Principality Premiership

Llandovery 50 Ebbw Vale 0

The Steelmen came to Church Bank with a big reputation but were sent packing by the brilliance of the Llandovery back division, writes Huw S Thomas.

Suffering from the absence of influential skipper and lock Damien Hudd in both tight and loose, Ebbw Vale could never dominate up front for the first time this season and had no answer to the silky running skills of the home backs.

With no fewer than five players having represented Wales at sevens, the Drovers had the sharpness and invention that proved all too much for a battling but outpaced Ebbw side.

They stay in second place in the Premiership just one point behind the leaders Pontypridd

“We could not cope with the speed and directness of the Llandovery backs,” said Ebbw coach Nigel Davies.

“Their counter attacking was terrific and if this dry weather continues they will cause a lot of damage” added the former Scarlets and Gloucester coach.

Former Ammanford coach Gareth Potter - now Llandovery's defence coach - highlighted the pivotal feature of the game.

“We knew that if we could contain them up front, then we had the craft to open them up behind and this is exactly what happened”

"Ebbw Vale had only conceded 14 points in three games so to put 50 points on them was some achievement."

The key period of the game came at the end of the first half after an even battle up front.

Llandovery prop Greg Cunniffe was yellow carded in the 34th minute for a late tackle on scrum half Luc Jones - son of watching Dragons coach Lyn - and expectations were high that the Steelmen could snatch the initiative.

But in an astonishing five minute period when they were down to 14 men, the Llandovery backs ran in three tries.

Classy full back Will Thomas accelerated away from despairing tacklers to leave fly half Jack Maynard stroke over the conversion and two minutes later Thomas fed wing Aaron Warren on the blind side for the lanky winger to cross wide out.

Centre Rhodri Jones them won the race for the touchdown of a bobbing ball, Maynard converting for a 22-0 half time lead.

Ebbw rang the changes to get back into the game but Llandovery claimed the bonus point when flanker Stuart Worrall drove over from close range.

Ebbw were stunned and despite the valiant efforts of back rowers Harrison Keddie and Luke Crocker, they could not stem Llandovery’s great tide of confidence,

Warren again, replacement lock Jake Baker and flanker Richard Rees all swept through to seal a classy win for the rampant Drovers.

The Drovers travel to Pontypridd this weekend to take on the league leaders at Sardis Road.