Llandovery RFC

IRONMEN AND DROVERS IN 11 TRY THRILLER

MERTHYR 36 LLANDOVERY 43

(Saturday 19th February 22 at Wern Sports park)

A 11 try thriller at the wern went Llandovery’s way but were given a fright as the ironmen fought back from a 12-33 at half time score. The Llandovery backs ran in 5 first half tries, as the pace of their backs opening the Merthyr defence time after time. Llandovery opened the scoring as early as the 5th minute when Scarlets Academy wingman Tomi Lewis showed his pace has, he raced in from 30 meters out outside half Kristian Jones adding the conversion. The ironmen had no answer to the speed and pace of the young Llandovery backs and then full back Will Thomas showed his skill and pace as he raced away for the first of his 2 tries, Jones converted, and the Drovers led 0-14 after 15 minutes. Merthyr got on the score board when a rare forwards attack inside the Llandovery 25 saw club Captain Craig Locke barge over from short range, outside half Thompson converted to narrow the score 7-14. Then it was one way traffic has the Llandovery backs opened gaps in the Merthyr defence and ran in three further tries through captain Jack Jones, a second from full back Will Thomas and a third from Centre Rhodri Jones, outside half Jones converting the extras to give the drovers a 7-33 lead. Just before half time a catch and drive from a lineout deep inside the Llandovery half saw hooker Rhys Williams drive over from short range to bring the score 12-33 at half time. When wingman Callum Williams score for the visitors early in the second half to stetch the lead to 28 points there looked no way back for the ironmen, but to their credit they refused to throw the trowel in as the Merthyr 8 began to take control and they closed the gap at one stage to 7 points. Try from replacement wing Alex Webber and a second from centre Aaron Pinches both converted by Thompson brought the score 26-40. Llandovery then made the game safe when outside half kicked a simple penalty from 30 meters to extend the visitors score 43-26. Back came the ironmen with a try from replacement backrow man Daffyd Stonelake converted by Thompson to close the gap to 10 points 33-43. It was now all Merthyr has they looked for that all important score, but time was running out, but they came close to a further score but knocked on close to the Llandovery line. Merthyr were awarded a penalty 30 meters out but with time almost up and 10 points behind Thompson converted to give the Ironmen a losing bonus point as the referee then blew for full time to bring to end an exciting and thrilling game which ended with nearly 80 points between the two sides. Although it looked all over at half time credit to the Ironmen for the second half come back from 28 points down but the damaged had been inflicted in the first half with the pace and tempo of the young Llandovery backs. The ironmen now travel next weekend to the Brewery Field Bridgend to Face Bridgend Ravens for a 1:30pm kick off prior to the England v Wales International.

MERTHYR: 15 B Jones,14 A Norton,13 R Davies,12 A Pinches,11 S Jones, 10 G Thompson,9 J James, 1 C Lewis, 2 R Williams,3 K Williams, 4 C Locke© 5 M Tutaia, 6 P McBride, 7 J Perkins, 8 T Daley. 16 C Greenslade, 117 C Phillips, 18 R Lewis, 19 C Bradbury 20 D Stonelake, 21 J Soanes, 22 A Webber, 23 D Thomas.

Scorers: C Locke1t, R Williams 1t, A Webber1t, A Pinches1t, D Stonelake 1t, G Thompson, 4 Cons, 1 Pen. Referee Adam Jones (WRU).