Their 20-18 victory at the Principality Stadium made them the first club side outside the old ‘Merit Table’ elite to win the cup. It was one of the greatest days in the club’s history – and one they repeated nine years later.
Now the challenge is to reach a third final this millennium and head coach Euros Evans will be hoping his side can repeat the form they displayed last week when they destroyed Pontypridd at home. It was some dress rehearsal!
“The Cup is now the focus for us and this is a massive game against Cardiff. They are playing very well at the moment, so we know it is going to be a huge challenge for us,” said Euros Evans.
“But it’s something we’re looking forward to. There are two teams who are in form and two teams who play a very good brand of rugby. It’s going to be about who performs better on the day.”
Llandovery hit the ground running as they opened their bid for a third title with a 104-0 hammering of Beddau. Things got even easier in round two when Trebanos didn’t turn up and it wasn’t until Premiership rivals Swansea arrived at Church Bank in the quarter-finals that they received any sort of challenge.
But even the revitalised All Whites were sent packing as Euros Evans’ Drovers set up a rematch of the 2007 final with city slickers Cardiff. They outscored Swansea five tries to one to take their place in the semi-finals on the back of a comprehensive 28-7 win.
Wing Aaron Warren helped himself to a brace and Rhodri Jones, Lee Rees and Ricky Guest crossed for the other tries. Llandovery had battered Beddau with 16 tries, four of which came from Wales Under-20 and Scarlets centre Corey Baldwin.
Evans will take heart from the fact his side seem to have the hex over Cardiff this season having beaten them 20-3 at home in the Premiership. They then sneaked a 32-32 draw at Cardiff Arms Park thanks to a last-minute drop goal from fly-half Jack Maynard.
Drovers fans will no doubt still be dreaming of that great day 12 years ago when their side lifted the cup for the first time as they beat a Cardiff outfit containing future Wales internationals Jamie Roberts and Rhys Gill 20-18. Llandovery had their own Wales star in the making that day in Scarlets hooker Emyr Phillips and future Scarets stalwart prop, Phil John.
Route to the Semi-Finals
Round 1: Llandovery 104-0 Beddau
Round 2: v Trebanos (Walkover)
Q-F: Llandovery 28-7 Swansea
Llandovery: Gavin Thomas; Morgan Williams, Ryan Evans, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren; Jack Maynard, Lee Rees; Jamie Hughes, Ricky Guest, Berian Watkins, Rhys Jones, Jack Jones, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Stuart Worrall, Richard Brooks (captain)
Reps: Llyr Green, Dino Dallavalle, Morgan Jones, Emyr Price, Matthew Moore, Shaun Miles, Richard Williams, Kristian Jones
