Llandovery 19 Llanelli 14

Llandovery and Llanelli warmed up for this Saturday’s Premiership games against Newport and Ebbw Vale respectively with this very competitive friendly under the Church Bank lights, writes Huw S Thomas

A friendly this game may have been in name but both sides played with a commendable and resolute determination through the teeth of the cold wind and persistent driving rain of Church Bank

Both Scarlets feeder clubs used it to give some fringe players a welcome chance to stake a claim for a Premiership start and Scarlets Head of Recruitment Gareth Jenkins was delighted at seeing some young players come to the fore.

“Clubs have little opportunity to give some very promising players game time in the Premiership so a fixture like this is important in the development of young talent.”

“Given that the pressure is on coaches to avoid relegation, you can understand their reluctance to experiment ” said Jenkins.

“The answer would be to ring fence the Premiership so that coaches would not be frightened to give their up and coming players a chance to see what they can do but there are too many clubs whose only ambition is to keep the status quo!” said Jenkins.

For Llandovery scrum half Josh Guy, full back Jacob Clement - watched from the stands by British Lion father Tony – prop Lewys Jonathan and fly half Steff Marshall had eye catching games and Llandovery College 17 year old lock Colin Markham too looked the part when a second half replacement .

Full back Sam Evans, back rowers Osian Davies and Owain Morgan plus wing Rhys Davies gave a good account of themselves for the visitors.

That Llandovery won was down to their first half effort into the wind and rain when they held Llanelli to a narrow 7-5 lead.

They controlled the wet ball with commendable aplomb and conceded just the one try which came when Llanelli hacked on a loose ball in midfield and centre Lewis Evans was first to chase it down.

Fly half Gareth Walters – a local Llandovery boy- converted but the Drovers got a vital try back just before the break when wing Rhodri Jones dribbled the slippery ball some 40 metres to get the touchdown.

Llandovery used the wind to good effect and Guy capped a fine performance when he not only charged down a Walters kick but was first up to ground the ball.

Marshall converted and although the strong Llanelli scrum forced a penalty try, converted by Walters, centre Craig Woodall got the winning score and Marshall the conversion before referee Wayne Davies sent all the players to the soothing warmth of a hot shower.