son of the former London Welsh flanker and skipper Jeremy Evans, points which were cancelled out by two penalties from home fly-half Arwel Robson.

Finding a better rhythm and more vim after the break, the Llandovery forwards got better ball.

They drove a line out near the home line, controlled the ball well and fashioned a try for the Dutchman.

Evans converted and with the pack edging the loose and tight, he soon kicked another penalty after more Gwent ill-discipline.

With ten minutes to go Coleg Gwent rallied with two more Robson penalties but in the final minute Evans sealed the win with his fourth successful penalty of the afternoon.

Coach Iestyn Thomas was happy with the win, not quite so happy with the quality of the game.

“It wasn’t pretty and there were lots of mistakes from us but there was an improvement from the previous few weeks.”

“And given that we were missing two key forwards in flanker Ross Barnes and lock Colin Markham it puts us in a good position to go forward into this Wednesday's league game against Bridgend College.”

Llandovery College v Bridgend College at Tredegar Close (Kick-off 2.30pm on Wednesday, October 8).