By David Parsons
A 36-13 win at Bridgend may have taken reigning Indigo Premiership champions Llandovery back to the top of the table, but head coach Euros Evans is preparing for the pressure to be turned up this month.
Pontypool head to Church Bank on Saturday and are bang in form having won seven matches in a row, while Newport are the visitors a fortnight later.
Evans’ side have taken maximum points from their last three games, running in 18 tries in the process, and their latest win over the Ravens took them on to 34 points from their eight matches. Breathing down their neck are the three Gwent clubs, Newport, Pontypool and Ebbw Vale.
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The Drovers are three points clear of Newport – who do have a game in hand – and four clear of Pontypool and Ebbw Vale – the only side to have beaten them so far this season. It sets things up nicely for the visit of first Pooler and then the Black & Ambers.
“We’ve got two of the top four teams coming up to us over the next couple of weeks and we know they are going to be huge challenges,” said Evans.
“Pontypool had a great win against Ebbw Vale on Thursday night and Newport are going really well as well, beating Pontypridd comfortably on Wednesday. It’s really tight up at the top of the table and it’s really important to win your home games against these teams, so there will be lots of pressure on us to do that.”
CAIS /TRY THE DROVERS
Harry Thomas
Bridgend 13 v The Drovers 36@AllWalesSport pic.twitter.com/r8MSbhWkhs— Clwb Rygbi Llanymddyfri (@llandoveryrfc) November 3, 2023
The Drovers wasted little time at the Dunraven Brewery Field and were ahead through skipper Lee Rees’ try after just 53 seconds. Wing Harri Doel and back rower Osian Davies were also over in the first half while centre Adam Warren and hooker Harry Thomas scored in the second to make it job done once again.
Outside half Ioan Hughes converted all three first half Llandovery tries for a 21-3 half time lead and then added a penalty after the re-start. Jack Maynard improved Warren’s try, which secured the bonus point on the hour.
“Getting wins on the road is never easy and Bridgend have put in some decent performances of late. So to get a bonus point win on a Friday night against tough opponents was really pleasing,” added Evans.
“Our attack is going well and we seem to be scoring tries; we were fortunate with the weather and we were able to express ourselves and get some tries on the board.”
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Full-back Edd Howley and replacement Gareth Harvey scored unconverted tries for Bridgend in the second half after Luke Price had kicked a penalty in the first.
The match marked a 100th club appearance for Bridgend centre Stuart Floyd-Ellis but it’s now four defeats on the bounce for Tom Smith’s side.
