Llandovery took a step closer to a quarter-final place in the British & Irish Cup with a deserved win over Melrose at the Greenyards yesterday.
The sun warmed the famous Borders ground but it was the Welsh visitors who shone. Llandovery top the Principality Premiership with six straight wins and showed why by putting on an all-round display of rugby that showcased many of the traditional skills of the Welsh game.
Melrose tried to match them but the home side's poor skills, missed tackles and bad decision-making at crucial times meant the Borderers finished second-best to a Llandovery side with class in a number of positions, and which was more effective in the forward battle at the break-downs.
"We weren't sharp enough and tended to give them the ball back after turnovers. I think we were guilty of making poor decisions and too many forward passes," said the Melrose coach, Craig Chalmers. "We were a bit inaccurate at times but we tried to play rugby – as they did. What was disappointing for us was soft scores from poor tackling."
Outstanding for Llandovery was scrum-half Rhodri Williams who, given Andy Robinson's present difficulties, would walk straight into the Scotland team. Another to impress was inside-centre Jack Roberts, who triggered the opening score, initiating an attack that finished with winger Chris Knight touching down and stand-off James Garland converting.
Melrose countered well with a move that twice involved Roddy Grant to give Andrew Skeen a try and conversion.
But just before the break a wayward pass by Alun Walker resulted in a scrum five metres out for Llandovery. The Welsh eight made the muscle count for tighthead Dean Howells to score, Garland converting for a 14-7 half-time advantage.
At the start of the second half Llandovery winger Jake Randall scored a try in the left corner before Melrose failed to capitalise on a five-metre scrum.
Rhodri Williams made the Melrose tackling look feeble as he raced in for a solo touchdown and, although Melrose hit back with a try by Grant, converted by Skeen, Llandovery emphasised their class with Roberts' last try.
Melrose: F Thomson; L Mallin, B Dick, J Helps, U Kalamfoni Jnr; A Skeen, B Colvine; N Little, A Walker, G Holburn, J Dalziel, R Miller, R Grant, G Runciman, A Nagle. Subs used: W Mitchell, C Arthur, S Johnson, R Ovens, S McCormick, R Mill, S Chalmers.
Llandovery: L Rees; C Knight, S Soul, J Roberts, J Randall; J Garland, R Williams; D Williams, L Lewis, D Howells, P Day, L Jones, R Brooks, L Phillips, L Kendall. Subs used: A Jones, W Jones, B Griffiths, S Miles, A Yelland, C Rees, M Jacobs.
Referee: S Gallagher (IRFU)
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