Llandovery head coach Euros Evans was pleased to see his side right the wrongs of last month’s defeat by Cardiff by coming out on top 48-43 in the return clash at the Arms Park.
Cardiff had stunned the Drovers 52-19 when these two sides last met at Church Bank last month and the Super Rygbi Cymru leaders shot out of the blocks again to go 14-0 up inside seven minutes.
But the Drovers responded with five first half tries to lead 27-26 at half time and then ran in three more in the second half to edge this 14-try thriller and end the Blue and Blacks’ six-game league winning streak.
“They embarrassed us at our patch a few weeks back and we were really disappointed with the way we performed,” said Llandovery chief Evans.
“We wanted to put the wrongs right in this game and were delighted with the way the boys reacted, especially after going 14-0 down. It was a really good performance against an excellent Cardiff team who have been ripping it up recently in the league.
“We’re at the business end of the season and it’s the time where you need to be playing well and today’s performance was excellent. Wins like this should give us confidence that we can go and be really competitive in those play-offs again.”
Left wing Llien Morgan and blindside flanker Osian Davies both scored twice for the visitors, with No 8 Joe Powell, prop Jamie Hughes, outside half Sam Potter and right wing Jac Davies also powering over. Full-back Jack Maynard added the extras to four of them.
His opposite number Matty Young bagged a brace for Cardiff with centres Steffan Emanuel and Jason Harries, along with Joe Williams and Benji Williams also on the scoresheet. Harri Wilde kicked five conversions and one penalty.
Fifth-placed Pontypool saw their hopes of breaking into the top four dashed with a 26-24 defeat at Aberavon, meaning they will hit their road in the play-offs.
Rhys Thomas, Ben Gregory, Luke Davies and Tom Mably were the Aberavon try scorers. Charlie Thomas kicked two conversions and Ed Dunford one.
Pooler’s tries were scored by Mike Herbert, Harry Jarvis and Evan Wood. Kieran Meek converted all three as well as slotting a penalty goal.
The side that finishes the regular season in sixth will also be contesting a quarter-final away from home, but it would mean they would avoid the wild card matches, which will first feature the sides who finish between seventh and 10th.
Aberavon are currently in sixth, although Carmarthen Quins are only a point behind them after they ran out 32-24 winners over Bridgend Ravens.
Hooker Lewis Morgan, flanker Iestyn Morgan, wing Callum Woolley, centre Gabe McDonald and scrum-half Archie Hughes scored for the Quins. Charlie Titcombe added two conversions and a penalty.
For the Ravens wingers Cameron Ellis and Jack Thomas as well as full-back Edd Howley scored tries, all converted by Ben Burnell. The latter’s penalty was the visitors’ only points in the second half having led 21-17 at the break and meant they returned home empty handed.
Jamie Cox scored his second hat-trick of the season to inspire Swansea to a 43-28 victory over RGC. It was also the Whites last outing on their St Helen’s pitch ahead of the installation of a new 4G surface with Ospreys relocating to the famous ground from next season.
Full-back Harri Houston, centres Callum Carson and Callum Dodd and outside half Josh Phillips were Swansea’s other scorers. Phillips added the conversions. Cox’s other hat-trick this season came against Newport in the SRC Cup back on 1 February.
Centre Afon Bagshaw, prop Pedr Jones, flanker Ethan Fackrell and No 8 Sam Williams were on the scoresheet for RGC, all converted by Billy McBryde.