CAPITAL PERFORMANCE 27-04-15
Our first Premier League game last September was a thriller and the best possible start. Our last game in the regular season was a minor thriller and the best possible finish. The show was watched by a decent sized crowd most of whom wore red, white, green and purple. Their allegiances were clear when the teams ran out, great cheering greeted one, polite applause the other. The spectators saw an absorbing encounter that only produced two tries but they were enough for us to come second in the Premier Division as we did in 2007 when Alex Codlng was coach.

We won with something to spare after a keenly contested game between two sides intent on playing good rugby. Cardiff wanted a win to ensure fourth place in the table, which was confirmed after Saturday’s results, and had won at Bedwas in their previous game bagging maximum points. They tried hard but never looked like scoring a try, the Steelmen put up a No Entry sign and that was that.

Although there were glances at the clock the result was never in doubt and while the win gives us home advantage in the play-off semi-final the prize of second place in the table will be regarded as our greatest achievement – so far! For Man of the Match Carl Meyer it was a perfect start to a busy week-end, 110 minutes of rugby in two days and in two jerseys. His co-centre in the purple, Jordan Howells had another super weekend, his two tries and penalty goals from Carl and Iain Smerdon sealed Cardiff’s fate.

The play-off semi on May 9th is an all-Gwent Western Valley affair, good for club rugby in our region and a reminder to the coastal clique that three of the four Gwent teams in the Premiership are in the top five of the final table. The top three are valley based so Ponty, Ebbw and Keys are entitled to claim that in the club scene East is Best.

We have got to know the Premiership and for the more mature there have been returns to clubs we played before we went into hibernation in 2010. It was a new experience for many when went to Parc y Scarlets and even the Arms Park has changed slightly, especially the artificial pitch which on Friday our lads soon got used to.

After great performances in the last three games of the regular season the players are in the right mood for a grand finale. There have been quite a few “firsts” this season and I believe there was another on Friday, playing three Premier games away on three successive weekends and winning each of them. Our win/loss ratio in the Premiership was our best ever, 68%. That’s the sort of statistic I like. A better one of course is 100%. We were heading for that a year ago but in the last game at Narberth we suffered our only Championship defeat. Bargoed were in the same situation last Saturday but lost at home to Merthyr and like us in April 2014 didn’t quite hit the full house. Bargoed are having a great season nevertheless and were clear title winners from the start, thus removing the threat of relegation from the Premier Division. There are now two targets for Championship clubs: winning the title and getting the WRU ‘A’ Licence.

VALE ARE BEST IN THE WEST 19-04-15
Fifty-one points, none conceded, eight tries, five match points, a stroll in the Parc for Ebbw and a most enjoyable afternoon for the supporters who filled the bar and made their presence felt whenever the team did something spectacular, which was often. The young Scarlets defended for most of the 80 minutes and were constantly over-run. With several stoppages for running repairs they had no answer to the searing breaks and power play of Hudd’s armoured division. It was a big score which accurately reflected our supremacy.

All the action was provided by the Steelmen and there were many outstanding individual performances, one by centre Jordan Howells brought him the Man of the Match award. Among the busy bees was Mathew Williams, not Peter Pan anymore, but Son of Peter Pan. He is incredible and is a candidate for the Most Promising Player of the Year award!

Doubles over Llanelli have been rare but we have notched two in the last forty years, 26-15 and 15-12 in 1997/8 and 16-0 and 28-13 in 2007/08. It was certainly our biggest score ever against what we still call a Scarlets team, and the biggest this season. We went west expecting to win there for the second time in a week and were fully rewarded.

It’s Judgement Night on Friday when the Premier regular season ends. On Saturday afternoon we will know who plays who and where in the play-offs, the winner going on to Sardis Road for the title decider on May 16th. Cardiff who had a five point win at Bedwas last Saturday are the only successful team of the three who play on the same pitch as a region. Our last League game there was in March 2010 and we lost 32-0, a scoreline typical of several in a dreadful season that ended in relegation. The last time we won a League game at the Arms Park was in October 2008, 26-25 when centre Aaron Bramwell converted a late try by James Lewis, his second of the game. Close but commendable. It doesn’t matter how close Friday’s game will be so long as we win it.

Ebbw supporters will synchronise their watches before Friday night’s game at the Arms Park and will fervently hope everybody else does. Just over two years ago one of the most dramatic games we played there, a Cup tie, went on so long most of the residents of Westgate Street had gone to bed when it ended. Arguments still rage over the time added, some say fifteen minutes, but for Valians the sight of thirteen Steelmen defending their front-line trenches and a 16-11 lead will never be forgotten. If we had lost in the 90th minute someone would never be forgiven, but all’s well that ended well.

Our starting lineup that afternoon was Charlie Simpson; Wes Cunliffe, Dan Deardon, Adam Jones, Polo Uhi; Josh Lewis, Chris Thomas; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Robert Sevenoaks; Damien Hudd (capt), Ashley Sweet; Gareth Williams, Ronnie Kynes, Spencer Gibson. The bench is worth remembering, Jonny Bowen, John Lavender, Joe Bartlett, Rhys Clarke, David Jones, Dan Haymond, Cameron Reagan and Tom Ashmead.

The 2015 Steelmen are ready for their biggest challenge of a great season. They have the opportunity of a lifetime and they are in the form to take it.

HAD A GOOD DAY 12-04-15
Cast not a clout ‘till May is out, wise words because it was ch-ch-chilly at Llandovery. The blue sky, impressive landscape and a nice welcome at a ground where we have rarely played well, provided the backcloth of a show that absorbed the attention of a crowd consisting mainly of visiting supporters. Playing into the strong wind in the first half we produced our best performance for some time. We discarded the habit of starting slowly but with the forwards laying down Damien’s Law, and the backs eager to show how good they can be we scored three tries in the first forty minutes and had a 19-3 interval lead to build on.

The second half of the show was full of action and the Drovers hit back with two tries by scrum-half Lee Rees who was a real livewire. We did more than enough to get a bonus point and many wondered why we didn’t. Players, especially captains, and officials are the game’s decision makers, some are explicable, some are not and with eyebrows furrowing and faces in questionable mode some watchers of both sides took to head scratching, not advisable for the hairless.

It was a frustrating second period with the wind at our backs and the beer in front of us. It was a blowing time, the wind did not relent, we blew several chances and adding a musical note was a whistle. Credit to the Drovers though, they gave a 100% but the first-half lead was too much for them.

It was a very important and valuable win thanks to the sheer determination of every player to get us back on track after a slight wobble a week before. The Premiership is a tough competition, even in pre-League days winning away was regarded as an achievement and doubles were rare. We have three so far with two more on offer in the next two weeks.

TV viewers have got to know Parc y Scarlets but wonder why there are so many empty seats. The words West is Best would not be noticed if the seats on which they are painted were occupied. A win on Saturday is necessary and although Llanelli’s record this season is below par no-one will take a trip to Scarlet territory complacently. One of the most startling results of the season was the 91-7 win by Carmarthen Quins there, seen with astonishment by S4C viewers which must have embarrassed Llanelli members who recall the great days at their beloved Stradey Parc. Our visit on Saturday might be the spur Llanelli need to salvage something from the campaign and with the region behind them we can expect an interesting encounter. Our last win in Llanelli was in 2007/08, it brought us the double 16-0 and 28-13 and it was also the last time we played at Stradey Parc.

Brian Moore, renowned hooker and equally famous as a straight-talking pundit, said of the Leinster v Bath European Cup game, “The Irish were more canny on the floor.” Only forwards who indulge in rucking and mauling (often mucking and brawling) will fully understand what that means. There’s a suggestion of illegality in the expression, so should officials be former forwards who can spot a bit of canniness, having indulged in it themselves?

NOT THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY EASTER SATURDAY 05-04-15
Disappointment for one side, joy for the other. That’s sport for you, but it wasn’t just the result that the faithful mourned it was losing to a side that despite conceding three yellow cards still won and deservedly so. They played well, we did not, and to add to the bad day at the office we failed to salvage a losing bonus point. Losing 34-20 at home is not quite the depths of despair, it is after all a game, but it has made our bid to reach the play-offs a bit harder. Both the Quins and Cross Keys have to play Pontypridd by the way.

Bedwas were the better side on the day and roamed the loose with great effect which the experts refereeing from the terrace noted with interest. One of our former players Richard Wilkes scored a try and was that Llyr Lane we saw in a Bedwas track suit? They move up the table while we drop to third, one point behind Cross Keys. We have three games, all away, to make amends starting at Llandovery on Saturday. It was a big win for Bedwas, it was a lesson learned by Ebbw and another examination awaits at the Drovers. It’s time for a good day at the office.

Whatever the final placings are it has been a successful season and it began in the best possible manner with a 30-29 home win over Llandovery. To the surprise of many outsiders but not those close to the scene, we not only won but got a bonus point. It was an emotional occasion, we officially opened the newly named Clive Burgess Terrace and held a minutes silence for a great forward Lee Banks. Nerves jangled for eighty minutes and the result depended on a Llandovery conversion attempt with the last kick of the game. It missed and we breathed again.

Among thousands coming to the UK for the World Cup will be a veterans team rejoicing in the name of the California Bald Eagles. They will play some games and give vocal support to the United States team who play in Brighton, Leeds, London’s Olympic Stadium and Gloucester only one of which is a real rugby ground. The US Eagles toured Wales in the autumn of 1987 beginning at Brecon against the County and a few days later at Ebbw Vale. Our outstanding flanker Robert Stephens played in both games.

The match programme went transatlantic with headlines like ‘The Eagle Has Landed’ and ‘Uncle Sam’s Nephews’ and three contributions by leading Welsh rugby writers, one of them a great friend of our club Brian Wall who wrote of props, my favourite protected species, in his familiar humorous way:

“Someone has to do the rotten jobs. Someone has to dig ditches, defuse bombs, check the sewers, collect taxes or man the mortuary. Someone has to play prop. Prop is not really a position – it’s a punishing penance for sins committed in an earlier life. All you get out of it is an arthritic neck, a cauliflower ear, a bent nose and an aching back.” Nothing changes.

One immense pleasure on Saturday was the return of two highly popular Tongans, Kuli Faletau and Kati Tuipulotu. The house in our car park was once known as the Tongan Embassy and the families brought sunshine to our club as well as outstanding players. Kati enjoyed his time at Eugene Cross Park so much he named his daughter Eugenie!

FOUR FINAL FIXTURES – AND THEN? 30-03-15
We have endured a lot of interruptions to our fixtures but no longer, four games in four week-ends will complete the regular season and if all goes well we’ll be playing extra time in May. Taking unwanted breaks is not ideal and could have been avoided, clubs used to play on the eve of internationals or the day after but it’s not only those games that upset the best laid plans, last autumn the British & Irish Cup intervened, a club competition in the preliminary stages but with regional overtones thereafter. It seems to me its only advantages would have been cultural visits to Jersey and Cornwall.

The Six Nations, autumn internationals and the Swalec Cup occupied several Saturdays but we had a run of five games from December 20th to January 24th. and won each of them. The last game of 2014 was at Bedwas but the game was anything but festive, it rained, there was a wind and it was muddy which was a great shame because both sides had runners. Bonus points were not on offer, a win was all that mattered (it always does really), and we got one, 12-11.

Chris Kirwan reports most of our games for the Argus as he did when we were in the Championship, a competition most of the media ignored. After the win at Bridge Park he wrote, “Ebbw Vale displayed the ability to win ugly, but Jason Strange has demanded more from his charges when they continue their Principality Premier title push in 2015.”

It’s very rare a newly promoted side pushes for a title, and we must admit that Pontypridd have pushed harder but there are the play-offs to go for. We got a penalty try at Bedwas and wing Tom James got a cracker but if a late Bedwas try had been converted valuable points would have been lost. A game lost in December can mean losing a play-off place in May.

In February Damien Hudd issued a rallying call to supporters saying “We work hard for each other, we rely on each other, and that has seen us through some really tough games – Bedwas away and Carmarthen Quins at home, definitely!”

We are currently second in the table and Bedwas are sixth just ten points less but we are both way ahead of the rest in bonus points, we have twelve (nine winning) and Bedwas have fourteen (seven winning) but on Saturday the only stat that matters will be four points for a win.

We have won twelve, Bedwas nine but one of their away defeats is worth noting. Sardis Road was where we lost 27-0 in March, earlier in the season Bedwas lost there 16-13 and only a late drop goal denied them an honourable draw. Saturday will be v-e-r-y interesting.

In the Bridgend match programme an announcement was made about the end of the season awards, Best Player, Most Promising and Clubman. It has been difficult in the past four years to select the best from a highly talented squad, this year it is almost impossible. The first Player of the Year award was made in 1963 to prop Gordon Main. In 1966 Glyn Turner, legendary scrum-half, was the first Most Promising Player and in 1980 the first Clubman of the Year was another prop, Colin Williams.

The programme contains excellent picture pages thanks to our own paparazzi and as the camera never lies we can boast the most handsome pack in the league. Being forwards they can look menacingly at times for as the Duke of Wellington said before the Battle of Waterloo kicked off, “I don’t know what effect these men will have on the enemy, but, by God, they frighten me.”

RUGBY UNION – THE GREATEST TEAM GAME 22-03-15
The Six Nations that began quietly produced a thrilling finale and the final day broke records of points scored, 221 in all compared to 91 in the same fixtures in 2013. Wales scored 61 in Rome, Ireland 40 at Murrayfield and England 55 at Twickers, each game watched by millions the world over, a great advertisement for rugby union and strengthening its claim to be the best of all team games.

Wins by the leading three were predicted but not the scores and in our little corner of rugby world we felt the same about our game with Bridgend. Based on our positions in the Premiership we were favourites to win but not by such a margin. Seven tries and forty-five points in a Premier League game is unusual but Bridgend were a shadow of the side that set us a hard task at the Brewery Field in November. It took a thrilling late comeback to win on a wet and windy night but on Wednesday victory was assured by half-time and we were back on track.

There have been eight scores of 45 and over in Premier games this season and Bridgend were victims in five but none can compare with the astonishing and embarrassing 91-7 win by Carmarthen Quins at Parc y Scarlets. It was supposed to be a local Derby but it attracted a small crowd which prompted one of our ladies to make the quote of the season, “We have more people waiting to be served at our burger van.”

I find it safer to glorify packs than backs so it is appropriate to mention that five of the seven tries against Bridgend were scored by forwards who between them got another through a penalty try. The pack was dominant in what one report referred to as our “sledgehammer approach.” Wielding it with fervour was the Man of the Match Ross Jones who has a fan club One Direction would be proud of. Whoever they are.

One forward who is too classy to use anything as common as a sledgehammer did his usual job in scrum and lineout but also roamed the field like a backrow forward on the rampage. Mathew Williams enjoyed himself and his many fans did too, not all of them in the blue rinse brigade, and is our answer to New Zealand’s Mealamu.

The Welsh Under 20s also won in Italy and we have followed them especially closely this season because Jason Strange and Harri Keddie were involved. Well done both of them and everyone else working hard to develop the immense talent we have in the country. Many will reach the pinnacle and not only as players.

Spring officially began last Friday and I am looking forward to a good crop of dandelions this year. It’s a time for lambs to gambol and Ebbw supporters to gamble on where we’ll be in May. Before that we have the final home game of the regular season on Easter Saturday. The players won’t need to be egged on for that.

PLAYNG FOR THE PLAY-OFFS 16-03-15
Bridgend are the only side to beat Pontypridd in the League this season, 17-12 at the Brewery Field in January, a scalp few teams have taken in recent years. Their record to date is five wins and 12 defeats and they are in 11th place with 25 points just above bottom side Newport. Three of their wins were away at Aberavon, Neath and Newport. Those are the bare facts, but Wednesday’s game will be approached with care because we have lost our last three League fixtures while keeping second place in the table. It is a very important bridge we have to cross with three clubs, Cross Keys, Quins and Cardiff, hot on our heels.

The play-off system gives the top clubs something extra to aim for at the end of a season, but some believe a club that has shown consistency over nine months and tops the table should be automatic champions. There is a strong case against play-offs when promotion is at stake, a system used in the English Championship, but in Wales moving up to the top flight from the Championship is automatic if a club meets the WRU criteria, if it doesn’t it stays put bringing relief elsewhere. Meanwhile at t’other end of the table our pre-season target to win a play-off spot is still in sight.

Last November it was wet and windy at the Brewery Field and the outlook didn’t look good until the final ten minutes of the game which brought a comeback similar to those against the Drovers and Newport in the autumn. There was no luck in it, no ball hit the post and went over, no snap drop goal brought the win as it did in two World Cup Finals, it was down to patience and guidance by leaders on and off the field. With Oaksie in the bin, trailing 20-15 Cool Hand Damien got a try that levelled the score and then Ronnie Kynes got his second to clinch a win, 27-20. Amazing.

The Almighty had a job on His hands that night. In the Ravens’ programme the club chaplain confessed that he had lived in Ebbw Vale for 20 years and had supported the Steelmen. He then confessed, “I hope it’s a great game and while I still keep an eye on Ebbw’s results I won’t pray for them today.” Obviously our tie-less one had more pull Up There than theirs.

David Gallagher, first captain of a New Zealand touring team in 1905 was described as the personification of silence. Damien Hudd, first captain of an Ebbw Vale side to lead it for five consecutive seasons can be described as the personification of stony silence. His motto is actions speak louder than words and like the Mounties he always gets his man. Coaches do more than coach they become conductors when the show starts, managing their team via technology but the captain is the leader at the sharp end and leads by example.

There are plenty of books on rugby, most by players who thrilled us when we watched them but bore us when they “write” their stories. Long ago there were text books on the game under exciting titles like “How To Play Rugby” but they were useful and instructive. In 1952 a former RFU President wrote one and it included a chapter on captaincy. He said, “Since the influence of a captain is sensed by each member of his team, his temperament is of the utmost importance. An excitable nature is quite hopeless.” Nothing changes !

The Six Nations Championship will be decided next Saturday, the tournament has been given a boost by the Wales-Ireland thriller and on Friday night Wales Under 20s also won and aim for another in Rome. From fish and mushy peas in a North Wales resort backs coach Jason Strange and No. 6 Harri Keddie will have to celebrate with Pasta and Peroni. It’s tough at the top.

DISAPPOINTED BUT BY NO MEANS DISHEARTENED 09-03-15
There’s no real consolation after a defeat, especially when your team doesn’t score, and losing three times to the same team in a season does not make pleasant reading but Pontypridd are special. They are heading for a League and Cup double again and there doesn’t seem to be any side that can stop them. Playing Ponty, especially at Sardis Road, everything has to go right and lost penalty goal opportunities in the first half and two yellow cards in the second did not help.

Looking behind the 27-0 result there were plus points with our lineout and the backrow as usual worked well, Ponty’s report mentioned “hard graft” but even so not to get a point is disappointing although nothing can compare with being relegated five years ago. It was a very important game between the two top sides in the League but it was missed by the influential Carl Meyer who was called up by the Dragons.

Despite losing three Leagues games in a row we are still second in the table, those wins before Christmas were like money saved for a rainy day but socks must be pulled up if we are to achieve our pre-season aim of a place in the play-offs. Our next two games are against Bridgend and Bedwas at home, two opportunities to restore the form that has put us where we are.

There were no excuses on Saturday at the House of Pain and it is understandable that after a run of victories there is disappointment when we lose, but we are not in the Premier Division for one season. What we have achieved so far is a clear sign of things to come and already plans are in mind for the next campaign. There are five doubles to aim for before the curtain comes down, if we find the form we were in when we defeated Bridgend, Bedwas, Llandovery, Llanelli and Cardiff earlier in the season we will be playing off in May.

For some in the middle of the Division the end of the season can’t come too soon and those in the relegation zone must be getting more and more optimistic when they read Bargoed’s results. They are firm favourites to win the Championship but will not be promoted as they do not have an A Certificate which means that no Premier club will drop down. Bargoed have many well-wishers at the moment, and they don’t all come from Bargoed.

In days of yore clubs decided who they wanted to play (and who they didn’t) but now the fixtures are decided by the WRU who want to avoid clashes with international matches and others they regard as important. For example League fixtures set for Saturday 25th April will be played on Friday the 24th because Saturday is “Judgement Day” a double header involving the four regions which should attract a good crowd. The attendance figures will tell us.

Our game with Cardiff at the Arms Park will be the last in the regular season. The other re-arranged game is at Llandovery on Saturday April 11th – unless the Drovers are still in the Cup. To stay in the competition they must win a quarter final tie at Sardis Road. A major obstacle.

Jason Strange and his Wales Under 20s face a tough challenge from the Irish in Colwyn Bay on Friday night but their first 6 Nations game against England showed how good they are. If only Jason’s club supporters could be beamed up a Welsh win would be assured. But we’ll be there in spirit if not in body.

GO ALL YE FAITHFUL 01-03-15
Pontypridd and Ebbw Vale are the best supported clubs in the Premier Division. They have a multitude of devotees who will follow them to the ends of the earth and West Wales. Players feel comfortable away from home, their faithful followers are always there to cheer them on, encourage them when the chips are down and break the sound barrier when they win. A good example was the recent Cup tie at ECP when Ponty supporters made their presence felt as Ebbw Addicts will on Saturday.

Sardis Road is Rhondda’s holy of holies and was named after an ancient town in what is now Turkey. Sardis is mentioned in the Bible which describes its populace as being soft and faint-hearted. The Rhondda Sardis is not like that, it’s a stronghold of rugby which is for the hard and strong-hearted. There are many chapels called Sardis and as rugby is a religion in the South Wales valleys two places of worship have evolved, chapels and rugby grounds where the faithful gather to lift the spirit and stir the soul then reflect and relax in good company afterwards.

Pontypridd moved to Sardis Road in 1974 and in that season we came fourth in the Welsh Championship under the captaincy of the great Gomer Evans. Ponty finished close to the bottom but reached the Cup semi-finals losing 10-9 to Aberavon. Front-row forwards will sympathise with a Ponty prop in that tussle who needed 14 stitches after a handful of hair was torn from his scalp when a scrum collapsed. A hair-raising experience.

Ponty won the Championship in 1975/6 captained by a real legend Bob Penberthy. They lost only three times at their new Pwllgwaun ground, to Irish Wolfhounds 14-12, Ebbw Vale 15-12 and Cardiff 17-15, all in the autumn and ended a 39 game season averaging 79.48%. We continued our good fortune at Sardis Road in the next two seasons, winning 19-16 and 10-3.

Their new ground soon became a fortress but we go there on Saturday with the belief that we can meet the sternest challenge in Premier rugby and show what we can really do. It will be the third time we will have played Ponty this season, but it might not be the last.

The Scrum Five feature on the club was particularly enjoyed by exiles and a lady in Haverfordwest who said she felt homesick watching it. Rick O’Shea enjoyed his visit and was glad to see us back where we belong and the BBC did their homework and showed clips of our win in 2000 over Toulon (did you spot a young Rhys Shorney?) and Gwent’s over the 1969 Springboks. Incidentally we got the double over Toulon but I can’t see us doing it again.

AN UNMATCHED MATCH OF THE DAY 22-02-15
A Cup battle between the two top clubs in the Premier Division, a clash of titans, a mini-blizzard, you name it we had it on Saturday. A big crowd turned up, the atmosphere bordered on the electric and we witnessed a genuine Cup tie. Unlike international and other self-styled first class games there were no controversies, very few penalties with the winner destined to get to the final. That is what Pontypridd will do, they deserved to win and go to the quarter finals with our blessing. As their website says they had to “dig deep” and were “under pressure in set pieces” in a “hard fought uncompromising game.”

Nothing can hide the disappointment of a defeat but we competed from the start. The pack has been our strength over the last five years so going into a very important game without four key forwards and then losing Chunky and Gareth Rusby Davies did not help, but those who took their places rose to the challenge and will gain from the experience. Pontypridd have plenty of that in all positions, we made some mistakes and they didn’t and after a good first half the opening moments of the second changed everything.

Ponty have been by far the best club side in Wales over at least a decade and they are rarely beaten. In the closing stages we got into their 22 and launched several attacks with spirit and determination but Pontypridd’s iron curtain is one of the most difficult to penetrate and the final whistle blew leaving Ebbw Valians disappointed but proud of the team’s effort.

Watching was one of Pontypridd’s greatest forwards. Russell Robins played in the same 1949 Welsh Secondary Schools team as Clive Best who became our full-back and is fondly remembered. Also in that great team were Cliff Morgan and Newport hooker Bryn Meredith who Russell toured with in 1955 when the Lions went to South Africa and tied the series.

Russell was capped thirteen times for Wales (in ten winning sides) in the 50s and did his National Service in the Royal Signals where he played more rugby than signalling. On the Lions tour he played more games than anyone else, 17, and was selected for the four Test matches. He was the first Pontypridd player to be capped from the club in the post-WW2 years and remains a Pontypridd man through and through. He enjoyed his visit and commented, “Ebbw Vale is always a nice place to come to.”

Jason Strange will have a late night on Saturday and in a different environment to Pontygof. He takes the Wales Under 20s to Paris (the one in France not Texas) to get them back in the hunt for the Six Nations Championship. Earlier France will play Wales seniors and no doubt there will be controversy and the referee will make repeated calls on the TMO.

We have had very little experience of it but the system was used when we played Cross Keys, presumably because the game was televised but unless there are cameras at every corner and other positions it’s not much use, and it’s only in big games that an army of TV people are on hand. Hi-tech is not faultless, I recorded the Keys game but not the English commentary edition which was a pity as I understand some of the comments were very interesting.

One final comment on the Cup tie. Referee Ian Davies congratulated both clubs on a great game and there have been many other praises of supporters of both sides who contributed to what has been described as a wonderful advert for club rugby. One doubts if the final will match it.

LOST WEEK-END 16-02-15
Not the best week-end but we expect too much of our favoured teams and get disappointed when they lose. Taking a broader view before the campaign began we thought we would do pretty well in the Premiership and a final win/loss ratio of 50% would be very acceptable. With eleven wins from sixteen games we have achieved much more and the five defeats have been close, the biggest margin was ten at the hands of Cross Keys. Newcomers in a League in any sport fear relegation but any thought of that vanished in September and from then we have been involved in the top not the bottom of the table.

There are six League games left, four away and Bedwas and Bridgend at home. We are in the play-off race and one place behind Pontypridd who last Saturday won 51-14 at Bedwas. Our next League fixture is at Sardis Road on March 7th a few days into Spring when top positions in the Premiership will be clearer. It will get tougher but therein lies the challenge we always wanted.

Aberavon estimated a 600 crowd watched what they called “a splendid match” in which the lead changed hands several times. Losing to a side reduced to fourteen men in the first half is not unusual, teams weakened that way can rise to the occasion with determination as Aberavon did

after having a player sent off just before half-time. That reminds me of a game at Ebbw Vale in September 1997 when we had two players sent off in the first period. Despite losing Josh Taumalolo and Lennie Woodard we still beat Newport 24-19.

It’s a long time since we sold tickets in advance of a game but a big crowd is expected on Saturday. Both clubs have an army of supporters, a breed that has disappeared in some parts of South Wales, and they have similar backgrounds. Form has never been a factor in Cup ties and home advantage is very important. Two years ago we were in the Championship and the three League games before our Cup game with Pontypridd were against Whitland, Newbridge and Bonymaen who we defeated 66-0, 42-7 and 59-14 respectively. Those games bore no comparison with Ponty’s run up to the game but we had tasted Cup rugby and in the round before had won at the Arms Park 16-11. This time we have had mixed fortunes before the Cup tie, beating Neath 36-17, losing to Cross Keys 0-10 and Aberavon 21-27. But forget form, Cup ties are in a world of their own.

Our first Cup tie against Pontypridd was in 1982/3. We won 16-8 at home, scrum-half Kim Norkett scored two tries and Bob Penberthy who played the first of his 877 games for Pontypridd in November 1961 came out of retirement for the occasion. He is a legend at Ponty and so is prop Harry Walker at Coventry. He played for England in 1947-48 and was selected by the Barbarians for their historic first game against a touring side in 1948. We played Coventry eight times in pre-League days and won five and looked forward to meeting Harry who was always there home or away. He has just celebrated his 100th birthday and when comparing his playing days with the present said, “Our training equipment was three skipping ropes!”

DERBY GAMES ARE STILL DIFFERENT 09-02-15
Three important games and not one kicked off at civilised times. Wales and England began at 8.05, Wales and England Under 20s at 7.30 and Ebbw v Keys at 4pm. Not that those times had any influence on the results, England were the better side, the Welsh Under 20s were superb and we failed to score a point in a competitive match AT HOME for the first time since Ulster stopped us in August 2002.

For the first time at our ground a TMO was in attendance but he did not utter the famous phrase “you may award a try” when we claimed one in the first five minutes of the first half which we dominated but did not score. Chances in tough Derby games must be taken, Sunday’s bruiser was destined to be a low scoring encounter of the old kind with Keys on top in the second forty as we had been in the first.

There were several former Ebbw players present who understand how different Gwent Derbies are among them a contingent from Gwernyfed rugby club who kindly sponsored the game. It was great to see them again but disappointing that they, and the TV cameras, caught us on an off day. But credit to Cross Keys, they deserved the win and in doing so kept up their challenge for a top three spot. We won at Pandy Park, they won at Ebbw so honours are even.

The Wales Under 20s win at Colwyn Bay was simply terrific, the lads were well organised, highly motivated and superbly coached, not that there was anything Strange in that. There’s a huge gap between that age group and the seniors but there’s some quality talent coming through and the clubs play their part. Harrison Keddie, we know him as Harri, played in a very good backrow and contributed to the first win over England Under 20s since 2008. Next week they go to the Scottish Borders and will play in Galashiels where Ebbw Vale had some great games and even greater nights.

Duane Goodfield has joined Cardiff Blues and we wish him well. We have been sending coaches like missionaries to many places in these Islands and they have all been successful. We welcome former prop Ceri Jones the son of the great Lyn The Leap who would be in the second row of the best ever Ebbw side, alongside F C Smit. Props never grow too old to play, they only retire through injury. Ceri suffered an Achilles injury playing for Worcester against Saracens two years ago and then turned to coaching the forwards at Six Ways. He played 232 times for Harlequins who he joined after 98 games for Newport and was twice capped on the Australia tour in 2007.

Attendances at regional games in Wales do not compare with those elsewhere. Even though the LV Cup lacks general appeal there were 24,000 at Welford Road for the Tigers-Northampton game but only 5051 at Parc y Scarlets where the Scarlets played London Irish. A club game on the same ground a day later should have drawn a big crowd because it was a West Wales Derby, Llanelli v Carmarthen Quins. Just over 200 turned up, both sides were short of players, Quins won 91-7 and the Llanelli website admitted that “Wester was bester.” Try translating that into Welsh. [Or English! – ed]

Next Saturday we go to the Talbot Athletic Ground determined, really determined to play as we know we can. We have won 11 out of 15 games and the players want to get the show back on the road. After seeing our Sunday result the Wizards will relish the game on Saturday.

But so will we.

FROM FARMERS TO STEELMEN 01-02-15
Because television demanded it the Wales-England game will end at bed-time on Friday and we will play Cross Keys near tea-time on Sunday. Countries and clubs no longer control their affairs. For those living outside our territorial waters it will be an opportunity to see some decent rugby on Sunday but whenever Ebbw play our regulars will be there supporting them. Come rain, come shine they will stand on the terrace from where spectators have a perfect view, a place for wannabee referees who stand at the top and spot an infringement by an opposing player in the top corner on the other side of the pitch. Under floodlights.

The terrace is named after one of our great players of the 70s and 80s. Above it is Newtown which could also be re-named in memory of one of our great players of the 20s, Tommy Howley who went north to play for Wigan and is in that club’s Hall of Fame. A centre of the highest quality Tommy won four Wales rugby League caps and played in six Tests for Great Britain against Australia and New Zealand. He played 216 times for Wigan, scored 101 tries and amassed 359 points, a rugby great who would be the first in an Ebbw Vale rugby Hall of Fame.

Gwernyfed Rugby Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary and we send them congratulations and thanks because it was from there many fine players joined us. Some are still active in the club, Robert Stephens, Chay Billen and Des Parry who are chairman, head coach and head of rugby respectively. Without doubt one of our greatest prop forwards Alun Phillips is also a Gwernyfed man and so are other former Steelmen.

When people talk of the grass roots of Welsh rugby they think of valley clubs where coal and iron industries once prospered but some of the best players came from farming areas and Breconshire, later known as Powys, is one of them. We owe a great deal to the players who joined us and became the most loyal for they travelled a long way for training and playing and then went home to work hard on the land.

When Brynmawr was in Breconshire its players were selected for the County, outside-half Nick Hunt son of the great Wilf for example and prop Paul Knapp who joined us in the 80s and scored five tries in his first ten games, including a hat-trick against Penarth. .

Farmers like Robert Stephens were incredibly fit as he proved when he played twice against the US Eagles in four days The first, in the company of Brian Thomas and Des Parry, was for Breconshire at Brecon, the second was in the Ebbw Vale side that luckily beat the tourists and in between he worked on his farm. Incredible but typical of the Breconians who turned Steelmen.

Cross Keys have done well in the Premiership and the Swalec Cup in recent years. In the League this season they have won seven, drawn one and lost five. Our August defeat in the B & Cup at Pandy Park did not cause sleepless nights and we more than compensated a few weeks later when we made a great comeback to win 34-20. A Gwent Derby always draws a crowd even when televised and several former Ebbw Vale players are turning up, some from that wonderland beyond Llangynidr Moor.

There will be one major difference between the spectators at the Millenium Stadium on Friday and the Clive Burgess Terrace on Sunday afternoon. Those at our ground will be there because they understand and enjoy the game, and none will wear plastic daffodils around their heads.

A TOUCH OF CLASS 25-01-15
When this memorable season is over and we recall its most entertaining games Saturday’s six try win over Neath, who had run Pontypridd close a week before, will be one. It had everything, Neath opened the scoring and hit back in the second half to get within seven points then touches of class behind the powerhouse removed any doubts. The backs scored four of the tries, Ronny Kynes of course got one but to the delight of the Front Row Union so did Rob Sevenoaks who with his long serving butties Ross Jones and Mathew “Chunky” Williams came off the bench after John Lavender, Rhys Francis and Gethin Robinson had laid the foundations of victory. When a prop scores a try it’s time to celebrate which Sevenoaks Senior did. Had he not been sitting down he would have jumped for joy but to the relief of those near him he thought better of it.

The backs hungered for the ball and showed class with Wes Cunliffe’s early break setting an example. The pack laid down the law, dominated the close encounters and the backs took full advantage running like greyhounds off the leash. It was a great team performance against a very spirited Neath side who contributed to a rattling good game and adding to the show was the comeback after a brief “retirement” of our very own Peter Pan alias Mathew Williams.

Doug Ackerman who has died aged 85 was a wing-forward of the highest quality who played for Newport and Ebbw Vale. Those who remember the 1958 Snelling Sevens at the Arms Park still talk of the final between Ebbw and Newport which we won 10-5 before a packed house. He was in our Magnificent Seven with Francis Matthews, Ron Morgan, Mel Williams, David Barrett, Roy Evans and Graham Powell. The following season they were in a great Ebbw Vale team that won the Welsh Championship. Doug Ackerman whose son Robert played 22 times for Wales was not only an outstanding player but also a great character who will long be remembered.

Former RAF and Ebbw Vale prop Alan Foster reminds me that I did not include Ian Goslin in the list of Ebbw Valians who played in the Inter-Services Championship. Ian who with Gary Lawrence formed a powerful Ebbw Vale centre partnership, joined the RAF, was commissioned and captained its team in the Championship between 1984 and 1991. His wing was Rory Underwood, a full-time fighter pilot who thrived on speed on and off duty.

Congratulations to Luke Leddington and Harrison Keddie who are in the Wales Under 20s squad, two promising lads who are not the first Steelmen to win recognition at that level but certainly the first with such impressive names that will add a touch of class to the side. The Under 20s have replaced the Under 21s many of whom went on to greater things. In the side that played France at Ebbw Vale in 2002 were Gavin Henson (Swansea), Mike Phillips (Llanelli), Paul James (Neath), Adam Jones (Neath), Nicky Robinson (Cardiff) and Damien Hudd (Ebbw Vale).

2002 was a bad year for Wales who came fifth in the Six Nations and the Rugby Annual for Wales produced a “WRU Crisis Special.” It was pre-regional time and editor Arwyn Owen wrote, “The major clubs, as our shop window, must be satisfactorily funded and encouraged. They provide our international players (no more parachuted in from “Down Under” please!)” That strikes a chord doesn’t it?

We should not be surprised when leading Welsh players leave home and sign for English and French clubs. They make career moves just like New Zealand, Australian and South African coaches do when they leave home and come to Europe to advance their careers.

THE BEST UNCAPPED PLAYER IN WALES 19-01-15
A frustrated army of Addicts had their Sunday ruined when the game at Llandovery was postponed and a snapshot of the Drover’s ground showed why. The Drovers always give a welcome and follow our affairs very closely. There was an interesting item in their match programme for our game in October 2008, which we won 15-9, “Ebbw Vale seem to have overcome the potentially devastating loss of highly influential players Neil Edwards, captain John Bowd and Bryan Shelbourne to big spenders Neath who now appear to be making an assault on our squad.”

Strong stuff but there are imports as well exports and a week later (when we played and beat leaders Neath 29-10) we brought in Lyn Jones a former Wales and Neath forward as a consultant coach. His old club have not had a good start but after holding Pontypridd to 18-20 will be full of fire on Saturday. In May they escaped relegation by getting one point more than Swansea whose drop was lamented by pundits who had not said a word when we were relegated. Not that we were surprised of course.

A few weeks ago I mentioned a newspaper article which listed forty-five players who should have been capped. There were obvious omissions and one in particular, Eric Finney who in the late 40s and early 50s was regarded as the best uncapped forward in Wales. Cliff Morgan recalled Eric in his foreword to David Boucher’s excellent book “Steel, Skill & Survival.”

“We should never forget Eric,” wrote Cliff, “a number eight who was always at the heart of the Vale pack. His inspiration and masterful knowledge of rugby made him so highly respected by all opposition. Not only a terrific scrummager and lineout man, he was so good around the field.” That describes his successors in the present Ebbw eight. Cliff Morgan played with Eric in a Welsh trial at Abertillery and was “astounded that the Welsh selectors overlooked one of the finest forwards ever to play our game, they must have been mad!”

We are in the middle of a busy period and every League game is important. So is the Swalec Cup we have enjoyed in the last few seasons and now look forward to the tie to top all the others on February 21st when we repeat the epic of two seasons ago home to Pontypridd. Who plays who and where in Cup rugby is in the lap of the gods and it must have been one of them who decided the clubs currently at the top of the table should be drawn together. I shall ask the Rev, he will know.

Jason Strange has welcomed the challenge and Pontypridd team manager Richard Longmead commented, “We’ve got the toughest possible draw, but we just have to get on with it. It’s a bit of a cliché but if you want to win the Cup you have to beat the best.” We also regard it as the toughest draw and to use another cliché, if you want to beat Pontypridd you have to be at your best. With memories of the last Cup tie between us let’s give the English language another going over and say it’s déjà vu all over again!

Last Saturday was a blank as far as the great outdoors was concerned but there was plenty to watch on the box. Dai Young is doing well for Wasps and pulled off a cracking win over the Quins at The Stoop. What a headline that would make, Wasps Stoop To Conquer.

A MAGNIFICENT CONTEST 11-01-15
It wasn’t the usual enjoyable Saturday, it was much more than that. Thrills, spills, sheer excitement, awesome forward play, lightning running by backs, desperate defence and a finish to test the nerves of both sides as indeed there was when the sides met at Carmarthen in November. It is remarkable that both games with the Quins this season should end so dramatically and with such an influence on the results.

The pendulum swung to and fro in the second half and defence of the highest order was required. One tackle by Wes Cunliffe prevented what looked like a certain try by a Quins flier and it was the visitors who threatened in the dying moments. The Quins back three must be the quickest in the league, Lee Williams at full-back has played a lot of Sevens for Wales all around the world, and it took superb defence to keep them out. Another mighty performance by the Vale pack was called for and they rose to a big occasion because Quins after all were Premier runners-up last season. It takes two to tango and two like minded clubs to produce such a game.

Reporter Iwan Gabe Davies, obviously a true Welshman, wrote of a magnificent contest between “two quality sides” which was a “tremendous advert for the league.” Quins won at home and so did we but both occasions stirred the soul, shook the nerves and created a great thirst all round which was satisfied in the congenial company of the visitors who will always be welcome.

Damien Hudd has been described as talismatic and the Brad Thorn of Gwent rugby. Both are locks, long-serving and wear red, white and green jerseys, Damien for Ebbw and Brad for Leicester where he is now encamped after playing in a black jersey adorned with a fern leaf fifty-nine times. To add to his CV he is also a World Cup winner. On service alone, five times as captain so far, Damien will be remembered and honoured by the club he has served for so long and so well.

Honouring those who were not recognised in the past the WRU have awarded special President’s caps and with nostalgia running rampant a newspaper article has listed forty-five “talented Welsh players who probably should have played for Wales.” A futile exercise, a space filler during a quiet period and not to be taken seriously but I found it interesting that among the forty-five were full-back Paul ‘Pablo’ Rees and wing Lennie Woodard both of whom stole the limelight when they were in our colours and those of several other clubs. .

Mike Ruddock is also included but his playing career at Swansea ended when he sustained an injury at work. He was in such good form at the time it is almost certain he would have made the Welsh team but he made up for it by coaching the 2005 Grand Slam side. The rest is history, some of it yet to be explained.

Full-back Arthur Edwards, referred to last week, went to Ebbw Vale Grammar School, became a regular soldier and played seventeen times for the Army in the Inter-Services Championship. Another Ebbw Valian was in the same team that drew 6-6 with the RAF in 1955, Lance Corporal Roy Evans, Royal Signals, one of our greatest scrum-halves. Arthur played a few games for Ebbw Vale and is one of four of our club who have won Army Caps, the others being Dai Regan Jones (South Wales Borderers and Leicester) in the 20s and Tom Hiscock (Welsh Guards) who joined us this season. Alan Foster (RAF) is another Ebbw Valian who played in the Inter-Services which still draws big crowds to Twickers.

In Welsh club rugby we are the crowd-pullers and the Llandovery treasurer is already rubbing his hands in glee like Scrooge drooling over his winter heating allowance. Our last win at the Drovers was in October 2008, 15-9, a strange game for according to a report we were “devoid of possession.” We won’t be short of it on Sunday when Ebbw Vale and its Sunday Schools will be deserted. For those left behind S4C will cover the game so don’t forget to press the red button for the Wenglish translation.

EBBW GIVE CARDIFF A TRYING TIME 03-01-15
On a day when our bob bank was officially named the Clive Burgess Terrace, when Susan Burgess and her family were guests of the club and former players turned up, the current Ebbw Vale squad added to the celebrations with an outstanding all-round performance against Cardiff that not only brought us five more points but also showed that our backs are becoming the force we knew they were capable of. The pack of course lived up its reputation – awesome.

It was a reunion for Susan and those who remember her at the club in Clive’s glory days. We are a family and she was part of it. Some great names of our past were there, Alan Tovey who recently received a cap thirty-four years after playing for Wales is now a Life Member and Gareth Howls, a giant in every way who made over 600 appearances for the Vale. Also enjoying the party was one of our great hookers Martin Preece who played against the Springboks and every other top hooker in Britain. Memories flowed, tall tales were told and the past players praised their successors who now wear the red, white and green jersey with narrow hoops as they did.

Martin Preece, also an artist and jazz guitarist, paid particular praise to props Ross Jones and Robert Sevenoaks who added to Cardiff’s discomfort when they went on as replacements. They reminded Martin of two of the greatest Gwent props of all time, Len Dimmick and Charlie Faulkner. That is praise indeed.

Off the field it was a special day, on it was a triumph of will which resulted in our biggest win over Cardiff since we beat them 49-8 in September 2005. Not only did we dominate the game fore and aft but we scored six tries and kept our high place in the table. Bonus points were at a premium on Saturday but we put another one in our savings account and now have nine. There were outstanding performances all round but we must praise the spirit and never-say-die attitude of Cardiff who has Phil Bennett used to say were “under the ‘ammer” but never gave up.

Next up are Carmarthen Quins who almost won the Premiership last season. They were runners-up with 77 match points to Pontypridd’s 78 despite winning two more games. The difference was Ponty scored 84 tries to 58 by the ‘Quins and eleven winning bonus points to the Quins three. While we were romping home the Quins were at the House of Pain and did well to hold champions Pontypridd to 14-6. It’s going to be another tough one on Saturday.

After our match at Bedwas a reporter said we won ugly, to which I reply it was better than losing pretty. If a 12-11 result is considered ugly how does one describe England v Wales at Cardiff in 1955? Wales won 3-0 with a 10th minute penalty goal by Arthur Edwards of London Welsh on his debut. By comparison in 2002 in the same fixture England beat Wales 50-10 (five tries to one) which was not ugly except for the losers. I’ll take a 3-0 win anytime.

Wales begin their Six Nations with a bang next month when they play England at the Millenium Stadium at the ridiculous time of 8.05 pm. In Budgie’s time internationals were played on Saturday afternoons and players represented their clubs. In the English team that played at the Arms Park on Saturday March 5th 1977 were players from Harrogate, Rosslyn Park, Liverpool, Gosforth and Fylde. The Welsh players represented Bridgend, Cardiff, Newport, Llanelli, Aberavon, Pontypool, Swansea and Ebbw Vale.

The English pack had demolished the Scots and Irish and included Cotton, Wheeler, Beaumont and Uttley but Wales won 14-9 because they had four from Gwent in the pack: Clive Burgess, Terry Cobner,­ Bobby Windsor and Graham Price. Coach John Dawes commented “Success begins and ends at scrummaging.” Nothing has changed thirty-eight years later.

STARTING THE NEW YEAR RIGHT 29-12-14
We are at the halfway stage of the season and with eight wins from eleven games can be contented. What a difference a year makes though, our last game in December 2013 brought us a 43-3 win over Beddau, last Saturday we ended the old year with a 12-11 nerve-racker at Bedwas. The four points were invaluable, money in the bank when we check our end of season accounts. Well done all concerned, let the good times keep rolling.

“White Christmas” was first sung by Bing Crosby in the 1942 film “Holiday Inn” and the song is still heard today. It sold millions of records and on the B side of the billion was “Let’s Start The New Year Right.” Three years later Bing had another hit with “Don’t Fence Me In” which could have been our anthem when we were winning leagues and the Premiership was ring-fenced. It is remarkable that despite sheer frustration we kept patient and soldiered on until our knocking on the door could no longer be ignored. There was another 40s song called “Open The Door Richard” but it was a Roger not a Richard that eventually answered our plea.

Starting 2015 right is the simple aim on Saturday when Cardiff pay their first visit since September 2009. We didn’t start that season right and paid the price when it ended, Cardiff’s 30-3 win was an early shot across our bows. The last game between us ended on a thrilling happy note. It was a Cup tie at the Arms Park on February 16th 2012 which we won 16-11.

That was the happy bit, the thrills came in the last ten minutes when we were reduced to thirteen men. To the mass of our supporters that was worrying enough but so was the time-keeping of the referee for the game seemed endless. We were 11-3 down at the break but then we broke the Cardiff defence when Man of the Match Polu Uhi got the ball thirty metres away, swerved and scored a try in such style Cardiff signed him up in the close season. Josh Lewis kicked three penalty goals and a conversion before a crowd dominated by Ebbw supporters. What’s new?

The squad we took to Cardiff that day was – Charlie Simpson; Wes Cunliffe, Josh Lewis, Adam Jones, Polu Uhi; Dan Haymond, Chris Thomas; Ross Jones, Matthew Williams, Robert Sevenoaks; Damien Hudd (capt), Ashley Sweet; Gareth Williams, Ronny Kynes, Spencer Gibson. Bench – John Lavender, Jonny Bowen, Rhys Clarke, Joe Bartlett, Cameron Regan, Dai Jones, Tom Ashmead, Luke Davies.

2014 was the year we got what we deserved and worked for. Rugby was the buzz word again in local schools, at RTB mini and junior level and at ECP. We wondered if Scrum Four would take notice and it did with highlights of Premier matches, but don’t blink because you might miss them.

Healthy New Year everyone.

A PRE-CHRISTMAS CRACKER 21-12-14
We knew it would be different in the Premier Division, faster, harder and close run encounters with no easy romps and bonus points in the bag by half-time. The Cup wins against Premier clubs had given us confidence that we could hold our own but with bonus points a rarity. Surprise, surprise in ten games we have eight which takes us to within five match points of leaders Pontypridd, an example of how important the added points are for we have lost three games and Ponty are undefeated. Victory is what matters and whatever presents Santa brings none will compare to a 31-24 win over the sprightly Scarlets. It was a Christmas cracker and a Hitchcock type thriller because although we had secured a bonus point in the 45th minute we still had to defend like demons to secure victory. Llanelli’s back three posed a threat which brought to mind an eleventh commandment, thou shalt not kicketh the ball to thine opponents. Two of the try scorers made history, it was the first at home for Josh Jacas whose father we remember playing for Tredegar and Tom Hiscock became the first Welsh Guardsman to score a home try for Ebbw. Just thought I would mention that.

There were a few neutrals present and they saw an all-action encounter with seven tries and excitement right to the end. Addicts Unlimited enjoyed the game but were glad to hear the final whistle. It was touch and go with minutes ticking away and hearts were pounding, our defence when it mattered most was Rorkes Drift re-visited. In Brecon is a museum honouring the exploits of the 24th of Foot with special emphasis on the defence of the Drift, not far away is Brecon RFC clubhouse which is an oasis for those seeking good beer and friendly company. Officials of the club, a founder member of the WRU, were guests at our game on Saturday thus reviving memories of the great Breconshire players who became Steelmen.

Llanelli included players with regional experience and an outside-half we know well. Josh Lewis came back and contributed fourteen points for them. Their speed merchants were a menace throughout but Damien’s men repelled boarders. It was another example of good club rugby with players wearing their jerseys with pride and the visitors certainly gave their all, even though they played in blue not the famous scarlet.

The main event was supported by a musical extravaganza that confirmed Dylan Thomas’s view that we are a musical nation. The Reverend Waggett created history by singing over the PA system at half-time and very tuneful he was too. “Silent Night” was listened to in silence and we wonder what he has in mind for Easter. Beaufort Male Choir added class and quality to the carol singing after the game for which we thank them very much but the impromptu all-singing, all-laughing gathering of the players in the Legends Bar topped it all. It was like the old days, the new generation of Steelmen reviving a rugby tradition of being together after a game and enjoying themselves. They might not realise it but they are creating their own legends.

On Saturday we play at Bedwas where we first visited in January 1976 for a Cup tie we won 29-3. In our backrow was Paul Ringer whose ritual when taking the field was to stare at the opposition as if picking out a victim. It was unusual for Merit Table sides to win Cup games in comfort against what the press misguidely called “small clubs,” but 23 years later when we re-visited Bedwas on Cup business we strolled to a 45-9 win. And that as the Rev often says endeth the first and second lessons. Bedwas joined the Premier Division on 2003/04 and quickly made their presence felt. Last season they finished sixth in the Premiership, two places ahead of Cardiff and Newport. This time around they have played nine games and have won four and remain difficult opponents. They present another hurdle to jump but the Premiership is rugby’s answer to the Grand National and we know what to expect.

Even Ebenezer Scrooge, Patron Saint of Club Treasurers, would have enjoyed the atmosphere in the clubhouse on Saturday. Real singing by the Choir, supporters dressed festively, sounds of whoosh from various bars and a sense of contentment. Very soon Santa will come down the central heating and wrapping paper will fill the re-cycling bag. Happy Christmas everyone.

LIVE RUGBY AT LAST 14-12-14
Ebbw at home to Llanelli five days before Christmas is the perfect way to return to action after a break that must not be repeated in future seasons. Our last game was November 21st and the last at home was a week earlier. The records of both clubs will count for nothing on Saturday but are worth looking at. We have played nine games, won six and lost three, Llanelli have played eight lost five and beat Aberavon and Neath at home and more interestingly, Bedwas away.

Not only coaches, players and supporters are preparing for the game, so are back-room staff who are stacking up bandages, tins of Vaseline, gallons of bottled water and towels because in modern rugby towels are carried by ball boys who are hardly noticed but should be. They were certainly noticed at St. James’s Park, Newcastle a week or so ago when the Geordies win over multi-national Chelsea brought the usual excuses from the losers. Highly paid managers never blame themselves or their players when they lose, generally it’s the referee, but the Chelsea boss, Jose something, complained that the ball boys were slow in getting the ball to his players!

Llanelli last played at Ebbw Vale on 9th October 2009, our fifth League game of the season and we were already floundering which led to a sinking feeling the following April when we were relegated. We had lost the first four games but rose to th