Swalec Cup

Llandovery 82 Narberth 11

Llandovery strode into the last 16 of the Swalec Cup with this ridiculously easy win over a poor Narberth side, writes Huw S Thomas.

The Drovers outplayed the Championship side from start to finish scoring 12 tries in all – six in each half – to inflict one of the heaviest ever defeats in the 133-year history of the Pembrokeshire club.

Whether it was good preparation for this Sunday’s home Premiership game against league leaders Ebbw Vale is quite another matter.

The Steelmen will certainly not let the dangerous Llandovery backs the time and space they enjoyed against Narberth but coach Lyndon Lewis was delighted with his side’s performance.

“We set out to play a high tempo game and the backs did the job with style scoring ten of our twelve tries and it will give everyone a boost before we entertain Ebbw on Sunday afternoon.”

Leading the way were wing Richard Williams and scrum half Lee Rees who continuously ripped the Narberth defence to shreds.

Williams got a hat trick of tries and bobby dazzling Rees a brace to add to others from centre Matthew Jacobs, wing Aaron Warren, replacements Sam Soul and Craig Woodall and fly half James Garland.

Garland also had a great day with the boot putting over 11 conversions to end up with a personal tally of 27 points.

Garland’s sponsors had ample return for their backing of the fly half with announcer Handel Davies reminding everyone in the ground - 12 times over - that Garland was indeed “sponsored by Bearing Supplies of Clydach.”

Hooker Luke Lewis and No 8 Richard Brooks got the forwards a mention with tries of their own and were it not for some very selfish play from some of the backs Llandovery would have comfortably racked up a century of points.

Narberth fly half Ianto Griffiths took his side into the lead with an 8th minute penalty before the pace of the home backs defined the gulf in class between the two sides.

The Otters were missing some good players – notably their captain and centre Steve Martin - and their poor organisation behind the scrum gifted Llandovery points.

The Narberth forwards competed bravely with the back row of Jim Kaumaitotoya, Gareth Bateman and Stuart Worrall running themselves into the ground and No 8 Bateman got a close range try in the first half to add to a second Griffiths penalty.

It was 40-11 at half-time and just as one-sided after the break to nicely set up Llandovery's challenge to the league leaders this Sunday (KO 4pm).