Llandovery’s run of good form continued at Church Bank where they notched up an eighth consecutive league win, writes Tom Hughes.

The game was lit up by two talented 20-year-old centres in Newport’s Harri Ackerman and Llandovery’s Macs Page, born within four days of each other in December 2004.

Both confirmed their international potential with a thrilling hat-trick of tries apiece.

If the solidly-built Ackerman was outstanding, then Page was even better with his balanced running, eye for the chance and acceleration deservedly earning a Man of the Match vote from the home fans.

But he was pushed close by lock Ed Scragg who was a real force in line-out and loose, combative centre Rhodri Jones, No 8 Joe Powell and goal-kicker Jack Maynard.

The capture of a maximum six points keeps the Drovers in a very handy third place in the SRC table, two points behind Ebbw Vale and one point adrift of Cardiff with just six more games of the regular season left to play.

It puts them in firm contention for a top four finish and a home draw in the end of season play-offs.

Coaches Euros Evans and Gareth Potter were happy men.

“Two good sides made it a game to watch but on the whole we were in control for large parts of the game,” said Potter.

“We set a a good tempo in attack, finished off chances the better, defended well for the most part, and pressured their attack into a few mistakes.“

“Macs Page showed his class and worked hard for his hat trick, made several good defensive reads and was excellent on the kick chase, whilst fly half Ioan Hughes controlled our attack with a sure hand.”

It was the Black and Ambers who started the brighter.

With their big forwards, under skipper and No 8 Ben Roach, really up for the challenge of taking on the side that pipped them to last year’s Premiership title, it took Newport just seven minutes to lead 7-0.

A fine try by ex-Wales U20 captain Ackerman, converted by influential fly half Matt O’Brien, shook the home side.

The Drovers regained their composure, working in wing Jac Davies, and with full back Jack Maynard converting and adding a penalty, it was soon 10-7.

The game was as tight as expected - defences alert and well organised - before Page finished well for Llandovery’s second try, converted by Maynard.

Just before the break, Ackerman replied with his second try, converted by O’Brien, to leave the game finely poised at 17-14.

Newport were quickly out of the blocks in the second half and they got their third converted try of the day when Ackerman crossed for his hat-trick, only for the Drovers to hit back with their own third converted try, courtesy of Rhodri Jones.

Page then intercepted a loose pass before sprinting home from 90 metres to earn the bonus point and a 31-21 lead in a real cracker of a game, lit up by the brilliant running of the talented duo of Ackerman and Page.

The next score was crucial and it came from the twinkle-toed Page who emulated Ackerman with a third try which with Maynard’s conversion took Llandovery clear at 38-21.

17 points clear, Llandovery made firmly sure in the last ten minutes that Newport did not close the gap and so deprive the Drovers of the maximum points they so richly deserved.

Pontypool will be the visitors to Church Bank on January 18 when the Drovers will try to extend their winning run to nine.

Tries: M Page (3), J Davies, R Jones

Cons: J Maynard (5)

Pen: J Maynard

Tries: H Ackerman (3)

Cons: M O’Brien (3)

Llandovery: J Maynard; J Davies R Jones, M Page, T Baldwin; I Hughes, L Rees (capt); J Hughes, T Davies, G Hawley, M Jones, E Scragg, O Davies, J Powell, J Evans

Replacements: D Dallavalle, G Williams, B Watkins, C Long, E Sheldon, S Worrall, Adam Warren, G MacDonald

Newport: C Penny; L Lewis, D Richards, H Ackerman, C Foster-Smith; M O’Brien, D Buckland; T Workman, T Olding, O Drake, J Skinner, B Langton-Cryer, G Young, J Reid, B Roach (capt)

Replacements: H Palmer, N Evans, C Brooke, L David, K Tayler, L Crane, J Lloyd, I Davies