Drovers enjoy highland fling with another win

WITH four all-Welsh match-ups on the second weekend of British & Irish Cup action, it was always going to be a much better few days of competition for the Welsh Premiership clubs than the opening round of fixtures.

Three wins – for Swansea, Newport and Llandovery – last weekend were boosted to seven as Carmarthen Quins, Neath, Bridgend, Llanelli, Pontypridd and Newport and Llandovery again picked up at least four points.

Premiership leaders Llandovery seem to have taken their league form into the cup and they returned from a long trek to Melrose in Scotland with a 29-14 victory with a bonus point. Chris Knight, Dean Howells, Jake Randall, Rhodri Williams and Jack Roberts were the men to cross.

It was less straight-forward for Pontypridd, however, as they hosted Leinster A at Sardis Road looking to build on a 20-20 draw at Jersey seven days previously.

Things were going well at 14-6 up when half-time arrived but the Irishmen hit back after the break and led with the game going into the dying seconds. That was until Dafydd Lockyer touched down in the nick of time to make it 25-23 to Pontypridd.

Kristian Phillips was on target twice for Llanelli as they beat Gala 38-28 at Parc y Scarlets with Jordan Williams yet again demonstrating his true potential courtesy of five conversions and a penalty. Aled Davies, Nathan White and Owen Williams got Llanelli’s other tries.

If there was a surprise this weekend it came at Pandy Park where Newport defeated Cross Keys 24-20 thanks to a penalty try and a score from captain Craig Attwell. Keys were awarded a penalty try too and Elliot Jones crossed but they had to settle for a losing bonus point.

Neath notched six tries in a morale-boosting 45-27 triumph at home to Bedwas who lost the game in the first-half when they trailed 31-10.

Veteran winger Kevin James crossed twice for Neath and Gareth King, Kyle Davies, Chris Morgans and Gareth Gravell also scored while Dai Langdon converted all six and landed a penalty.

Bedwas fly-half Ethan Davies contributed 17 points with a try, two penalties and three conversions but it wasn’t enough to prevent a second successive cup defeat.

Another outside-half, Bridgend’s Jamie Murphy, helped his side to a 25-7 victory over Cardiff at the Brewery Field in a game that the visitors simply didn’t turn up for. They did go into the lead at 7-6 after an Owen Williams scored in the corner, but they infringed too many times and Murphy made them pay.

He nailed six penalties and converted Tom Grabham’s try in a win Bridgend thoroughly deserved.

Over the Irish Sea in Tralee, Aberavon put in a spirited display but ultimately came up short against reigning champions Munster A, losing 19-11 having led early in the second-half. Wing Richard Thomas stunned the home fans with the opening try but Munster replied with three in all.

On Friday night Carmarthen Quins hosted Swansea a week before the two meet in the league at St Helen’s. This time it was Quins who came out on top 41-17 with debutant Jack Maynard having a night to remember with 21 points including a try.

By David Williams