Improving Whites go close to shock win
Llandovery 25, Swansea 20.
SWANSEA were outsiders to turn over the undefeated league leaders at Church Bank, but came close to causing the upset of the season so far.
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Sam Davies kicked two conversions a penalty and a drop-goal for Swansea.
After taking a real pasting in the first half, they competed with great gusto after the break and with a tad more composure and experience could have snatched a win.
"We are really proud of the boys," said coach Mefin Davies.
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"To come and face the in-form league leaders, soak up the early punishment and then threaten to win the game will give our young side huge encouragement.
"All four props used — Aled Mason, Nick Thomas, Nicky Smith and Ian Williams — were outstanding and it bodes well for the club that we have such potential coming through the ranks.
"We are slowly finding our best team and in time we will be a match for most opponents."
After maximum five-point wins over Cardiff, Neath and Bridgend, Llandovery were expected to be far too strong, but they were taken all the way by an improving and committed All Whites side.
At the start, the Llandovery backs were in eye-catching form with centre Jack Roberts sending scrum-half Rhodri Williams — son of former Swansea No. 9 Alan — racing in for a try converted by fly-half James Garland.
The Swansea defence had to work overtime to stem the Llandovery flow, but Williams showed pace and trickery to race away again for a stunning individual try.
Fly-half Sam Davies put the All Whites on the scoreboard with a drop-goal, but most of the visitors' time was spent in shoring up their defence.
Garland added a penalty to his earlier conversion to make it 15-3, but Swansea stuck to their task for replacement wing Jamie Thomas to crash over for a try converted by Davies.
Llandovery were stung into action after the break and had a bonus point in the bag with tries from flankers Luke Kendall and Shaun Miles.
Swansea were not overawed and started to win the contact area and pressurise an increasingly hesitant home defence.
No. 8 Dan Baker and flankers James Bija and Sam Lewis were everywhere and a good spell of attacking brought a try for the outstanding Baker, converted by Davies to make it 25-20.
With full-back Nicky Thomas putting in some great weaving runs, Swansea sniffed an unlikely victory but the experience of the Drovers saw them batten down the hatches.
They probed for another conclusive score, Williams coming close to a hat trick, but Swansea remained ultra competitive to the last and fully deserved a losing bonus point.
Llandovery : Tries: R. Williams (2), L. Kendall, S. Miles. Con: J. Garland. Pen: J. Garland.
Swansea : Tries: J. Thomas, D. Baker. Cons: S. Davies (2). Pen: S. Davies. Drop goal: S. Davies.
Referee : Wayne Davies (Llanon).
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