It’s a long time since we hosted Pontypool in the Premiership, before their return this season we hadn’t played them since April 2010 when we won 22-12 having lost at The Park in December 14-9. Our season ended with relegation but the entire club, players, coaches, supporters and administrators rallied and after a spell in the 1st Division East we began the journey back to the top in the Championship where we again met Pontypool. In the 2012/13 season we won at home 55-8 and away 44-6 and in the following season won at home 33-10 and away 19-13. A home game on Saint David’s Day 2014 was the last until we lost 25-20 at Pontypool Park last November.

That 55-8 result in September 2012 was unusual for the fixture and the Ebbw Vale squad deserves a mention – Charlie Simpson; Wes Cunliffe, Josh Lewis, Polu Uhi, Dan Ajuwa; Dan Haymond, Josh Davies; Ross Jones, Matthew Williams (captain), Robert Sevenoaks; Rhys Clarke, Ashley Sweet; Cameron Regan, Ronny Kynes, Spencer Gibson. Sitting on the bench and keen to get called were Josh Powell. Johny Bowen, Andrew Mann, Chris Thomas, Will Owen. Nine tries were scored, five were converted and one of rugby’s Peter Pans Dan Haymond contributed fifteen points.

Two Western v Eastern Valley games will not be forgotten if only for the atrocious conditions they were played in. It poured with rain on a Wednesday evening in March 1979 but that didn’t deter the supporters of both sides. For Ebbw Valians leading by a meagre 3-0 at half-time having had the storm behind their team while playing to the beer meant certain defeat. But the scoreboard didn’t change and thanks to a mighty defence the final score was Ebbw Vale 3 Pontypool 0.

Conditions were also bad for a Cup tie at home to Pontypool on Saturday January 27th 1990 but despite the monsoon like weather a huge crowd packed the ground. There were so many golf brollies on the terrace it looked like a wet day in The Open in St. Andrews. It was the 5th round of the Schweppes Cup and was decided by penalty goals, four by Pooler full-back Matthew Silvas and three by Ebbw’s left wing Adrian Griffiths. Pontypool won 12-9 but the Rugby Annual for Wales noted, “Ebbw were unhappy with decisions that prevented tries by skipper Mark Thomas and wing Ian Jeffreys.” No TMOs then.

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PLAYING PLAY-OFFS (23/03/24)

There’s rather a nice song which begins, “The party’s over, it’s time to call it a day” which nine of the Premiership clubs will do shortly leaving four to ‘play off’ to decide who the league champions will be. We have experienced two play-off finals, in 2014/15 and 2015/16 both against Pontypridd who topped the table two seasons running. The 2014/15 season was a good one for Ebbw Vale and finished with a flourish that took us to second place in the Premiership 21 points behind Pontypridd and two points above Cross Keys who had beaten us twice but we won the semi-final play-off against them 27-20. That took us to Sardis Road and the final which we lost to Pontypridd 28-14 in what was described as a gargantuan tussle.

The 2015/16 season began well with three big wins over Bridgend, Newport and Neath but then we lost 50-0 in Llandovery. We recovered remarkably beating Cardiff 34-22 in the next game but the Premiership was like a minefield with Challenge Cup and Swalec Cup fixtures adding to the pressure. We finished third in the Premiership table three points behind Llandovery who we would play in the semi-final play-off.

We had beaten the Drovers 14-6 in the return Premiership game and laid the Church Bank bogey when it mattered most winning 20-16 in a game that would decide Pontypridd’s opponent in the final at Sardis Road which produced one of the club’s greatest performances, a 38-12 triumph for Damien and his men with tries by Ronny Kynes (2), David Williams (2) and Dan Haymond all but one converted by Dai Langdon.

Our pack ensured victory and the importance of forward power still applies as the Six Nations showed. A comment in the Pontypridd match programme in May 2016 is worth repeating. “Men of Steel”. Talking of units within a team when you think of Ebbw Vale the first image that flashes into the mind is of those at the heart of the pack, captain Damien Hudd and his fellow lock Ashley Sweet.” The Band of Brothers that won in Pontypridd on that Sunday in May 2016 was Dan Haymond; David Williams, Nathan Preece, Adam Jones, Jared Rosser; Dai Langdon, Chris Thomas; Ross Jones, Matthew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (captain), Ashley Sweet; Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes, Cameron Reg an. Replacements were Joe Franchi, Ian George, Rob Sevenoaks, Josh Jacas, Luke Crocker, Tom Edwards, Iain Smerdon, Harrison Keddie.

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WHEN NO. 8s WON CUP TIES. 29/02/24

Those running our club never rest in or out of the season, they are always busy and in five years time will have the added task of staging our 150th Anniversary. Rugby club administration is more complex and time-consuming than it was in 1976 when we formed a committee that met monthly to prepare for the Centenary in 1979/1980.

The fixture list was increased to fifty-two matches that included a WRU President’s XV, Crawshay’s Welsh, and Romania making their first overseas tour. One significant change was ending the season in California instead of Cornwall with the three clubs we usually played down there coming to Ebbw Vale for the first time. A memorable season ended with a splendid Centenary Dinner in Crickhowell attended by representatives of every club we played.

The 2024 Premiership Cup is confined to thirteen clubs, in Round One in our Centenary season there were thirty-two and we were drawn away to Laugharne. With a strong pack and a dangerous back division of Wayne Bow; Neil Collins, Gary Lawrence, Ian Goslin, Chris Edwards; Richard Owen and Steve Lewis we were confident for they were fast, skilful and coached in the open game by master of the craft Arthur Lewis. But on Cup day it poured with rain, conditions were appalling and the game was confined to the packs.

It was the hardest of the Cup ties that afternoon with the lowest score, 3-0 to Ebbw Vale, a penalty goal calmly put over despite the conditions by No. 8 David Fryer in the 10th minute. Two seasons before in his usual casual mood he had got us through to the next round with a last minute penalty goal from wide out at Llandaff. One of the best uncapped players in Wales he was selected for the Welsh tour to North America in 1980 but suffered a neck injury in a match against Moseley and had to withdraw, a great disappointment for him and a loss to Welsh rugby.

The 2023/24 Premiership Cup is more limited and very different, gone are the shock results when minnows toppled the whales but it’s a welcome addition to the season. One thing is certain, Cup ties of the modern era will not be won by a No. 8 kicking a penalty goal from the touchline.

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THE DAY WE DIDN’T LOSE TO TOULOUSE 13/02/24

Twenty-five years ago rugby football was doing more for European Union than politicians ever could. French teams headed for the British Isles, rugby giants like Toulouse who came to Ebbw Vale in November 1998 for a European Cup match those who saw it will never forget. It was a disappointing time for Ebbw who finished fourth of the eight clubs in the Premier Division however we had gained a European Cup place and were drawn in a pool with Edinburgh, Ulster and Toulouse where we went first and suffered a 108-16 defeat. Toulouse expected to win the return fixture and gain home advantage in the quarter final against Ulster. It was not to be, Ebbw Vale won 19-11, a great performance by the Steelmen with Jason Strange converting a penalty try and kicking four penalty goals. The quarter-final would be at Ravenhill which prompted someone in Ulster to send us a ‘Thank You’ card.

The Ebbw Vale team, coached by Leigh Jones and Nigel Way, that toppled Toulouse was Siua Taumalola; Leyton Olson; Jonathan Hawker, Gareth Williams, David Manley; Jason Strange, David Llewellyn; Alun Phillips, Ryan Campbell, Andrew Metcalfe; Lee Banks, Kuli Faletau; Gareth Green, Ritchie Collins, Mark Jones (captain). Replacements – Iestyn Thomas, Gareth Mason, Nathan Budgett, Robbie Jones, Lennie Woodard.

The 1999/2000 European Shield tournament was also exciting, we won all our pool games against Connacht (32-9 & 42-19), Bucharest (58-7 & 43-7) and Toulon (21-19 & 56-26) and were drawn at home to London Irish in the quarter-final. Captained by Irish international full-back Connor O’Shea they didn’t score a try but won 21-20 thanks to left wing Jarrod Cunningham who kicked seven penalty goals. For Ebbw Siau Taumalolo and Jonathan Williams scored tries converted by Jason Strange who added two penalty goals. It was another mighty effort by the Steelmen that would have had a happy ending if Shaun Connor’s late drop goal had met with the approval of the French referee.

To quote a former player “we played some great games in the European Cup and Shield tournaments………….they gave players an opportunity to expand their experience and their horizons.” They still do for our regions who play teams from the Six Nations, Georgia and South Africa. And what of our clubs? They too could cross borders and play competitive rugby with their counter-parts elsewhere. It would create more interest in club rugby, benefit the players, broaden their experience and add variety to our season. Variety after all is the spice of life. REL

Extracted from the Ebbw Vale v Neath match programme 27 January 2024

COMPETING AT THE GNOLL

One reason given for introducing league rugby to Wales in 1990 was to instil more competitiveness in the club game to give the Welsh side “the fitness, hardness and organisation that modern International rugby demands.” In fact a competitive edge already existed in local Derbies like Neath v Aberavon, Ebbw Vale v Abertillery and East v West clashes like ours at the The Gnoll that were always competitive. But leagues came to stay, Neath quickly adapted and were the first Premier Division champions winning a top prize of £23,000 which in today’s money is £65,000.

Our 1982/83 fixture list was typical of pre-league times, 53 games, 32 wins, two draws and 19 losses. Coach Chris Padfield was at the end of a three year term, the captain was centre Steve Flynn and Phil Gardner announced his retirement. We finished 8th in the Welsh Club Championship three places above Neath whose former giant lock Brian Thomas became team manager and the captaincy was taken over by one of Wales’s best wings, Elgan Rees.

The first three months of the 82/3 season went well for us, 22 games, 19 wins, a draw and two away defeats at Bridgend and Oxford University. In November we went to the Gnoll and won a nail-biter 4-3. Those near the Ebbw Vale dressing room after the game will have heard Elgan Rees congratulate the winners, typical of a great player and gentleman.

The Ebbw try at The Gnoll was scored by No. 8 David Jones and the Neath penalty goal was kicked by their full-back Neale Harris. There was a welcome back to the Gnoll for our flanker Neil Robinson who had played for Neath Grammar School and occasionally for the All Blacks before going to Cardiff College of Education after which he joined Ebbw Vale and captained us four times in the Eighties. A month after the game at the Gnoll, Neil was one of eight Ebbw Vale players in the Monmouthshire side that beat Glamorgan in the Welsh Counties Cup final 24-7 at Maesteg. Also in the County team was a Swansea forward who qualified because he came from Blaina – Mike Ruddock.

Today we host Neath for the first time since April 2019 when we clinched a Premiership double and have played them twice at The Gnoll this season in Cup and League. Welcome back old friends.

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WHEN GROUNDS WERE CROWDED 17/01/24

On Boxing Day 2023 Cardiff Rugby and the Dragons played a United Championship game at the Arms Park before a crowd of 12,000. On a Wednesday evening in September 1954 Ebbw Vale played Cardiff at the old Arms Park before a crowd of 20,000. It was our first game there and had added interest as both teams were undefeated. Ebbw Vale, Welsh Champions the previous season, had beaten Pontypridd, Glamorgan Wanderers, Llanelli and Exeter while Cardiff, who would be Welsh Champions in 1954/5, had beaten Cheltenham, Penarth, Pontypool, Bridgend, Coventry, Leicester and Aberavon. It was Cardiff who remained undefeated winning 6-0 with two penalty goals.

There were big crowds then and international tickets were more scarce than ever when Wales won the 1955 Championship. They beat Ireland, France and England, the latter with a penalty goal kicked by full-back Arthur Edwards (London Welsh and Army) who had begun playing rugby at Ebbw Vale Grammar School. Our only defeat was at Murrayfield where the Scots introduced a new wing, Arthur Smith (Cambridge University), who in later years played for us and worked in the steelworks.

Throughout South Wales clubs drew crowds and attendance records were broken. The 20,000 at our game at the Arms Park was the biggest ever for a midweek fixture and there were 45,000 at the ground for a Cardiff v Newport encounter.

The programme for our first game at the Arms Park included a message from the Cardiff Supporter’s Club who welcomed the visitors adding they had arranged to “entertain 250 of their club this evening, and looked forward to a real Welsh after the match entertainment,” how times have changed on and off the field. It was just one of 46 fixtures in the 1954/55 season but was important enough to attract such a big crowd on a Wednesday evening. Seventy years later we still wonder how many of our supporters were among the 20,000 but what is certain is that Ebbw Vale was a quiet town that night.

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Extracted from the Ebbw Vale – Cardiff match programme 6 January 2024

BONUS BALDERDASH !

The 1996/1997 season was influenced by HQ’s revision of the bonus system which was complex to say the least and as Rob Smith once our webmaster declared “might well have had Pythagoras puzzled.” It would certainly have confused Confucius.

The revision was as follows – “One point to be awarded to the winning team, or top scoring team in a drawn match, if they scored three tries more than their opponents. Two points would go to the winning team, or top try-getting side in a drawn game if they scored six tries more than their opponents. The losing team would obtain one point if they scored three or more tries or were within 15 points of the score of the winning team at the end. Calculators must be carried.”

It wasn’t calculators that were necessary at Ebbw Vale on Saint David’s Day 1997 but flasks of brandy. Cardiff coached by Terry Holmes and captained by Mike Hall were the visitors and they included David Young, Phil Booth, Owain Williams, Nigel Walker and Lee Jarvis who would make his presence felt.

The Ebbw Vale side was Lyndon Lewis; Ian Jeffreys, Jonathan Hawker, Mike Boys, Sean Marshall; Byron Hayward, David Llewellyn; Alun Phillips, Steve Jones, Duncan Bell; Dorian Medlicott, Jason Lillas; Paul Pook, Kingsley Jones (captain), Mark Jones. Replacements – Lee Banks, Malcolm Sibthorpe, Andrew Lamerton, Ben Watkins, Gareth Bisp, Gareth Williams.

Cardiff won 38-35 with a drop goal by Lee Jarvis thirty-five yards out in the final minute, our first home defeat in the league since 1995. We were awarded two penalty tries, two other tries were scored by both sides but it was the magic boots of Byron Hayward and Lee Jarvis dominated the tussle.

It was a great game but it was the bonus revision that the Western Mail headlined – It’s Bonus Balderdash” – and included post-match comments by Ebbw wing Ian Jeffreys who called the revision “absolutely crazy” and Cardiff coach Terry Holmes who suggested the WRU should “Scrap It.” They did, confusion ended and no-one took calculators to a game anymore.

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Extracted from the Ebbw Vale – Merthyr programme 23 December 2023

THE LAST ROUND-UP

This is our last home game in 2023, a year of activity in the world of rugby football and business as usual at clubs at senior and youth level. Christmas is a time for giving and offering thanks and this year we should acknowledge the WRU fixture fixer who gave us local Derbies on the first day of the season and on the day before Christmas Eve which made travel even easier than usual on our version of Route 66. Unless there are roadworks of course.

Christmas can be a time of remembrance, of games past and players of character. We were fortunate in the 70s and 80s to have some who came from Merthyr, fine players like forwards Elwyn Jones, Malcolm Baker, Peter Morgan and Steve Jones, a wing Colin Thomas and full-back Wayne Bow.

In September 1978 we were home to Gloucester with seven English internationals, five in the pack. The Ebbw Vale side that won 18-9 was Wayne Bow; Neil Matthews, David Hussey, Ian Goslin, Russell Cole; Alan Rainbow, Nigel Osborne; Colin Williams, Jonathan Williams, Gareth Howls; Elwyn Jones, David Fryer; Phil Gardner, Clive Burgess, Paul Ringer.

The club was rebuilding in 1978/79 and led by Phil Gardner finished sixth out of nineteen in the Welsh Club Championship. Scrum-half Steve Lewis came back from Bath and scored 72 points and Wayne Bow in his first season ‘swooped’ for eight tries. Centre Ian Goslin, Clive Burgess and Paul Ringer played for Monmouthshire who lost to the All-Blacks who controversially beat a Wales side that went on to win the Triple Crown and Championship losing only to France by a single point.

On December 23rd 1978 we went to Hendy for a second round Cup tie which was played in atrocious conditions on a spare pitch because the regular field was frostbound. Before long so were the players but we won 4-0 thanks to a try by Clive Burgess, who drove over from a scrum near the Hendy line. Conditions worsened and the game ended with ten minutes left at Hendy’s request and Clive Norling’s final whistle was welcomed. Phil Gardner and his team recovered, wished all a Merry Christmas and sang carols on the way home. It’s December 23rd 2023 so we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope the day will end with our players singing carols before they go home.

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Taken from the Ebbw Vale v Carmarthen Quins match programme 16 December 2023

FESTIVITIES WITH THE QUINS

Nine days before Christmas we begin the festivities with a game that ends the first half of a season that brought rugby nations to Europe and which has shown yet again that Welsh club rugby is important, enterprising and enjoyable. The Quins are the ideal visitors at Yuletide as they were in December 2004 when they came full of confidence they would get the double having begun the season with a 45-3 win over us.

When we had the power to arrange our own fixtures and Christmas games were arranged with neighbours Abertillery and, occasionally, the Watsonians, we tried to be home over the Festive period. Then Leagues dictated who we would play, where and when but we didn’t complain in 2003/04 when seven of the eight fixtures in November and December were at home, six of which we won including one against the Quins.

On the 4th of December 2004 they led 17-9 at half-time. what was said in the home dressing room at half-time will never be known and would be un-printable but it was a different Vale side that came out. Jason Williams had kicked three first half penalty goals before the break, dropped a goal to spark the revival and converted tries by Byron Hayward and Kristian Owen. We won 26-17 but it was close throughout as most of our games with the Quins have been since we first played them at Carmarthen Park in February 2001.

The Ebbw Vale teamayward list will rise a few local eyebrows – Joel Griffin; Kristian Owen (captain), Matthew Griffiths, Jonathan Hawker, Andrew Bevan; Byron Hayward, Scott Headington; Lee Davies, Chris Thomas, Ben Coutts; Gareth Jones, Richard Aylett; Matthew Griffin, Phil Skillen, Manu Tuipulotu. Replacements were Chris Downes, Huw Sparkes, Rhys Bowen, Craig Cleaver, Rhodri Jones, Jason Williams, Daniel Phillips.

Two months later the rugby community in North Gwent followed Wales closer than usual because the coach was Mike Ruddock a native of Blaina who had coached Ebbw Vale. There were celebrations in both towns when Wales won their first Grand Slam for twenty-seven years. Mike was in charge of thirteen Welsh games, winning ten and losing to New Zealand, South Africa and only one Six Nations match at Twickenham. A local boy who made very good.

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Extracted from the Ebbw Vale v Cardiff match programme 9 December 2023

CUP RUGBY IN WALES, HOW IT ALL BEGAN

When the WRU decided to form a national Cup competition in 1971 there was opposition from some quarters who feared it would be too competitive and rough as a previous one had been long ago. There had been violence on and off the field so the Union ended the competition after the May 1914 Cup Final won by Aberavon who beat Blaina 10-0.

Cup rugby in Wales was revived in the 1971/72 season with sixty-two clubs taking part. Our first round game was at Vardre United where we won 40-10 while farther east Cardiff were defeating Pentyrch 29-7. It was the second round that caused concern and changed the tournament rules.

We played at Waunarlwydd and Pontypridd at Whitland and when full time was blown at both places the scores were level. There was no extra time so if both sides had the same number of tries or penalty goals the winner would be decided on the toss of a coin. The captains Dennis John of Pontypridd and Gareth Howls of Ebbw Vale both called successfully and their teams proceeded to the third round where we beat Maesteg 15-3, Pontypridd lost to Llanelli 18-4 while Cardiff were at Pontypool Park winning 10-3.

Cardiff were home in the fourth round against Cardiff College of Education who included internationals Roy Bergiers and John Bevan but Cardiff with Gareth Edwards won 7-6, a fine performance by the students who were down to fourteen players after 25 minutes due to injury. Our first Cup run ended at home to Neath who won 10-0 and then beat Cardiff 16-9 in the semi-final and Llanelli 15-9 in the final before 12,000.

In the 1971/72 Welsh Club Championship Cardiff finished fourth and Ebbw Vale sixth and Wales won the Five Nations but with Scotland did not play in Ireland due to the “Troubles.” The Canadians came on tour and lost 56-16 to Wales, Ebbw Vale centre Alan Tovey scoring one of ten tries. The season is best remembered by the introduction of the WRU Challenge Cup which was good for the game in Wales and brought clubs of all status together. Cup games with Cardiff began in the second season of the competition, 1972/73 when we played on their new ground for the first time, Cardiff winning 11-7. Since then we have lost three and won two Cup games against them in the old system that involved clubs from all parts and did Welsh rugby a world of good.

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Extracted from the Ebbw Vale v Swansea match programme 25th November 2023

SWANSEA FLIER TURNED STEELMAN

Alun Wyn Jones began his distinguished career at Bonymaen and paid tribute to the club last May when he captained the Barbarians against a World XV at Twickenham wearing Bonymaen, not Osprey, socks. He played 35 games for the All-Whites until regions provided players for the Wales team instead of clubs. The first international under the new system was a non-championship game with Ireland in Dublin in August 2003 and coming off the bench in that game was Huw Bennett a Osprey hooker born in Ebbw Vale who would play fifty more games for Wales.

The 2003/04 season brought regional rugby to the fore but the Premier League and Cup fixtures kept clubs busy. We played at St. Helen’s in November and won 24-23 but the All-Whites captained by No. 8 Richard Francis – and with a young Alun Wyn Jones on their bench – won the return in April 20-21. In that season we played Swansea three times and were home in the 6th round of the Konica Minolta Cup which we lost 42-34. Never in the Cup had we scored so many points but lost.

Our link with rugby in Powys is strong and from that land of scrum and super scenery have come some of our best players, one of them a wing who played for Swansea against us in November 1987 and scored three tries. Ian Jeffreys joined us in March 1988 and scored a lot of tries wearing red, white and green. His father John had been in the centre for Swansea when they played the Australians in January 1958 and in September 1988 had the pleasure of seeing both his sons Ian and Mark on the wings for Ebbw Vale at Newbridge.

In the autumn of 1987 the American Eagles landed in Wales and played their first game against Breconshire who won 15-9. The County side was Mark Wyatt (Swansea); Brian Thomas (Ebbw Vale), Des Parry (Ebbw Vale), Alun Donovan (Cardiff), Ian Jeffreys (Swansea); Nicky Hunt (Tredegar), Gareth Jones (Ystradgynlais); Chris Jones (Swansea), Mark Roberts (Saracens), Jeremy Pugh (Neath, captain); Huw Richards (Neath), Nick Mabbit (Maesteg), Frank Jacas (Pontypool), Les Rutherwood (Ystradgynlais), Robert Stephens (Ebbw Vale). And who scored the only try of the match? Ian Jeffreys.

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12/11/23

THERE ARE CHANGES IN THE AIR

A plan for a ten club top division in Welsh community rugby is a reminder of season 1997/98 when the Premiership consisted of eight teams, fourteen matches, eight wins and six defeats supplemented by varied ‘friendlies.’ Compensating that moderate record was our Welsh Cup adventure which ended at Ashton Gate, Bristol in the final with Llanelli. We lost but many consider that Ebbw Vale squad was one of our strongest and our semi-final against Newport at Sardis Road as our finest eighty minutes in Cup rugby.

The twenty-two in the final were Siua Taumalola; Alun Harriers, Jonathan Hawker, John Funnell, Lenny Woodard; Byron Hayward, David Llewellyn; Alun Phillips, Leyton Phillips, Mike Wilson; Chay Billen, Kuli Faletau; Richie Collins, Mark Jones, Kingsley Jones (captain). Replacements, Iestyn Thomas, Steve Jones, Lee Banks, Paul Pook, Gareth Bisp, Jason Strange. There were lots of internationals on view and top flight officials Clayton Thomas who refereed and Derek Bevan who ran the line.

It was the 27th Welsh Cup final which had been dominated by West Wales clubs, especially Llanelli. Only two Gwent clubs had won the final, Newport in 1977 and Pontypool in 1983. In the wider world Wales were rather off form losing in Wembley 51-0 to France and at Twickenham 60-28 to England. Not even 21st century coaches could have found an excuse for that but the lads rallied to beat Scotland in Wembley 19-13 and Ireland 30-21 in Dublin.

The next change in Welsh club rugby will reduce the top division from thirteen to ten clubs and we have responded positively and expressed interest in membership of a new Elite League. The Merit Table which some thought to be elitist consisted of eighteen clubs but was replaced in September 1990 by a WRU National League.

It was a season of discontent internationally, Wales suffering a whitewash for the first time and the touring All-Blacks added to the problem by beating six Welsh clubs and Wales 34-9. We finished last of the Five Nations but Welsh Youth’s win over England avoided another white wash while behind the top desk in HQ a new WRU Secretary sat, a former three-quarter who was born in Scunthorpe brought up in Trefil, played for Ebbw Vale and once for Wales – Denis Evans.

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Extracted from the Ebbw Vale – Bridgend match programme 28th October 2023

A STEELMEN-RAVENS THRILLER

Many gathered here today will declare that matches between Bridgend and Ebbw Vale have been exciting and enjoyable especially in the Floodlit Alliance era when only tries counted. Cup rugby also suited our clubs typified by an 8th round tie at home to Bridgend in March 1997. We had joined the competition in the 6th round winning 32-8 at Aberavon and Bridgend beating Newbridge 26-20 at the Brewery Field. In the next round we went to Newcastle Emlyn and won 43-0 while Bridgend tamed the Welsh Zebras in Treorchy winning 22-13.

There was Spring in the air and a stiff wind blew from Beaufort when the Raven’s fly-half Matthew Lewis converted a try by centre Lloyd Davies and landed three penalty goals to give his side a 16-3 half-time lead. Cometh the crisis cometh the man and who better when a comeback is called for than Byron Hayward who had kicked four penalty goals and with a few minutes of the game left found touch in the corner. We won the lineout and Steve jones, aka Spikey, the most formidable hooker in Wales took possession and powered over with the Vale behind him. His try was converted by Byron from wide out and we won 17-16 making it to the semi-final for the first time in twenty years. Steve who first played rugby in Cefn Coed was regarded by opponents with trepidation and had re-joined Ebbw Vale from Bridgend. His try led to the Western Mail headline, “Steve Sinks Bridgend.”

Our team that memorable day was Gareth Bisp; Ian Jeffreys, Jonathan Hawker, Mike Boys, Sean Marshall; Byron Hayward, David Llewellyn; Alun Phillips, Steve Jones, Duncan Bell; Chay Billen, Jason Lilas; Kingsley Jones (captain), Paul Pook, John Williams. Replacements were Lyndon Lewis, Gareth Williams, Andrew Lamerton, Lee Banks, Dean Jones, Ben Watkins.

In the semi-final at the Arms Park we lost 26-15 to Swansea coached by Mike Ruddock. Ian Jeffreys and Alan Harries scored our tries one converted by Byron Hayward who added a penalty goal. The 1996/97 season had more downs than ups, we finished 7th in the top Division but got the double over Bridgend who were two places and one point above us. The Cup tie though was the highlight of our season, full of thrills and a credit to both teams. aywardH

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THE AYSHA MOVE (19/10/23)

The North Gwent and Powys Coaches Forum meets regularly to discuss the game and coaching practices. At a recent meeting in Ebbw Vale the speaker was Mostyn Richards a former WRU Elite Performance Manager remembered by Ebbw Valians as the full-back who played a key role in the ‘Aysha Move’ which was a feature of our game in the successful Seventies. But what was it?

One who witnessed it many times explains, “Aysha was Arthur Lewis’s nickname. He had great hands and would delay his pass until the very last second. Allan Tovey his co-centre who was always a threat to the opposition would act as decoy and fullback Mostyn Richards who was quick over 25 yards would take the ball at pace between Arthur and Alan. It was revolutionary at the time and served us well.” Mostyn’s role was even headlined in the local newspaper in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders In September 1976 reporting Ebbw Vale’s 32-12 win – “Richards Rips Gala Apart!”

The Move was seen by a 20,000 crowd at St. Helen’s, Swansea on Saturday 27th March 1976 when Ebbw Vale played Llanelli in a Cup semi-final. John Billot reported that Ebbw took the lead “with a try by Neil Collins following probing approach work by centre Arthur Lewis and full-back Mostyn Richards.” The original Scarlets, most of them internationals, won the game 10-4 but it was the Aysha Move that is best remembered.

The teams that day were, Ebbw Vale – Mostyn Richards; Neil Collins, Arthur Lewis, Allan Tovey, Ian Evans; Gary Lawrence, Steve Lewis; Colin Williams, Gerwyn Williams, Gareth Howls; Bill Evans, Elwyn Jones; Phil Gardner (captain), Peter Evans, Graham Evans. The Llanelli side that went on to beat Swansea in the final was Clive Griffiths; John J Williams, Ray Gravell, Keri Coslett, David Nicholas; Phil Bennett, Selwyn Williams; Tony Crocker, Roy Thomas, Charles Thomas; Derek Quinnell, Phil May; Alan James, Hefin Jenkins, Gareth Jenkins. Our next fixture with Llanelli was in April 1977 at home, another low scoring contest which we won 7-3.

It was a style of rugby the Ebbw Vale side revelled in but to quote Jason Strange, “There are similarities in the current squad to past successful teams, working hard together and putting the team first.” We are moving in the right direction.

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Extracted from the match programme v Llandovery 12th October 2023

DROVERS v STEELMEN – THRILLS GUARANTEED

We celebrated our return to the Premiership in September 2014 with a home game against Llandovery who we had first played in the Second Division in the 1992/93 season. We hoped for a win, the few neutrals present looked for entertainment and we got both. Like most encounters with the Drovers to come it was close and nail-biting, Ebbw Vale 30 Llandovery 29. A report of the game on Llandovery’s website generously stated, “The Drovers went down to the narrowest of defeats at Eugene Cross Park but the scoreline flattered them against newly promoted Ebbw Vale.” If they had converted a try with a minute left they would have won but it wasn’t to be.

Our scribe wrote on the website, “An emotional day for Ebbw Vale saw them recording a stunning bonus point win over Llandovery at a highly charged Eugene Cross Park in a thrilling encounter.” Jason Strange was our head coach and called it a “fantastic battle between two good sides and a superb advertisement for the Premiership.”

The Ebbw Vale team was Dan Haymond; Wes Cunliffe, Nathan Preece, David Jones, Owen Williams; Ian Smerdon, Dai Jones; Ross Jones, Matthew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (captain), Ashley Sweet; Cameron Regan, Ronny Kynes, Spencer Gibson. The Ebbw Vale scorers were tries by Wes Cunliffe, Ronny Kynes, Ashley Sweet and a penalty try, Ian Smerdon converting two of them and kicking two penalty goals.

That was in September 2014 and there was more drama produced by both clubs in the following season. After beating Bridgend, Newport and Neath we lost 50-0 at Church Bank but improved as the season progressed and in the return fixture in January 2016 won 14-6. In April also at home we lost to the Drovers 16-8 in the Swalec Cup which they went on to win and found ourselves back at Church Bank for the Premiership playoff semi-final which we won 20-16 after repelling persistent Drover pressure in the final quarter.

Fast forward to last season when we got double wins over Aberavon, Carmarthen Quins, Llanelli. Newport, Pontypridd and Swansea and conceded the double to Cardiff, Merthyr and Llandovery 23-20 at home and 20-15 away. Narrow wins for the Drovers who come tonight leading the Division with the Steelmen in second place. A good game is guaranteed.

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Extract from the Ebbw Vale v RGC match programme 30/9/23

NORTH v SOUTH IN THE CUP

RGC are fifteen years old and after playing in Division One East and the Championship were promoted to the Premiership in the 2016/17 season. Ceri Jones who is no stranger to Ebbw Vale is their coach and like others of that profession is used to close run contests. One nail-biter was in January 2018 at home to RGC in the Cup which we won 16-14. Two away Cup wins followed against Bridgend 21-18 and Bargoed 26-3 that took us to the semi-final at Pandy Park against Merthyr which we narrowly lost 10-6.

Our Cup game with RGC in January 2018 followed a Premiership run of fifteen games with only four wins but the two before the Cup tie brought welcome relief with victories against Bedwas 33-17 and Llanelli 43-15. The Cup programme noted, “We are a transformed side to what we were in early December with Jason Strange and Ceri Jones having worked wonders in a short space of time to get the team playing with confidence again.”

In the RGC back division there was a Dion, Afon, Tom, Iolo and of special interest a Tiaan at inside centre and a Jacob at outside-half. Tiaan Loots was born in Cape Town and Jacob Botica in Wigan where his father, an All-Black, added to his fame playing rugby league. Tiaan and Jacob plied their trade in many places, Tiaan in the USA and Jacob in France and before going foreign they played for the Dragons and Jacob Botica played a few times for Ebbw Vale.

Our side in the Cup game was Dan Haymond; Steffan Thomas, Dominic Franchi, Dai Langdon, Toby Fricker; Dorian Jones, Dai Jones; Ross jones, Rhys Francis, Josh James; Kristian Parker, Rhys Clarke; Cameron Regan, Ronny Kynes (capt), Lewis Young. Replacements. Matthew Williams, Ian George, Rob Sevenoaks, Benjamin Papp, Joe Franchi, Lewis Dennett, Srdan Majkic, Eli-Wyn Benham.

The Rugby World Cup brings together teams from all continents. At a much lower level in the late 1990s the WRU brought foreign clubs to Wales to compete for a Challenge Trophy. We played two clubs from Argentina and two from South Africa also teams representing their countries Romania and Namibia who we defeated 75-5. That was January 1998, the next year Namibia played in the World Cup and are now in their seventh. They are in Pool A playing Italy, Uruguay, France and New Zealand, a demanding way to spend autumn in France but much warmer than playing at the top of the Western Valley on a cold night in January. REL

REL 18/09/23

AN ENCOURAGING START

Tucked away in European rugby currently dominated by the World Cup in France where a memorable game between Wales and Fiji thrilled viewers and a forgettable game between Wales and Portugal did not, it has been business as usual for clubs. It’s far too early to judge our season but the first three fixtures were encouraging for coaches and enjoyable for supporters.

Fifteen points were there for the taking and we took eleven of them, a losing bonus point at Merthyr where the margin was seven points and two maximum winning bonus points home to Pontypridd and away to Cardiff where we won for the first time since May 13th 2018. The Franchi brothers were in that team which was captained by Ronnie Kynes. An away win is always an achievement but Ebbw Vale players feel at home anywhere thanks to their army of supporters who follow them everywhere and make their presence felt vocally.

Many times in these notes mention has been made of times past when players were capped from clubs and were seen in club games. That ended in 2013 but ten years later in Nice against Portugal there were two with Ebbw Vale connections. Dan Lydiate first capped in 2009 who with his brother Jack played for us seventeen years ago and Taulupe Faletu whose father Kuli dominated opposing lineouts and every game he played for us.

Taulupe came from Tonga to join his family at Ebbw Vale and attended Pontygof Infants School, a five-minute walk to the family home in our ground we called the Tongan Embassy. He played junior rugby with RTB Ebbw Vale and made his debut for Wales in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. It was against South Africa and he scored a try in the second half. He did it again in the 2023 World Cup in the game against Portugal and thanks to him Wales bagged a valuable bonus point.

The 2023 World Cup showed how dangerous it is to under-rate opponents outside the top tier. Back in days when the Welsh Cup embraced all clubs those in the Merit Table often came unstuck playing ‘minnows’ and there were shock results notably Penclawdd 4 Newport 0, Tondu 12 Ebbw Vale 6 and Cardiff 14 St. Peters 16 at the Arms Park. Our next fixture is a Cup tie and it’s at The Gnoll where apart from a pre-season friendly in August 2022 we last played competitively in September 2018 winning 25-17. Game four is not in the Premiership but it’s important.

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Extracted from the Ebbw Vale v Pontypridd match programme 9/9/23

A PREMIER PERFORMANCE

In the 2012/13 season we were in the Championship and were drawn at home in a Cup quarter-final with Pontypridd who were in the Premiership. Even though we dominated our division there was no promotion because we were ring-fenced by the WRU’s version of the Iron Curtain. In the previous round we had beaten Cardiff 16-11 at the Arms Park on a pitch strangely sandy which got us into the quarter final with an added interest, both teams were on top of their divisions.

The Ebbw Vale side was Charlie Simpson; Wes Cunliffe, Polu Uhi, Adam Jones, Luke Davies; Josh Lewis, David Jones; Ross Jones, Matthew Williams, Robert Sevenoaks; Damien Hudd (captain), Ashley Sweet; Gareth Williams, Ronnie Kynes, Spencer Gibson with replacements John Lavender, Jonny Bowen, Joe Bartlett, Rhys Clark, Cameron Regan, Chris Thomas, Dan Haymond, Dan Ajuwa.

We were leading 22-16 and heading for the semi-final until a minute from time Ponty’s captain Chris Dicomidis scored a try in the corner that Dai Flanagan, who had replaced Humberstone in the 57th minute, expertly converted and the final score was Ebbw Vale 22 Pontypridd 23. The winning coach Dale McIntosh praised Ebbw Vale and said “they belong up in the Premiership there’s no doubt about it.”

The game was described in the press as magnificent and by our webmaster Robert Smith as “a Premier performance.” Scrum half David Jones from Blaina was Man of the Match and referee Sean Brickell from Abertillery was described by one reporter as being ‘outstanding.’ We only lost twice In the 2012/13 season, at Whitland in the Championship and home to Pontypridd in the Cup, each by a single point.

We had one more season in the Championship when the gate opened and in September 2014 we rejoined the Premiership and began the campaign in the right mood with a team used to winning under Damien Hudd in the fourth of his seven terms as captaincy, and coached by Jason Strange. We won 15 Premiership games, lost 7 and finished second in the table to Pontypridd who clinched the Premiership title when they beat us in the play-off at Sardis Road. A year later we played off there again and returned home happier.

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REL 09/08/2023

THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF A GREAT PLAYER

There was quite a lot of rugby played in Ebbw Vale during the Second World War and in the 1940/41 season the team played and won thirty matches. When the war ended and normality returned to Welsh rugby Ebbw Vale had a team made up of players who had done essential work in the steelworks and collieries and others who returned from the Armed Forces. A first class set-up awaited them, a spacious ground and a determination to take the club to the top in Wales playing what had become a distinctive Ebbw Vale style of running rugby. Their effort was rewarded by winning the Welsh Championship four times from 1951/2 to 1959/60.

It was a great time for the backs and among them was Joseph Bernard Williams a wing known to his club mates as J B, a great character on and off the field who had captained Tredegar Grammar School’s rugby, cricket and athletics teams. After graduating in Mechanical Engineering at university in Cardiff he did his National Service in the Royal Signals where he played alongside the Welsh scrum-half Hadyn Tanner. After release he played a few games for Newport but joined Ebbw Vale in January 1948.

The 1953/54 campaign was a successful one for Ebbw Vale, captained by Ben Edwards they played 40 games, winning 30, drawing 4 and losing 6. The season was brightened by the All-Blacks who played thirty-two games in Britain, Ireland and France winning 26 including a 22-3 victory over a combined Abertillery/Ebbw Vale side a week after Wales beat them at the Arms Park, a feat they have not repeated.

There were seven Ebbw Vale players in the Combined XV, both wings J B and John Pugh who was vice-captain, hooker Albert Jackson, prop Len Coldrick, second rowers Len Harris and Ben Edwards and wing forward Horace Matthews. The All-Blacks side included eleven full internationals and Wilson the wing opposite J B would shortly be capped against England and Scotland.

J B Williams was a key figure in a great Ebbw Vale team that was generally selected from twenty players. He was one of Ebbw Vale’s finest, respected by his clubmates and greatly admired by the crowds who saw him. On August 14th he will be a hundred years of age and everyone at Ebbw Vale Rugby Football Club wishes him a very happy birthday.

JB Williams seated second from the left

Team were the winners of the Welsh Championship 1953/54
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20/07/23

SEASONS THAT KICKED OFF IN STYLE

The 2013/14 season was our last in the Championship and began with an away game with a difference, it was in North Wales where the WRU had created a new club, RGC, that had the good fortune to have Rupert Moon at the helm. In their programme he wrote “I have to pinch myself at the thought of welcoming the players and committee of such an illustrious club stepped in history as Ebbw Vale.” We responded with a 31-16 win with tries from Ronnie Kynes, Spencer Gibson and a penalty try boosted by Dan Haymond landing four penalty goals and two conversions.

Led by the irrepressible Damien Hudd the Steelmen were in confident mood for the first home game of the season against Bargoed which we won 33-18 after being 13-8 down at half-time. Tries came from Jack Flower, Wes Cunliffe, Sion Jones and Joe Franchi, Ian Smerdon converting two, dropping a goal and kicking a penalty. Josh Prosser also landed a penalty and the scene was set for a season that would end with promotion. Man of the Match was Cameron Regan.

Jason Strange was our head coach in 2013/14 as he is today and comments in the match programme for the Bargoed game still apply – “Success in rugby does not come without commitment on and off the field. Whether taking part in vigorous pre-season training improving fitness and skills, focusing on the development of the match day game plan or an in-depth analysis of performance, all can provide that edge that keeps you ahead of the opposition. Even the smallest attention to detail can provide that one opportunity that will achieve victory.”

Our return to the Premiership began in September 2014 at home against Llandovery that was a thriller we won 30-29 one of many close finishes with the Drovers and more entertaining than our first game with them in 1982. We were in the 2nd Division and travelled west to endure a game later described as being as tight as a club treasurer’s wallet. It was try-less and a 3-3 draw looked likely until our young outside-half, Jason Strange, dropped a cheeky goal and we won 6-3. After sampling the local brew we travelled east feeling satisfied and confident we had found a lad of considerable promise.

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