Having come from behind to pip Whitchurch HS in north Cardiff last week, they hit the road once again for a game that could create clear daylight at the top of the table. Sir Gar drew with Ysgol Glantaf in Round 3 and, like them, are also unbeaten with two wins and a draw.
But whoever wants to challenge for a top four spot is going to have to find a way to beat Llandovery, who are led this season by centre Gryff Watkins.
Having joined the school from England last season he has picked up two trophies already with his school team and Scarlets U18 and now has his sights set on not only gaining a third before Christmas with a successful defence of the College’s WSC Rugby title, but also perhaps on a coveted Welsh age grade cap.
“Whitchurch were really good today and caught us off guard physically at the start. We were bouncing off tackles to begin with and we had to grow into the game physically, and we got through it in the end,” Llandovery backs coach Adam Warren.
“We did well at scrum time in the first half and tidied up our line-out in the second. We told the players at half-time to trust the process and that worked for us with our second half tries.
The new league structure with eight teams in each Conference means that every team is stepping up and you can’t afford to be off the mark in any game. It’s really competitive.”
Watkins had to guide his side through some rough patches at Whitchurch as the home side led 17-14 at the break in a high-quality game and then 27-26 midway through the second half. In the end, two penalties from Carwyn Leggatt-Jones and a fifth try of the afternoon for the visitors from replacement Llyr James ensured a 37-27 victory.
Leggatt-Jones’ penalty with the last kick of the game also stripped Whitchurch of a losing bonus-point to make it a particularly brutal ending to a game in which they were competitive throughout, despite having two players sent to the sin-bin.
Livewire hooker Owain Griffiths bagged two tries for Llandovery and flanker Bryan Kamanga No 8 Sam Gardiner and James got the others. Leggat-Jones kicked 12 points.
Wing Harry Turner ran in two tries for the home side and loose head prop Vinney Cleak got the other with a remarkable burst of energy and speed from 30 metres out that saw him power through one defender, fend off another and then outpace the third to notch the try of the game. Fraser Britton added a dozen points with his trusty boot.
Sir Gar had to be happy with a draw in their home clash with last season’s runners-up Glantaf as the two teams played out a 24-24 draw.
“It was a really good game that could have gone either way. We dominated the first half with a strong wind behind us, but they came on strong in the second and actually went away with a try bonus point,” said Sir Gar director of rugby Euros Evans.
“All the games we’ve had this season have been truly competitive and we are expecting another big battle against Llandovery this week.”
Wales U18 hooker Tom Howe confirmed he is fully fit after his ankle scare in Round 1 by scoring one of Glantaf’s four tries. The others came from Wales U18 wing Joseff Jones, scrum half Mason Daniels and replacement Harry Kinsey, with Lloyd Lucas adding two conversions.
Former champions Cardiff & Vale College picked up their first win of the season against Gower College with a 31-26 triumph that will put them in the mood for more when they welcome Whitchurch HS for another Cardiff derby in Round 4.
Scrum half Rhodri Jones scored two of Gower’s four tries as they left with two bonus-points, but it was tries from Jack Clease, Finn Hart, Carter Pritchard and Jac Walton that helped win the day for CAVC, with outside half Rhys Cummings converting them all and adding a crucial penalty.
Gower head to Coleg y Cymoedd for Round 4 seeking their first win this week. Cymoedd finally tasted victory in Round 3 with a 31-12 triumph in north Wales against Coleg Llandrillo.
WSC Rugby Conference A
Round 4 Fixtures – 9 OctoberCardiff & Vale College v Whitchurch HS
Coleg Llandrillo v Ysgol Glantaf
Coleg Sir Gâr v Llandovery College
Coleg y Cymoedd v Gower CollegeWSC Rugby Conference A Round 3 Results
Cardiff & Vale College 31 – 26 Gower College
Coleg Llandrillo 12 – 31 Coleg y Cymoedd
Coleg Sir Gâr 24 – 24 Ysgol Glantaf
Whitchurch HS 27 – 37 Llandovery College
Something will have to give in Round 4 in Conference B when Bridgend College welcome Coleg Gwent with both teams locked on 15 points after three rounds of matches.
Flanker Oliver Edwards led the way with two of Bridgend’s five tries in their 35-5 away win against Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, while Coleg Gwent went on the rampage against Coleg Benfro as they won 71-7. Wing Rhys Cole helped himself to a hat-trick in the 11-try romp, with outside half William Ford kicking eight conversions.
WSC Rugby Conference B
Round 4 Fixtures – 9 October
Bridgend College v Coleg Gwent
Coleg Sir Benfro v Newport HS
Neath Port Talbot College v Christ College, Brecon
Ysgol Ystalyfera v Ysgol Dyffryn AmanWSC Rugby Conference B Round 3 Results
Christ College, Brecon 17 – 28 Ysgol Ystalyfera
Coleg Gwent 71 – 7 Coleg Sir Benfro
Newport HS 29 – 15 Neath Port Talbot College
Ysgol Dyffryn Aman 5 – 35 Bridgend College
