Principality Premiership

Llandovery 38 Bedwas 32

Llandovery returned to winning form as they overcame Bedwas in Saturday’s early kick off game, writes Tom Hughes.

Nine tries, 70 points and five yellow cards in a game of thrills and spills gave spectators great value for their money as the Drovers secured their fifth victory in six Premiership outings.

Down 28-14 at half time, it took a late injury time try from fly half Jack Maynard to rob the visitors of a victory that looked likely in the first half.

After the loss of their unbeaten record at Pontypridd, Llandovery coach Euros Evans was bold enough to change half the side and the five tries to four win – including a hat-trick from leading try scorer Aaron Warren - puts them back up into second place in the Premiership.

There were new combinations at centre, half back and all three rows of the scrum so Evans was more than happy with Llandovery’s fourth bonus point win in six games.

“I wasn’t too pleased with our sloppy first half defence and lack of discipline but the boys reacted very well after the break,” said Evans.

“We took advantage of their mistakes - and four yellow cards - controlled possession and the pace of the game, put width into our play and came through strongly in the end.”

Bedwas had three Dragons in their ranks and in a confident start, they made light of the sinbinning of hooker Alun Rees to run in four first half tries through scrum half Tom Rowlands, Rees (two) and wing Matthew John.

Prop Berian Watkins had ten minutes in the bin but tries from scrum half Rhodri Davies and another from wing Warren plus a Maynard penalty kept the Drovers in touch at the break.

The binning of Bedwas prop Brynley Toms heralded the start of an exciting rally with Maynard kicking a penalty.

Yellow cards for lock Matthew Screech and hooker Richard Wilkes reduced Bedwas resistance and give the space for Warren to complete his hat-trick to make it 30-32 before Maynard sniped home late on.

It brought his tally to an impressive 62 points after six games to stress his valuable contribution.

Llandovery travel to third-placed Aberavon on Saturday (KO 1.30pm) where they will come up against former coach Lyndon Lewis who moved to the Wizards at the start of the season.