Late drama at Church Bank as Cardiff fall to an agonising 40-33 defeat
Despite having some players out with injuries and several being called up for international duties, the Blue and Blacks showed great fight and determination as they led for large parts of the encounter. Tries from, Edmund Anya, Nathan Hudd, Joe Williams and a brace from Jason Harries proved not to be enough.
Cardiff were on the hunt for their opening score just moments into the contest, this came from a brilliant 50-22 from outside half, Fraser Jones. Then after some early pressure on the hosts defence the ball was lost forward and was eventually kicked away to relieve pressure.
Then moments later the visitors crossed the whitewash through Edmund Anya. This came from a brilliant hit on Adam Warren by young, Fin Hart as the Blue and Blacks regained possession and after some quick thinking to spread the ball out wide it allowed Anya to score.
That strong defence of the Blue and Blacks was on show again minutes later. After the visitors were penalised, the Drovers kicked up field and after some heroic defending to turn the ball over and relieve pressure.
This was then followed by Nathan Hudd showcasing some brilliant strength as he regained possession for the Blue and Blacks after turning the ball over at the breakdown area. However, the hosts did manage to cross the whitewash on 14 minutes and this came from Sam Potter drawing the last defender to allow Ilan Phillips to cross.
From the restart the Drovers lost possession straight away after knocking the ball on and being penalised for being offside. This was the catalyst that helped in the making of the Blue and Blacks second of the afternoon.
After a catch and drive the ball was spread quickly through the backline which allowed Jason Harries to score his first try of the game. Harries’s opposite number, Rhodri Jones showed some brilliant skill in offloading to scrum half Lee Rees who eventually fed the ball to Llien Morgan who crossed over.
However, the Blue and Blacks had the last score of the half which came from a brilliant take at the lineout. Then from the driving maul, Nathan Hudd broke away to power his way over for his second of the season as the Blue and Blacks went into a 21-12 lead at the break.
HT: Llandovery 12-21 Cardiff
It was a fast start to proceedings in the second half as after Edmund Anya successfully took a cross field kick he offloaded to Jason Harries who showed his pace as he powered over for his brace.
That lead grew even bigger on 45 minutes as Joe Goodchild who was playing at outside centre broke through the hosts defence and after some quick handling, Joe Williams crossed. However, minutes later the Blue and Blacks were reduced to 14-men after loosehead, Marc Thomas was shown a yellow card after an infringement at the breakdown area.
With the one man advantage the hosts went looking for their third of the match and that came on 56 minutes. After a reset a dominant scrum followed and referee, Keith David awarded the Drovers a penalty try. That lead for the Blue and Blacks then narrowed even further as Llien Morgan scored his second of the match. This came from a brilliant kick in behind by fullback, Jack Maynard as Morgan successfully gathered and raced over.
Proceedings were then level just after the hour mark as after a powerful driving maul, Nathan Hart broke away and scored. Fullback, Jack Maynard added the extras to bring proceedings level.
After some back and forth between the two in the final moments of the game it was the hosts who found that crucial score. In the 77th minute, Rhodri Jones broke through the Blue and Blacks defence and the ball was then spread to Llien Morgan who crossed over and secured the victory for Llandovery.
FT: Llandovery 40-33 Cardiff