By David Parsons
Llandovery skipper Jack Jones claims the Drovers have their sights firmly set on retaining their Indigo Premiership title as they head into Saturday’s play-off semi-final showdown against Cardiff at Church Bank (5.15pm kick off).
Coach Euros Evans’ men made history by finishing top of the Premiership standings for the first time after running in nine tries to cruise to a 62-13 home win over Bridgend in their final regular league match.
Four first half tries were followed by five more in the second as the Drovers ended the regular season with 105 points to pip Newport at the post by a point.
Jamin Hodgkins and Jack Maynard swapped penalties early on, before a try brace from hooker Taylor Davies and one each for inside centre Rhodri Jones and right-wing Macs Page helped Llandovery open a 29-3 half time lead. Maynard added the extras to three of them.
Left wing Harri Doel ran in two second half tries with outside centre Adam Warren, scrum-half Lee Rees and his replacement at No.9, Dafydd Land, also scoring. Maynard added four more conversions.
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Bridgend captain Evan Yardley and full-back Edd Howley scored unconverted tries in the second half for the visitors.
It was a 22nd win from 24 league matches this term for the Drovers, who pipped Newport by a single point to top spot in the regular season table.
“To score 60 odd points, you can’t fault the boys’ efforts. It’s another one of our targets ticked off the list; win a cup, which we have done, and finish top of the league and now we go into the play-offs with a positive vibe among the players in our changing room, it’s fantastic,” said Llandovery lock and skipper Jones.
“We’ve just got to stay positive now, train well next week and then go into it with a positive mentality and try and get a ‘w’ for the community here again, which would be great.”
Newport will host Ebbw Vale in the other semi-final on Saturday, which also kicks off at 5.15pm, with the final on May 11 at the home of the highest-ranked side.
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