Swansea 33 Llandovery 28 (From South Wales Guardian)

Swansea 33 Llandovery 28

10:52am Wednesday 3rd February 2010

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The Drovers played as well against the All Whites as they had played badly against Cardiff but still lost out at St Helen’s, writes Huw S Thomas.

After conceding 45 points and six tries a week earlier, Llandovery faced a similar fate when they trailed 13-0 after 15 minutes. But Rob Appleyard’s men rallied to take an 18-13 lead and clawed their way back from 33-21 down to 33-28.

Three imprecise passes cost them to ensure only a single bonus point when five were within grasp.

More dynamic in the loose and creative out wide than against Cardiff, the Drovers matched Swansea and only lost out to the boot of James Dixon, who ended with a 23-point haul.

Coaches Appleyard and Lyndon Lewis could not hide their disappointment.

“We were on the wrong end of a number of dubious refereeing decisions one of which had a huge bearing on the result,” said former Swansea stalwart Appleyard.

“We have video evidence that shows conclusively the pass leading up to Swansea’s second try was well forward,” said Lewis. “We have to live with it but it is hard on the players when they perform so well only to see their efforts spoiled by poor positioning by the referee.”

After trailing to a try by Hanno Dirksen and points from Dixon, Llandovery produced two terrific tries.

A big midfield hit from Nio Aiono and a run by Lloyd Phillips saw fly-half Cerith Rees put wing Neil Clapham in at the corner.

A Rees penalty was followed by a sweeping move which sent Dan Rogers in, Rees converting well for a 15-13 interval lead.

Another Rees penalty offered further encouragement only for the glaring forward try to knock the stuffing out of the Drovers.

Dixon scored a try and two penalties while Llandovery could only add a Howard Thomas penalty to trail 33-21with ten minutes to go.

But the Drovers regained their composure and wing Matthew Jacobs earned a converted try for Rees with two minutes left.

Swansea were rocking and if Clapham had developed a three-to-one overlap in the last move of the game, the result would have been different.

For their next game, the Drovers entertain Pontypool on Friday, February 12, at 7.15pm.

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