Llandovery take advantage of Bedwas slip up in the race for the play-offs

Llandovery picked up a vital victory at a mud-strewn Brewery Field as they turn their attention to taking maximum points and sneaking in to the end-of-season play-offs.

They still have an outside chance, particularly with Bedwas dropping points yesterday, but they know that wins in their remaining games are essential. It could go down to the wire as the last match sees Bedwas and Llandovery square off at The Bridge Field.

Llandovery started well as the rain poured on south Wales, and after two minutes James Garland kicked them ahead with a well-struck penalty.

The two packs were taking the fight to each other; Bridgend’s inspirational No8 Lloyd Evans doing his best to inspire the home side, while Richie Pugh controlled the scrum for Llandovery and barked out orders to keep his team-mates focussed.

A quiet first half saw little quality as the weather combined with the referee’s whistle, with the only real action another missed Garland penalty attempt, but the second period promised more.

Whatever the respective managers had said worked, as both sides went close to scores chasing kicks over the top. First, Bridgend’s Ashley Evans, and then Llandovery’s Kieran Murphy kept the score at 3-0 by covering well to beat onrushing attackers to the ball.

The visitors went close again on the hour. Prop Peter Edwards burst down the line, before feeding Jack Roberts who looked certain to score as he sprinted clear. But Bridgend substitute Arthur Ellis matched him step for step and, in mid-air, forced him the wrong side of the touchline as he attempted to score.

Garland then missed another kick at goal and the feeling started to arise that Bridgend may somehow steal this in the closing stages on the counter.

But that was soon to dissipate and Roberts couldn’t be denied again. He pounced from close range on 70 minutes, with Rhodri Williams converting.

Bridgend responded well and did all they could to prevent a home defeat. The move of the game saw the ball spread to Tom Grabham on the right, who crossed for a late consolation to earn them a losing bonus point.

Llandovery did well to keep the ball after that, and when Bridgend did get it back, one final counter attack came to nothing and victory was theirs.

One other event of importance for the visitors was the second half introduction of Rob Walters from the bench. It was his 300th appearance for the club, a monumental achievement, as the former captain has been with the club for 12 seasons since the age of 18.

Meanwhile, Bedwas slipped to their sixth defeat of the season, going down 7-6 at Llanelli in a clash of two other play-off contenders.

Bedwas had trounced basement club Swansea by 50 points in mid-week, but came up against stubborn resistance from a motivated Llanelli side.

Centre Nic Reynolds, star of so many Llanelli successes this season, dived over the Bedwas line for what could prove to be one of the most important tries of his career.

It came after 13 minutes, converted by Jordan Williams, and was one of the few highlights in another match affected by frightful conditions.

They can still be overhauled by Cross Keys and Llandovery, but are in pole position.

That made the score 7-0 at half-time, but fly-half Ethan Davies kept Bedwas in the match with two penalties.

Llanelli fielded an extremely strong line-up and had more creativity, but kept the game very tight to notch up their 13^th win in 19 league games this season.

Swansea recovered from that home drubbing by repaying their fans with a 24-9 victory over Newport.

They may be guaranteed bottom place for this season, but showed they are determined to finish the campaign on a high note as they recorded only their third success of a gruelling campaign.

They were too slick and strong for Newport, who will end the season in the bottom half of the table having conceded more points than any other club in the division.

The hosts struck first when full-back Nicky Thomas put over the first of two penalties after just eight minutes, and when back row forward Daniel Baker dived over the line in the 25th minute the writing was very much on the wall for the Black & Ambers.

Geraint O’Driscoll tried to keep Newport in the game with his reliable boot, but Swansea were always on top.

Wing Andrew Claypole touched down two minutes from time for a try which Luke Price converted to round off Swansea’s most impressive performance of the season.

Newport had never really looked like breaching the Swansea defence and the All Whites believe they can finish on a high with their final games against Aberavon and Cardiff.