Principality Premiership

Ebbw Vale 14 Llandovery 6

LLANDOVERY were knocked off the top of the Premiership table when they went down to a narrow two tries to one defeat at the hands of the Steelmen, writes Tom Hughes.

The Drovers salvaged a losing bonus point by staying within eight points of Ebbw but now slip down to second in the table – one point behind Aberavon but one ahead of Pontypridd both of whom won convincingly at Bridgend and Carmarthen respectively.

Llandovery’s next Premiership game is on February 13 when defending champions Pontypridd visit Church Bank in a massive fixture for both title aspirants.

Club chairman Handel Davies had accurately predicted a close forward battle at Eugene Cross Park but was disappointed to lose.

“The boggy conditions did not suit our free-flowing style this season but we still had enough chances to grab a win,” he said.

“If we are to get to the play-offs we must keep better control of our possession and finish off better.

“That said, we got a point out of a very difficult game and I’m sure that Ebbw Vale will give leaders Aberavon and Pontypridd a lot to think about when they visit Eugene Cross before the end of the season.”

Two line-outs lost on their own throw five-metres out proved confirmation that the line-out is still the Achilles heel of the title pretenders.

Llandovery knew full well that they would face an Ebbw Vale side determined to forget the humiliation of losing 50-0 at Church Bank before Christmas and so it proved.

On a heavy pitch that suited the forward-orientated style of the pumped up Gwent side, the Drovers conceded two tries from driven line-outs – one in each half.

They both came from line outs near the Llandovery line with back row Ronny Kynes flopping over on both occasions at the end of well rehearsed trademark moves.

The Drovers could only reply the once when after 55 minutes wing Mike Evans finished off a slick and swift movement initiated by fly-half Jack Maynard.

That made it 6-6 and although chances came and went at both ends, the second Kynes try seven minutes from time, converted by fly half Dai Langdon proved decisive.

Attention switches to the second round of Swalec Cup this week when Championship side Newbridge are the visitors to Church Bank (KO 2.30pm)

A win will take the Drovers into the last eight and just two games away from a return to the Principality Millennium Stadium, nine years after their famous 20-18 Cup final win over Cardiff.