Principality Premiership

Bridgend 14 Llandovery 40

Unbeaten Llandovery won their third consecutive Premiership game, strolling to a bonus point win at the expense of a game but outclassed Bridgend side, writes Tom Hughes.

The Drovers have claimed 14 points out of a possible 15 in their first three games and move into second place in the table, behind Pontypridd and just ahead of Ebbw Vale who they meet at Church Bank on Saturday.

Coach Euros Evans made a number of changes from the side that had beaten Llanelli the week before but with little loss of fluency or organisation.

There were full debuts for wing Rhys Gealy, hooker Dafydd Hughes, flanker Stuart Worrall and prop Bradley Davies - and all four fitted in well.

Gealy looked for work, Hughes was busy as a bee, Worrall shirked nothing and Davies gave nothing away at the scrum

But coach Evans was not totally happy with the performance

“It wasn't one of our best performances but we are delighted with five points on the road. It was a bit messy all round.”

“We struggled to get our game going and couldn’t come to terms with the referee’s demands in the contact area but it's great to be in a position where we are disappointed with a performance that got us a bonus point victory.”

The Drovers took control early on and went easily ahead 26-6 at the break through tries from darting full back Will Thomas, scrum half Lee Rees and centre Craig Woodall plus six points from the boot of fly half Jack Maynard.

Bridgend No 8 Hereimi Boladau got the Bridgend try and was soon to the fore as the Ravens came back bravely in the second half.

They put huge pressure on the Llandovery line and won penalty after penalty without being able to overcome fierce defence.

Lock Matthew Harbut and No 8 Richard Brooks served time in the sin bin but the Drovers pulled further ahead when the outstanding Rees put in ex-Narberth flanker Worrall to claim the bonus point.

New signing Maynard rubbed salt into the wound with a self converted try to bring his season’s tally to an impressive 36 points in three games.

It was only at the death when Llandovery had lost replacement prop Scott Jenkins to the sin bin that Bridgend eventually managed to get over the visitors’ line through a try by hardworking flanker Scott Hicks, converted by fly half Ryan Evans.