AFTER narrowly losing at Carmarthen Quins last week, a further visit to West Wales proved again disappointing for Cross Keys, writes Huw S Thomas.

There was little to choose between the two mid table sides but the home side took their chances better to move up above Keys in the table.

Keys looked to have salvaged a losing bonus point when trailing 23-17 in the 77th minute but a penalty by home pivot Jack Maynard sent then back home to Gwent pointless.

Llandovery started off with a real bang and only last ditches tackles by flanker Adam Powell and then full back Leon Andrews saved the day for Cross Keys.

Powell tap-tackled Rhodri Davies when the scrum half looked certain to score before Andrews denied wing Aaron Warren with a cover tackle on the corner flag.

Keys then lost a line out on their own throw and allowed home hooker Dafydd Hughes the time to gather and crash over for a try converted by fly half Jack Maynard.

Keys eventually settled down and skipper Scott Matthews burst through some weak Llandovery tackles for a try converted by fly half Josh Prosser.

Andrews made another try saving tackle on the lively Davies before Maynard penalised a Keys off side in mid field with a close range penalty.

The West Walians edged possession but could not finish off some good chances in the face of firm tackling and had to rely on the Maynard boot to put them 13-7 up just before the break.

Soon after the restart Keys put huge pressure on the home line and were inches short from two driving mauls.

Maynard missed with a 40 metre penalty attempt but opposite number Prosser did not miss from 35 metres to bring Keys back to within three points.

Maynard kicked his third penalty on 60 minutes but when home lock Bryn Griffiths was yellow carded for foul play Keys threw everything into attack.

They pounded away at the home line but a mix up in mid field and dropped pass cost them dearly when Davies scooped up the ball and ran in from 60 metres, Maynard converting.

Scrum half Owain Leonard gave Keys hope with a try from a quickly taken tap penalty converted by Prosser only for Maynard to take the losing bonus point away with his fourth penalty and register a personal tally of 16 points

Llandovery: L Rees; C Baldwin, R Smith, R Jones (C Woodall 74), A Warren; J Maynard, R Davies; J Kaijaks (S Jenkins 74), D Hughes, G Cunniffe (J Hughes 74), B Griffiths, P Day (capt), S Worrall (R Rees 74), R Brooks (D Eager 74), S Miles

Cross Keys: L Andrews; M Powell (J Unwin 53), L Barnett, P Williams, N Trowbridge (B Nightingale 74); J Prosser, O Leonard; L Smout (L Brown h/t), D Hughes (E Shipp 55), R Cornock (C Hewlett 55), D Hodge (T Lampard 66), S Williams, A Powell, I Jones, S Matthews (capt)

Referee: Dai Cambourne (Cardiff)

Keys Star Choice: Leon Andrews

Llandovery Tries: D Hughes, R Davies Cons: J Maynard (2) Pens: J Maynard (4)

Cross Keys Tries: S Matthews, O Leonard Cons: J Prosser (2) Pen: J Prosser