Chris Knight scored the winning try with just six minutes
left on the clock to help Llandovery clinch a breath-taking 43-41 win at
Bedwas, and pip their hosts at the post, while Llanelli fought valiantly before
going down 27-18 at Pontypridd and give the defending champions a thing or two
to think about before the showpiece finale.
Bedwas-Llandovery was a scintillating and
nerve-jangling encounter that left both sets of supporters physically and
emotionally drained, and neutrals dancing in the aisles as Welsh rugby
showcased its qualities with aplomb. The away side were eventually left to
travel home in euphoria after seizing the chance to challenge Pontypridd and
Llanelli for the title.
Ethan Davies crossed for the hosts in just the first minute
and converted it, but nobody could have envisaged the drama about to unfold as the
lead went on to change hands three times.
Jack Roberts, James Garland and Lee Rees tries, the latter
two converted by Garland, had Llandovery ahead by the 25 minute mark, but Bedwas
weren’t ready to give up, and Deri Mattravers scored for Bedwas on 33 minutes,
with Lewis Robling converting and adding a penalty to leave the score at 17-19
at the break.
After a brief respite to try and catch our breath play
resumed, and whatever Bedwas head coach Steve Law said at half-time obviously worked
as they were back in front by 51 minutes through Lewis Hudd and Robling touchdowns,
both converted by the latter.
And after the lead had changed hands for a remarkable second
time, The Drovers came back to within two points at 31-29 with a converted
Mathew Jacobs try on 55 minutes and a Garland penalty after 57.
Just two minutes later, Mattravers crossed again, converted
by Robling, to make it 38-29 and the Bedwas fans may have dared to start
believing. But the visitors had other ideas, and crossed again on 65 through
Jake Randall with Garland adding the extras.
Robling stretched Bedwas’ lead to 41-36 with another penalty
three minutes later; before Knight’s late heroics won it for the away side, the
lead changing hands for its third and final time.
Bedwas did have further chances. Robling missed a
sensational penalty attempt from inside his own half, while the ball was
dropped short of the Llandovery try-line on two occasions in an unbelievable
end to an incredible match.
But victory was Llandovery’s, and they know the hard work
starts here as they enter the play-off campaign.
Meanwhile at Sardis Road, Llanelli gave Pontypridd
a scare before the hosts turned the game around and rescued their unbeaten home
record this season.
An early Simon Humberstone penalty was cancelled out when Dale
Ford went over for the visitors after just 10 minutes, which Jordan Williams
converted. Humberstone then single-handedly put Ponty back in front by
converting his own try four minutes later.
Williams kicked a penalty, and then converted a Dan Thomas
try on the half hour as Llanelli went 10-15 ahead. But Ponty were back in front
six minutes later when Humberstone converted an Ed Siggary touchdown, and that
left us at 17-15 at the break.
An early Williams penalty but Sosban Fach back in front in
the second half, but that was where their scoring ended and Ponty went on to
secure the win.
Humberstone converted his second try on 53 minutes, and then
kicked an injury time penalty for a personal tally of 22 points.
Elsewhere, Cross Keys
ended the season on a high with a 28-3 win over Carmarthen Quins. Their own play-off challenge faltered at the
death, but one final victory means they finish just a point behind both
Llanelli and Bedwas.
Kristian Baller helped himself to a brace of tries, with
Nathan Trowbridge and Scott Matthews adding further scores for a bonus point.
Angus O’Brien kicked the rest, with a Dan Newton penalty all the Quins could
reply with as they ended the season with something of a whimper with three
defeats in their final four games.
Aberavon also
secured a bonus point with a 33-22 win over Bridgend in another entertaining encounter at their Talbot Athletic
Ground home.
The two Richards starred for the hosts. Mr Carter grabbed a
brace of tries, while Mr Thomas chipped in with another. Stefan Andrews grabbed
the fourth, with Jamie Davies kicking the other 13 points.
Lloyd Evans, Chris Williams and Ben Thomas scores for
Bridgend, two in the final six minutes, weren’t enough for the visitors. Jamie
Murphy converted one and kicked a penalty, with Lewis Williams converting
another.
The day’s other game saw a Jason Tovey penalty earn a point
for Cardiff in an 18-18 draw at Neath to end a season neither will be
particularly enthused with.
Gareth King, Marc Jones and Dai Langdon tries, plus a
penalty by the latter, looked to have won it for the hosts with 10 minutes
remaining. Jack Phillips and Jamie Davies had scored for the Arms Park club,
with the boot of Tovey doing the rest of the damage as they came back from a
13-8 half-time deficit to level through his kick with seven minutes left.
0 comments:
Post a Comment