EBBW VALE arrived at Church Bank knowing full well that a setback would virtually end any lingering ambition of a coveted top four spot and these hopes were dashed by the battling Drovers, writes Huw S Thomas.

The Steelmen had plenty of possession against a young Llandovery side but did the basics poorly and made error after error in what coach Nigel Davies described as “the worst display of the season.”

“We had some excellent field positions to turn the screw but then failed miserably to control possession and we have only ourselves to blame,” sighed Davies.

“The pack was a shadow of what it is capable of and Llandovery were far more energetic and committed in what they did.”

Hooker Joe Franchi and then wing James Lewis ran well to put Ebbw on the attack and completely against the run of play Llandovery got the first score From a turnover Drovers fly half Jack Maynard dummied through at half way before sprinting his way to the line holding off cover tackles to crash over in the corner.

A Josh Lewis penalty got the Steelmen their first points and when Llandovery lost prop Dean Howells to the bin, Ebbw were awarded a penalty try from the resulting scrum, Lewis converting.

Scrum half Lee Rees posed a real threat to the Ebbw defence and made the spade work for Maynard to kick a simple penalty.

After Ebbw scrum half Dai Jones was yellow carded, Maynard kicked his second penalty and soon had another opportunity to score Hooker Joe Franchi became the second Ebbw player to be carded only for Maynard to miss badly from 25 metres and leave the score 11-10 to the Drovers at the break With a strong wind behind them, Ebbw looked favourites to win but error after error saw them surrender possession and it was no surprise when the excellent Rees did the ground work for a try by prop Dean Howells. converted by Maynard.

With flanker Lance Randall to the fore, Ebbw got back into the game when centre Dom Franchi scrambled over wide out but they could not find ant rhythm to their game.

Maynard kicked his third penalty but the visitors still had a chance to snatch the game out of the fire at the end.

Lewis put them deep into the Llandovery 22 but the ensuing line out was an unholy mess which gave Maynard the chance to clear his lines and send Ebbw home with a meagre losing bonus point.

Llandovery: T Lewis (A Davies 66); J Parkinson (J Hughes 19-29 and C Woodall 58 and J Baker 79 ), R Wall, R Jones, A Warren; J Maynard, L Rees; D Howells (J Hughes 52), M Moore, G Cunniffe (S Jenkins 58),B Griffiths, (L Ellis-Jones 77), J Powell, D Eager, R Brooks (capt), S Miles (S Worrall 63).

Tries: J Maynard, D Howells; Con: J Maynard; Pens: J Maynard (3) Ebbw Vale: D Haymond; N Preece, D Franchi (S Majkic 65), D Langdon (W Talbot-Davies 45), James Lewis; Josh Lewis, D Jones (R Lewis 50); I George (R Jones 48), J Franchi (J Bowen 74), R Sevenoaks (G Robinson 48), D Hudd (capt) (M Williams 75), Ashley Sweet (D Rubasniak 64), L Randall, R Clarke, R Kynes.

Tries: Pen try, D Franchi; Con: J Lewis; Pen: J Lewis Referee: Sean Brickell (Abertillery) Ebbw Star Choice: Lance Randall