Llandovery edge past rivals Ebbw

LLANDOVERY clung on to beat Ebbw Vale 17-15 in the battle of the Welsh Premiership’s top two.

- CARL FIELD

Hooker Craig Thomas’s effort, converted by fullback Jack Maynard, pictured below, along with a first half penalty try, had the Drovers 14-3 to the good at half-time. Maynard extended that lead with a penalty after the re-start but the Steelmen fought back in the second half. They were awarded a penalty try of their own before second row Dylan Bartlett went over.

However, they had to settle for a losing bonus point with outside-half Evan Lloyd, having kicked his side ahead early on and normally so clinical from the tee, missing with the conversion attempt. And then, agonisingly for Ebbw, he was also unable to successfully land either of the two penalty opportunities he was presented with late on.

It saw champions Llandovery avenge their defeat at Ebbw back in October – which remains the only blemish on their winning record in league and cup this season.

Euro Evans’ men move five points clear of Ebbw, with two games in hand.

Newport, in third, made it four consecutive bonus-point wins by beating Aberavon 27-10. In doing so, the Black and Ambers closed to within five points of Ebbw, with three games in hand.