Sunday 9 September 2012

Drovers lead the way after making it two from two

Welsh Premiership weekend round-up

LLANDOVERY sit proudly at the top of the Welsh Premiership table after two weeks of action but reigning champions Pontypridd are close behind.

A bit of money has been going on the Drovers recently and from yesterday’s 37-17 win at Neath they look a half-decent bet to be in the final reckoning come next May.

They began with a comfortable victory at Cardiff on the opening day before coming away from the Gnoll with a four-try triumph.

And had it not been for Jason Howells’s late try for Neath it would have been an even more handsome margin of success following tries for Owen Evans, Jack Roberts, Rhodri Williams and Lee Rees.

James Garland was on song with the boot too, kicking 13 points, and Rhys Jones also converted the scores by Williams and Rees.

Another man who kicked well yesterday was Pontypridd’s Dai Flanagan. He also contributed 13 points to his side’s 55-27 beating of Bedwas at Sardis Road.

The result was never in doubt after Ponty’s Scott Roberts crossed inside the first two minutes with Geraint Walsh, Jake Thomas, Carl Thomas, Lewis I Williams (2), Owen Williams and Pat Palmer finding their way over the whitewash.

They may have lost by some way but Bedwas did fight until the end and secured a bonus point when Rory Wood scored their fourth try after efforts from Rory Budina (2) and Sam Feehan.

Swansea overcame Aberavon 32-13 at St Helen’s to give Mefin Davies his first competitive victory in charge of the All Whites. The win was touch and go when Steffan Andrews’s try reduced Swansea’s lead to 18-13 with seven minutes left.

But late tries from substitutes Dan Baker and Jamie Thomas to go with earlier scores by Sam Davies, who contributed 17 points in total, and Steffan Jones ensured the Swansea faithful went home happy.
Quins find a way through Cardiff's defence

It seems like being another tough season for Cardiff as they slipped to a second consecutive defeat, this time at Carmarthen Quins. Carwyn Jones, Rheon James, Richard Wilkes and James Davies bagged an extra bonus point for the hosts and their four tries took Quins to a thrilling 35-25 win.

Steve Cullen and Rueben Tucker crossed for Cardiff in the last 10 minutes but it’s back to the drawing board for director of rugby Martyn Fowler and his players.

Cardiff clear their lines

  After the match Quins team manager, Steff Thomas, said, “We are pleased to get our first win of the season. It was far from a complete performance, but we did put some good periods of rugby together.” He also added, “I thought Lee Williams was outstanding. When he went first receiver from broken play he was dictating play with devastating effect.”

Cross Keys captain Rob Nash went from villain to hero as he put his red card shame against Pontypridd last week firmly behind him to score the first of his side’s four tries in a 35-15 success over Bridgend at Pandy Park.

Jamie Sollis, Luke Ford and Nathan Trowbridge also got in on the act for Keys with Dean Gunter kicking 15 points, a tally matched by Ross Jones for Bridgend.

On Friday night, Newport had skipper Dai Pattison sent-off and two more players yellow-carded during a 46-6 trouncing at the hands of Llanelli at Rodney Parade.

Llanelli would have won without the dismissal and they scored six tries in all through Kristian Phillips (2), Nic Reynolds, Justin James, Craig Price and a penalty try.

0 comments:

Post a Comment