Within the first few minutes, Llandovery took a quick lineout inside the hosts half. A quick one-two saw the ball be passed to flyhalf Ioan Hughes who went over the line chased by Ebbw flanker Sion Parry. However, after reviewing the try on the screen, referee Carwyn Sion concluded Hughes had crossed the dead ball line and overturned his decision of a try.

Moments later there was a long pause in play. On the 14th minute, the first substitution of the game was made by the Steelmen after number eight Owen Conquer had to leave the field with concussion after what looked like a nasty injury. Conquer was replaced by Lewis Young. The TMO intervened and referee Sion decided to show the away side`s second row Joe Powell a yellow card for a shoulder to the head challenge. Evan Lloyd slotted the penalty to put Ebbw three points in front.

With the Drovers on the front foot. The away side were awarded a penalty when Luke Garrett committed a crock roll. The away sides number ten Hughes drew the scores level from the tee.

With a period of play being played on the away sides try line, a penalty awarded by referee Sion saw Lloyd kick to the corner. From the resulting lineout the host`s forwards accompanied by the backs set up a driving maul and resulted in hooker Corey Lewis driving over the tryline to score the game`s first try. Lloyd kicked the conversion to put Ebbw seven points ahead.

Around the half an hour mark, some off the ball scuffling between Ebbw’s second row Curtis Gregory and Llandovery’s flanker Tom Curry saw both players sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

The Steelmen were reduced to thirteen for the remainder of the half when the home side scrum half Jon Evans was shown a yellow card for ripping the ball illegally.

Having kicked to the hosts twenty-two. The Drovers got quick ball off the lineout and centre Rhodri Jones sliced through the defence and scored near the posts. Hughes kicked the conversion to make it 10 all.

Despite the best efforts of the visitors, good defence by Ebbw saw the scores remain level going into the break.

Halftime: Ebbw Vale RFC 10 Llandovery RFC 10

Ebbw Vales first substitution of the second half saw coach Jason Strange bring prop Morgan Bosanko onto the field to replace Adam Williams two minutes after the interval.

The away sides second try of the game came ten minutes into the second half. After a good break by centre Abraham, quick ball out to Harri Doel, saw the winger score in the corner. However, Hughes was unable to add the extras.

Straight from the restart, a missed tackle on the away sides Jac Davies, saw the 15 make yards, draw the covering defence and pass to winger Doel, who crossed over the line unopposed. Hughes sliced the conversion through the uprights.

A further change by the Steelmen saw prop Adam Court replace Luke Garrett.

After applying the pressure, the Drovers sealed their win with thirteen minutes to go. After some clever football by the retiring Lee Rees, the scrum half fended off a defender to dive on the ball and score Llandovery’s fourth try of the game to give his side a seventeen-point lead. Hughes sent the ball wide of the uprights.

The hosts coach Strange made various substitutions in the closing moments, with scrum half Gruff Tough replacing Jon Evans, flanker Dylan Burrows came on for Alfred Bateman – Lloyd, centre and captain Dom Franchi went off to be replaced by Cameron Davies, winger Ryan Gardner came on for Mitch Rankine and hooker James Talamai came on for Corey Lewis.

Ebbw were to see out the game with fourteen after referee Sion viewed the monitor and decided to show second row Dylan Bartlett a red card for head contact on an opposing player at the ruck. From the penalty, Hughes sent the ball wide of the posts to bring the game to a close.

Fulltime: Ebbw Vale RFC 10 Llandovery RFC 27

Steelmen reach SRC Final

Ebbw played Newport RFC in the semi final of the SRC play offs, in front of the S4C cameras at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium. An hour before the game, a heavy down pour of rain made the pitch wet and slippery. The game saw Hooker Corey Lewis make his debut for Ebbw Vale on permit from Bridgend Ravens.

Within the first few minutes of kick-off, Ebbw Vale number seven Sion Parry was shown a yellow card by referee Adam Jones for being off his feet and slapping the ball down earning him 10 minutes in the sin bin.

After applying pressure, from a rolling maul, the Black and Ambers forwards got up a head of steam and scored the first try of the game through number four Josh Skinner. Jac Lloyd slotting the ball through the uprights to put his team seven nil up.

With the weather ramping up, knock-ons and overthrown lineouts from both teams made the game stop/start.

A lovely 50-22 kick by the hosts outside half Evan Lloyd, put the home side on the front foot. The visitors number 12 Harri Ackerman was sent to the sin bin by referee Jones for three continues offsides.

The Steelmen were forced into an early change when Ben Main went off due to injury with Alfred Bateman-Lloyd replacing the flanker.

After going through phase after phase, Ebbw thought they had scored their first try of the game through Corey Lewis. However, the TMO overturned the decision with an Ebbw Vale player knocking the ball on at the base of the ruck.

With the game approaching half time, the Steelmen were reduced to fourteen again when Alfred Bateman-Lloyd was shown a yellow card for a tip tackle.

Halftime: Ebbw Vale RFC 0 Newport RFC 7

At the start of the second half, Ebbw coach Jason Strange replaced prop Adam Williams with Morgan Bosanko.

With Newport knocking the ball on and a player in front of the ball, Ebbw were awarded a penalty which was kicked to the corner. However, the Steelmen were unable to collect the ball at the lineout, and the visitors cleared their lines.

The tide had started to turn, with the Steelmen forwards gaining metres every time they had the ball. With referee Jones penalising the Black and Ambers, a kick to the corner by Ebbw Vale’s Evan Lloyd saw the home side win the line out and set a rolling maul. Joined by the backs, number two Corey Lewis benefited to score Ebbw’s first try of the game. The conversion went wide from the home side’s Lloyd.

After being awarded a penalty in the away side’s twenty-two, fly half Lloyd sent the ball through the posts to put his team in front for the first time in the game.

Further ill-discipline by Newport, saw second row Josh Skinner spend ten minutes in the sin bin. With the penalty, Lloyd stepped up and delivered to put Ebbw four points in front.

Ebbw were awarded another penalty just inside the away side’s half. Lloyd smashed the ball, however it only just missed the uprights.

From the drop out, the away side’s fly half Jac Lloyd took a quick tap and was adjudged to have been fouled by the Steelmen’s hooker Corey Lewis. Lewis was shown a yellow card as a result.

Inside the last five minutes of the game, good back play by the Black and Ambers saw replacement Harrison James go through a gap in the hosts defence, draw the player and pass to winger Fin Baker, who scored in the corner to put the away side 11-12 in front. Number ten Jac Lloyd kicked the conversion to make it a three-point game.

With minutes to go Ebbw coach Strange then brought on Lewis Young, Adam Court and Gruff Tough for prop Luke Garrett, scrum half Jon Evans and number eight Owen Conquer.

With the home side still down to fourteen, winger Mitch Rankine came off for hooker James Talamai to come on, with Ebbw having a lineout 2 metres away from the Black and Ambers tryline.

After having the lineout disrupted, the Steelmen forwards regrouped, went through phase after phase to get within a few metres of the tryline. Brilliant thinking from the hosts replacement Gruff Tough, saw the scrum half put in a pinpoint cross-field kick to fullback Dylan Edwards out on the wing. With little space on his outside, Edwards jumped up into the air and caught the ball, rolling over the tryline with his opposite number underneath him, he dotted the ball down and scored to score the winning try of the game. Lloyd hammered the ball through the sticks.

Newport was allowed to restart the game. However, the ball was knocked on, and referee Jones brought a titanic battle to a close, sending the home side fans into eruption of cheers and the Steelmen into their second final of the Super Rygbi Cymru play offs, where they will play against Llandovery RFC.

Fulltime: Ebbw Vale RFC 18 Newport RFC 14

Ebbw sneak through to the Semi-Final

Ebbw played Bridgend Ravens on a lovely day at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium, in the quarter final of the Super Rygbi Cymru play offs. The game saw prop Adam Williams make his 50th appearance for the club.

Within minutes off the kick off, from a maul in the Steelmen’s twenty-two, referee Ben Whitehouse awarded Bridgend a penalty try and yellow carded flanker Ben Main for ill discipline at the maul.

Moments later Ebbw struck back, when full back Morgan Richards scored in the corner. Flyhalf Evan Lloyd slotted the conversion to make it seven all.

Momentum swung back and forth between both teams, until with the last play before halftime the away side struck again. Centre Gethin O’ Callaghan used his strength to go over the line despite being tackled. The conversion was successfully kicked by Lloyd Wilkins to bring the first half to a close.

Halftime: Ebbw Vale RFC 7 Bridgend Ravens 14

The home side coach Jason Strange made his sides first changes of the game when Alfred Bateman- Lloyd and Morgan Bosanko came on for prop Adam Williams and second row Dylan Burrows.

The hosts hit back to draw the scores level. From a rolling maul inside the visitors twenty-two, Ebbw hooker and top try scorer Ieuan Morris dived over the line. Lloyd added the extras to make the score 14 all.

Minutes later Jason Strange made further changes when Owen Conquer, who returned from injury and Gruff Tough came on for flanker Ben Main and fullback Morgan Richards.

However, the Ravens were to take the lead once again. A good run by Tom Florence, saw the centre break through tackles in the middle of the pitch and score Bridgend’s third try of the game. Wilkins added the extras.

The home side forwards then got the grit between their teeth and responded with a try of their own. After good work by the forwards, the ball made its way to replacement Tough, who powered over the line, despite being tackled by the visitor’s players. Number ten Lloyd let the ball soar through the posts to make it 21 all with 15 minutes left to play.

Further changes by Ebbw Vale coach Strange saw outside half Tom Price, centre Cameron Davies and prop Adam Court replace Jon Evans, Luke Garrett and Dom Franchi.

The decisive score then came from the hosts. From a lineout inside the Bridgend twenty-two the Ebbw forwards got the maul going and hooker Ieuan Morris benefited to score the try. Outside half Lloyd was on fire with the conversions to put his team 28 – 21 ahead.

Replacement prop Adam Court had to be replaced by Luke Garrett and with the game ending, number eight Ryan Jenkins was helped off the field and replaced by hooker James Talamai.

Despite the best efforts of both sides no further points were added to the scoreboard and the Steelmen progressed to the semifinal.

Fulltime: Ebbw Vale RFC 28 Bridgend Ravens 21

Tries: Morgan Rees (1), Ieuan Morris (2), Gruff Tough (1)

Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3)

Ebbw Addicts Man of the match: Sion Parry

Ebbw win a last-minute game

The game was played at Dunvant RFC on a sunny spring afternoon. The team sheet saw a late change for Ebbw on the bench, Harry Arundel replaced Morgan Richards. The game was intense and tight until the final whistle.

Swansea came bouncing out of the blocks when winger Liam Lloyd scored the opening try of the game. Josh Phillips sent the conversion wide of the posts to make it five nil to the All Whites. Tom Price slotted a penalty to put Ebbw five, three down. The game was back and forth until the 29th minute when Swansea number six Iwan Shenton was red carded for what had seemed to be a barge in the back of an away side’s player, leaving referee Paul Newman with no other option. A catch from the lineout saw Steelmen hooker Ieuan Morris score from the rolling maul. Price was unsuccessful with the conversion.

Ebbw were forced into their first change of the game when Harry Arundel replaced Dylan Bartlett due to injury.

Despite being reduced to fourteen men, two quick tries for the hosts by Lewis Edwards and Matthew Aubrey, both converted by number ten Phillips, saw Swansea take an eleven point lead into the half time interval.

Halftime: Swansea RFC 19 Ebbw Vale RFC 8

The second half got off to a bad start for the home side when fullback Matt Protheroe was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on. A few minutes later the Steelmen were awarded a penalty try by referee Newman and prop Kian Hire was sent to the sin bin to spend 10 minutes on the sidelines.

Ebbw took advantage of the numerical advantage when hooker Ieuan Morris scored his second try of the game from the lineout and driving maul. Price slotted the conversion.

The visitors coach Jason Strange made a further change when prop Adam Court replaced Morgan Bosanko.

The away sides centre Cameron Davies used his strength to muscle his way over the line to score Ebbw’s bonus point try. Price added the extras to give his side a ten-point lead on the scoreboard.

After good work by the Swansea forwards, replacement flanker Callum Bowden charged over the line, with Phillips converting the conversion.

The Steelmen hen changed scrum half Dan Buffrey for Carter Pritchard and Joe Rees-Weldon came on for Ben Main.

Three consecutive penalties in a row against the away side saw Ebbw second row Curtis Gregory receive a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on All Whites replacement lock Theo Currie on the wing.

From a lineout by Swansea, their rolling maul got taken down close to the try line illegally by Ebbw, giving referee Newman no choice but to award a penalty try to the home side and a yellow card for the visitors prop Luke Garrett.

Ebbw Vale’s finally changes of the game saw prop Regan Jones come on to make his debut to replace Joe Rees-Weldon due to the yellow card to Garrett and a scrum being awarded, Ryan Gardner replaced Dom Franchi and Alfred Bateman-Lloyd came on for Harry Arundel.

Going into the last minute of the game, a break by Ebbw Vale winger Dafydd Thomas deep into the hosts twenty-two, saw Swansea twenty-three Iwan Glynn receive a yellow card for failing to release the man in the tackle. Price dinked the ball to the corner and Ebbw saw Morris get his hattrick of tries in the corner, after a team effort to break the All-Whites’ hearts at the death. Priced missed the final conversion to close out the game.

Fulltime: Swansea RFC 33 Ebbw Vale RFC 34

After the game we spoke to Ebbw Vale scrum half Dan Buffrey. Dan said he enjoyed the game. He thought the wind made the first half trickier than it should had been. He praised the team for starting well in the second half and capitalising on Swansea’s two yellow cards by scoring two tries. Dan finished by saying that the team made it hard work for themselves to get the win but it was good to win the game in the end.

Ebbw lose against RGC

Injury hit Ebbw failed to secure top spot after losing their second home game in a row against RGC on a dry but windy afternoon.

RGC were quick to come out of the blocks when flyhalf Billy McBryde slotted a penalty early on, to put his team three points to the good.

However, the Steelmen immediately hit back. Despite the home side’s best efforts to score a try, number ten Tom Price kicked a penalty to bring the scores level.

Despite the first half never igniting, the game was back-and-forth between the two teams; however, poor handling or ill-discipline stopped any momentum for either side.

A few minutes before half-time, the visitors took the lead again. From a penalty inside the halfway line, the Gogs’ fly half, McBride, sent the ball through the middle of the sticks.

Halftime: Ebbw Vale RFC 3 RGC 6

A few minutes into the second half, Ebbw coach Jason Strange made his team’s first substitution of the game when Ben Main replaced flanker Joe Rees-Weldon.

The home side eventually got a foothold in the game and took the lead when, from a lineout, Ebbw set up a rolling maul which was finished off with a try being scored by hooker and top try scorer Ieuan Morris. The conversion was successful by outside half Price to put the Steelmen four points ahead.

With the hosts trying to stamp their authority on the game, referee Keith David reduced the visitors to fourteen after showing RGC prop Patrick Nelson a yellow card for ill-discipline.

The numbers were soon to be equal again when referee David showed Steelmen replacement Ben Main a yellow card for ill-discipline.

The home side’s coach, Strange, then changed the front row when Adam Court replaced prop Luke Garrett, Regan Jones came on for prop Morgan Bosanko, and Charlie Manship replaced hooker Ieuan Morris due to injury. A further change by the hosts saw replacement scrum half Rory Harries come on for Dan Buffrey.

The away side then made the decisive strike. After collecting a high ball in his own half, the Gogs winger Ciao Parry evaded numerous tacklers to race half the pitch to score in the corner. Outside half McBride kicked an excellent conversion from the touchline.

The final score of the game was in favour of the visitors. Replacement scrum half Connor Dever darted down the blindside from just inside the Ebbw half to go over the line unopposed. With the last kick of the game, McBryde was successful with the conversion.

Fulltime: Ebbw Vale RFC 10 RGC 18

Try scorer: Ieuan Morris (1)

Conversion: Tom Price (1)

Penalty: Tom Price (1)

Ebbw win on the road

Ebbw Vale came away from the Dunraven Brewery Field with maximum six points after playing the game in rainy conditions.

The visitors took the lead within the first ten minutes after referee Craig Evans awarded the Steelmen a penalty. Fly half Evan Lloyd successfully kicked the penalty.

Despite the best efforts of both sides, neither side could add to the scoreboard until referee Evans awarded the hosts a penalty. Number ten Fraser Jones brought the scores level.

The first try of the afternoon came just after the half an hour mark. A good break through the home defence by winger Dafydd Thomas saw the winger break the line, round the full back and score a well taken try under the posts. Lloyd successfully kicked the conversion.

Half Time: Bridgend Ravens 3 Ebbw Vale RFC 10

The away sides second try of the afternoon came within fifteen minutes of the interval. From a lineout in the Bridgend twenty-two, the Ebbw forwards set up a driving maul which ended with hooker Ieuan Morris scoring. Lloyd again added the extras.

The home side were reduced to fourteen men on the hour mark when referee Evans sent the Ravens second row James Richards to the sin bin.

The Steelmen immediately gained from the numerical advantage when from the lineout, the visitors forwards again set up a driving maul which finished with replacement hooker Joe Franchi diving over the line. Lloyd successfully kicked the conversion.

Within five minutes, Ebbw scored their bonus point try. Hooker Franchi once again benefited from the driving maul by finishing off the move to score. Lloyd sent the ball through the middle of the sticks.

With just more than ten minutes left, Ebbw Vale were reduced to fourteen men. Second row Dylan Bartlett was sent to spend ten minutes in the sin bin by referee Evans.

The hosts soon scored their first try of the game. Replacement scrum half Harvey Nash scored the try. Fellow replacement Luke Price added the extras.

Bridgend’s second try of the game came with three minutes left through replacement Corey Lewis. Price successfully kicked the conversion to reduce the deficit to fourteen points.

With the game going into the final moments, referee Evans awarded Ebbw Vale a penalty. Replacement Dorian Jones successfully added the three points to extend Ebbw Vale’s lead to seventeen points and claim maximum bonus points.

Full Time: Bridgend Ravens 17 Ebbw Vale RFC 34

Try scorers: Dafydd Thomas (1), Ieuan Morris (1), Joe Franchi (2)

Conversions: Evan Lloyd (4)

Penalties: Evan Lloyd (1), Dorian Jones (1)

Five Try Ebbw

The Steelmen took maximum points from their first game of the season, in a game that was played in mixed weather conditions.

The home side came out of the blocks quickly. Within minutes of the game starting, the hosts scored an excellent try through full back Morgan Richards. Number ten Evan Lloyd added the extras.

The visitors hit straight back and scored a well taken try of their own through Felix Gilbert. Outside half Keillen Cullen successfully kicked the conversion to level the scores.

The Wizards took the lead for the first time during the game when referee Ben Whitehouse awarded the away side a penalty, which Cullen sent through the uprights.

Moments later, Ebbw’s fly half Lloyd again levelled the scores at ten all after converting a penalty from in front of the posts.

The Steelmen’s coach Jason Strange was forced into a change when Ebbw captain Joe Franchi was unable to continue and was replaced by hooker Ieuan Morris.

The home side retook the lead, when from a quick back’s move, fullback Richards burst through a gap in the Aberavon defence. With just the covering defender to beat, Richards drew his man and passed to winger Ewan Bowden, who showed his pace to go over in the corner unopposed. Lloyd again added the extras.

The home side fullback Morgan Richards was replaced straight afterwards by the returning Dorian Jones and injuring himself during the move.

On the stroke of half time the hosts extended their lead further. After applying the pressure, quick ball out to fly half Lloyd down the blindside, saw the number ten release the pass to winger Dafydd Thomas, who used his strength to power over in the corner. Lloyd was unsuccessful with the conversion from the touchline.

Half Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 22 Aberavon RFC 10

With both teams having to deal with the terrible weather conditions, Ebbw Vale coach Strange replaced prop Luke Garrett with debutant Morgan Bosanko.

The home side secured a try bonus point, when after applying pressure, second row Curtis Gregory used his power to dive over the try line, despite the attempts of the Aberavon tacklers. Lloyd sent the kick through the posts.

Within minutes of each other Jason Strange made a raft of changes. Adam Court, Alfred Bateman-Lloyd, Ewan McIntyre, Cameron Davies and Dan Buffery came on for Adam Williams, Curtis Gregory, Jack Pope, Evan Lloyd and Rory Harries.

The Steelmen’s fifth and final try came when referee Ben Whitehouse went under the posts to award a penalty try after the Aberavon number eight Ashton Evans was adjudged to have stopped a powerful Ebbw maul illegally on the line. Referee Whitehouse showed Evans the yellow card to spend ten minutes in the sin bin.

With the game ending, the away side scored their second try of the game when fly half Charlie Thomas went over the try line. Thomas kicked the conversion to bring the game to a close.

Full Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 36 Aberavon RFC 17

Tries: Morgan Richards (1), Ewan Bowden (1), Dafydd Thomas (1), Curtis Gregory (1), Penalty try (1)

Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3)

Penalty: Evan Lloyd (1)

Man of the match: Ewan Bowden

All reports by Alex Kinsella-Evans (unless stated)