Williams stars in Drovers win

Rhodri Williams stole the show, capping off his performance with a length of the field try. Lee Rees produced an impressive performance at fullback and a competent kicking display from James Garland ensured the Drovers walked away from the Gnoll with the spoils for the first time and put to rest any doubts that last week’s defeat of Cardiff was a flash in the pan.
 
The Blacks got off to the better start, with Dai Langdon kicking an early penalty before adding a second to double his side’s lead inside 10 minutes. But this was as good as it got for the home side as Llandovery responded brilliantly.
James Garland got the Drovers back into it with a penalty before his side scored the first try of the game four minutes later, Owen Evans crashing over from a metre out.  Garland landed the conversion and the Drovers led 10-6.
 
Neath were then reduced to 14 men when Tom Morgan, substitute for the injured Emyr Williams, was penalised at a ruck. The visitors made the most of the man advantage with Garland adding another penalty to give his side a 6-13 half-time lead.
The second-half started with Gareth Gravell making a break into Drovers territory, but losing the ball in contact. Centre Jack Roberts hacked the ball on and managed to dab down near the posts, with Garland again converting successfully to put his side 14 points up.  Langdon took his personal tally to three from three with a penalty to put Neath back in contention at 9-20. 
 
Langdon slotted over another penalty before the Drovers again drew 9 points clear on 52 minutes after Neath were penalised for dragging the lineout down just outside their own 22.  Garland slotted over to take the score to 23-12 in favour of the Drovers, but he was to become his team’s villain three minutes later.
 
Neath retained possession through a couple of phases, but Garland was then yellow carded, an accumulation of team offences seemingly the reason.  Neath then tried to put the pressure on the 14 man Drovers with a succession of scrums. From the third set piece, the ball shot out for Rhodri Williams to run the length of the field with replacement Rhys Jones converting to put the Drovers virtually out of sight at 30-12.  
 
And Llandovery quickly added another try to put the game to bed in the 69th minute. A scrum on half way saw fullback Lee Rhys outpace the tired home defence to keep Llandovery top of the table. Rhys Jones again converted to make it 37-10 and although Neath scored a consolation try through debutant Jason Howells, it was the Drovers who ran out winners and stayed top courtesy of two bonus point victories so far this season.