The Drovers had edged past Pooler 21-18 in the first game of the season and this was another close contest on their way to notching up their ninth consecutive win in the SRC, writes Huw S Thomas.

This latest victory took them to the top of the SRC table - three points clear - with five more games of the regular season remaining, that good news tempered by the fact that leading pursuers Ebbw Vale and Cardiff have a game in hand.

A top four finish will ensure a home draw in the end of season play-offs, a vital advantage which went Llandovery’s way in the 2023-2024 all-conquering season when they had home draws in the play-offs, first against Cardiff and then Newport.

With a nice blend of power rugby and adventurous ambition, the Drovers scored five tries, three from close range and two from flowing attacks, to signal that they will be serious contenders to retain the title.

“A very good result for us,“ said coach Euros Evans.

“But we were taken all the way by a Pooler side that will be dangerous opponents for one and all in the rest of the season.

“Their defence succeeded in closing down a lot of our moves behind the scrum and we, in turn, had to put our shoulders to the pump when they had the ball.”

“As we expected, there were a lot of bruised bodies out there at the end and we’ll have to assess fitness before the cup tie with Cardiff on Saturday.”

All of Llandovery’s three first half tries were from close range, the best following a 50-metre touch finder from Ioan Hughes.

The fly half found touch on the corner flag from inside his own half, giving hooker Taylor Davies the chance to celebrate his 50th appearance for the club by burrowing over.

The immaculate Jack Maynard kicked the conversion from wide out to make it 21-10 at the break.

No 8 Nathan Hart had earlier grabbed two tries after consistent and patient build ups to trump a well worked try by centre Joel Mahoney and five points from the boot of fly half Kieran Meek.

Pooler, with 58-time capped Scott Williams in the centre, soon reduced the lead after a Llandovery attack had broken down in midfield, wing Matthew Powell outflanking the cover defence.

Man of the match Maynard was in the move that sent replacement Ilan Phillips in for the bonus point converted score, and when Pooler lock Dan Hill was yellow carded for interfering with a quickly taken Lee Rees penalty, a Maynard penalty made it 31-15.

The visitors responded with flanker Scott Matthews going in under the posts, only for replacement scrum half George MacDonald and centre Adam Warren to combine and get replacement wing Llien Morgan in at the corner.

Maynard rifled the conversion but the visitors had the last word when replacement forward and Tongan international Sol Funaki shrugged off tackles for a consolation fourth try.

Llandovery will not be in league action until March 8 – a re-arranged game at home to Cardiff. Attention now switches to the SRC Cup when Cardiff will again be the visitors to Church Bank this Saturday (KO: 2:30pm).

For the cup, the 10 league clubs are split into two groups and, after playing a pair of home and away games each, the two table-toppers will clash in the final on March 20

In Pool A, the Drovers face Cardiff and Bridgend at home, travel to RGC and Aberavon.

Newport, Ebbw Vale, Pontypool, Carmarthen Quins and Swansea are in Pool B.

Tries: N Hart (2), T Davies, I Phillips, L Morgan

Cons: J Maynard (5)

Pen: J Maynard

Tries: J Mahoney, M Powell, S Matthews, S Funaki

Cons: K Meek (3)

Pen: K Meek

Llandovery: J Maynard; S Evans, Adam Warren, R Jones, Aaron Warren; I Hughes, L Rees (capt); D Dallavalle, T Davies, B Watkins, M Jones, E Scragg, O Davies, N Hart, S Worrall

Replacements: J Hughes, G Williams, G Jones, J Powell, E Sheldon, I Phillips, L Morgan, G MacDonald

Pontypool : J Williams; M Jones J Mahoney, S Williams M Powell; K Meek, O Leonard; S Cochrane, S Scarfe, H Drane, I Jones, D Hill, S Matthews, M Allen, M Herbert (capt)

Replacements: D Morgan, K Best, K Williams,S Funaki, A Stratton, D Blacker, A Nove, J Thomas