Taylor Davies secured maximum points with a try at the death for the hosts at Church Bank. Captain Lee Rees and wing Harri Doel also went over for the Drovers to go alongside a penalty try. with Ioan Hughes kicked three conversions and three penalties.
Pooler had skipper Scott Matthews, lock Ashley Sweet and debutant Osian Davies among their scorers, with Matthew Jarvis converting all three tries. It meant defeat for the first time since the opening weekend but Pooler head coach Leighton Jones says his side will learn lessons.
“I don’t think it was one of our better performances, there were certainly areas that we were second best and need to look at,” said Jones.
“The disappointing part is to give away the bonus point try right at the end of the game, but this is a difficult place to come and we can definitely take some learnings from this game and improve on certain areas.
“We’ve said how tight we are in the last few weeks and months. You are only as tight as how you bounce back from a loss so we will look forward to next week.”
Hughes got the scoreboard ticking with a penalty before Doel caught his own kick and teed up scrum-half Rees for the first try, which Hughes converted. But back came Pooler and midway through the first half a good spell of pressure resulted in No8 Matthews forcing his way over for a try which Jarvis improved to pull the score back to 10-7.
Hughes added a second penalty before Llandovery grabbed their second try on half-hour with Doel emerging with the ball on the right wing and going over. Hughes converted to make it 20-7.
As the game approached half time the visitors hit back again, this time Sweet forcing his way over the line, converted by Jarvis. However, the Drovers would take a 27-14 lead into the break after they were awarded a penalty try after an adjudged deliberate knock on.
As the clock ticked past the hour mark, Hughes added his third penalty but it would be Pooler to strike the next blow on 66 minutes with their never-say-die attitude through Osian Davies just moments after coming on, converted by Jarvis.
The champions left it late but they did eventually make sure of the bonus point with a fourth try scored by Taylor Davies following a lineout, with Hughes adding the extras.
The win moves Llandovery on to 39 points from nine matches as they now turn their attention towards next opponents Newport, who might well have overtaken the Drovers at the top by the time they arrive at Church Bank on November 25th.
The Black & Ambers, four points back, host Ebbw Vale next week while Llandovery are not in action. Pontypool, meanwhile, will bid to bounce back at home against bottom side Neath.
Scorers: Llandovery: Tries: L Rees, H Doel, Pen Try, T Davies; Cons: I Hughes 3; Pens: I Hughes 3.
Pontypool: Tries: S Matthews, A Sweet, O Davies; Cons: M Jarvis 3
