Monthly Archives: November 2022
Ebbw Vale is delighted to announce the signing of young experienced back row Ryan Jenkins from Llanelli RFC. Ryan will add further experience to the Ebbw Vale back row after playing for a season and a half with Llanelli RFC in the Welsh Premiership. Ryan played a lot of his rugby for Aberdare RFC who we have a good relationship with having both Owen and Lewis Young both join us from there.
On signing for Ebbw Vale Ryan said; “the opportunity to work with Jason and Geraint was a massive part of me coming down, and there’s a good group of lads at Ebbw Vale that made me feel welcome right away. It is also a chance to learn and improve my game under their coaching”
Position: Backrow
Height: 6’1
Weight: 115kg
Age: 21
Previous Clubs:
Llanelli RFC
Aberdare RFC
Cynon Valley
Blues 16s
Blues 18s
Mountain Ash Youth
Ebbw earn a bonus point win
The Steelmen forwards put in a good shift to enable the backs to score some scorching tries.
From the kick-off Carmarthen looked sharp until the scrum, where Ebbw stole the ball. The home side won a penalty, which they kicked to the corner. From the lineout the Steelman’s number four Dylan Bartlett went over for the try. The home side’s Evan Lloyd successfully kicked the conversion.
The away side won a penalty and decided to kick for the lineout. They won the ball in the home side’s 22 and started a maul. However, it came to nothing.
Ebbw were awarded a penalty in the Carmarthen half. However, outside half Lloyd`s kick hit the post.
A lovely back’s move led to the home side’s winger Carrick McDonough running down the wing and passing inside to the supporting full-back Morgan Richards, who went over for the try. Lloyd missing a tough conversion.
From the halfway line a strong break through the Carmarthen defence saw McDonough enter the away side’s 22 only for the ball to be knocked on.
With the home side forwards on top, the Steelman won another penalty from the scrum. A kick to the corner resulted in Ebbw adding another try on the stroke of half time through impressive number eight Chad Thomas. Lloyd adding the extras.
HT: 19-0
Shortly after half time, the away side were awarded a scrum after the Steelmen knocked the ball on. From the scrum Ebbw were awarded a penalty. The Carmarthen number three was given the yellow card for collapsing the scrum.
The home side’s fourth try came from fullback Richards when inside the away side’s 22, flyhalf Lloyd kicked the ball over the defence and landed in Morgan Richards`s hands to score the try. The conversion was successful.
Some good forward and back’s play led to Ebbw’s speedster Ryan Davies showing the Carmarthen players a clean pair of heels and racing down the wing to score the try. Fly half Lloyd missing the conversion.
The Steelmen`s full back Morgan Richards finished with a hat-trick of tries after a fine team move down the wing led to the full back scoring the try. Lloyd adding the extra’s.
The home side fullback Richards was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes after pushing one of the Carmarthen player’s.
The final score of the game coming on the 65th minute when Carmarthen had a scrum inside the home side’s 22, resulting in the scrum half going over the line for a well taken try. The extra two points were added.
FT: 38-7
Ebbw Vale man of the match sponsored by Spirit Of Wales Distillery: Joe Franchi
Discussing the game afterwards, head coach Jason Strange said he was really pleased with the victory, especially scoring six tries. There were some excellent individual performances, and the defence was strong and tight.
After the game we caught up with Ebbw Vale outside half Evan Lloyd, who said it was an enjoyable game, which backed up last week`s excellent result away to Aberavon. The Steelmen fronted up well. However, there was still room for improvement before the next game away to RGC. Finally, Evan said the workload was shared between the forwards and backs resulting in tries for the backs in the corner’s and a few for the forwards.
Report by Alex Kinsella-Evans
Ebbw Vale Side To Play Carmarthen Quins
The Ebbw Vale side to take on Carmarthen Quins this Thursday evening in the Indigo Welsh premiership at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium, 7:30pm is as follows.
The game is not on TV so let’s have lot’s of home support on the bank shouting on the Steelmen!
Pre purchase your match tickets here https://www.evrfc.co.uk/product/17th-november-carmarthen-quins/
TEAM
15 Morgan Richards
14 Carrick McDonough
13 Ethan Phillips
12 Dom Franchi
11 Amir Jiwa Walji
10 Evan Lloyd
9 Jon Evans
1 Luke Garrett
2 Joe Franchi (c)
3 Harry Drane
4 Dylan Bartlett
5 Curtis Gregory
6 Andrew Mann
7 Lewis Young
8 Chad Thomas
Replacements
16 Alex Watkins
17 Adam Court
18 Charley Kearns
19 Jakub Maleki
20 Morgan Thomas
21 Matthew Flanagan
22 Kieran Meek
23 Ryan Davies
Ebbw Vale vs Carmarthen preview
We caught up yesterday evening at training with Ebbw Vale team manager Dan Haymond.
Looking back on last week’s excellent away win at Aberavon, Dan said we had a slow start to the game but was happy to come away with the win at what is a tough place to go and play at.
Looking forward to this week`s game against Carmarthen, Dan believes the key areas are forward domination, our kicking must be accurate, and we must work on our discipline, as we know they will kick their penalty’s.
They have elusive players in their backline, along with big ball carriers. The last time they faced us they threw everything at us, however we held out for the victory.
It’s a game we believe we should win but are not going to enter it overconfident.
Match preview by Alex Kinsella-Evans
Ebbw win a spicy Encounter
Within the first 30 minutes Aberavon dominated possession with the away side defense coming to the fore.
Some nice play from the home side`s backs led to Aberavon scrumhalf Liam Seaward scoring a well taken try. Former Ebbw fly-half Rhys Jones missing the conversion.
Some lovely set piece play from the home side resulted in scrum half Seaward getting his and Aberavon`s 2nd try of the match. Flyhalf Jones kicking the conversion.
Straight from the kickoff Ebbw Vale put pressure on Aberavon inside their own 22. Aberavon doted the ball down on their own try line therefore making it a goal line dropout.
From further passages in play Ebbw got on the front foot and from a ruck, number 7 Lewis Young saw a gap and went over the whitewash for the away side`s first try. Evan Lloyd successfully kicked the conversion.
Both sides were reduced to 14 men due to a heated exchange with both outside centre`s, Ebbw`s Ethan Phillips and the home side`s Joe Thomas being sent to the sin bin 10 minutes before half-time.
HT:12-7
Straight from the off Ebbw opened the 2nd half with a try from outside half Evan Lloyd, who added the extras.
Penalty`s to both sides resulted in no further immediate points being scored.
From the halfway line replacement scrumhalf Jonathan Evans wisely broke through a gap in the home side defense, only to be denied close to the line. The resulting play followed leading to Chad Thomas going over the line. A superb conversion from a tricky angle was kicked by outside half Lloyd.
Ebbw were awarded a penalty in the last ten minutes which was put over by Lloyd.
Aberavon had a penalty which was kicked to the corner, they won the lineout and went over the away side`s try line only to knock the ball on.
A mass brawl ended up in Ebbw`s Dominic Franchi and Lewis Young being shown the red card along with Aberavon`s number twenty-one Jordan Walters.
Within the dying seconds of the game Aberavon`s Andrew Waite crashed over the line, however the extras were missed.
The game ending 24-17 to the away side with the home side collecting a losing bonus point.
FT: 17-24
Man of the match: Chad Thomas
Report by Alex Kinsella-Evans
Ebbw Vale Side To Play Aberavon
The Ebbw Vale side to take on Aberavon RFC away tonight in the Indigo Welsh premiership at the Talbot Athletic Ground, 7:30pm is as follows
Let’s have lots of away support at the game shouting on the Steelmen!
TEAM
15 Haydn Simons
14 Carrick McDonough
13 Ethan Phillips
12 Dom Franchi
11 Amir Jiwa Walji
10 Evan Lloyd
9 Mathew Flanagan
1 Luke Garrett
2 Rhys Francis (c)
3 Harry Drane
4 Dylan Bartlett
5 Andrew Mann
6 Chad Thomas
7 Lewis Young
8 Gethin Williams
Replacements
16 Joe Franchi
17 Charley Kearns
18 Adam Court
19 Curtis Gregory
20 Morgan Thomas
21 Jon Evans
22 Kieran Meek
23 Morgan Richards
Ebbw Vale is delighted to announce the signing of Kieran Meek who can play at 10 or 12 from Newport RFC.
On signing for Ebbw Vale Kieran had the following to say;
I am over the moon to join the club, it is a great opportunity for me to work along side Jason Strange and the Ebbw Vale coaches. Having so many friends at the club made it an easy decision and the welcome I have had makes me feel really exited to get started and prove my worth in the team.
HEIGHT – 5ft 10
Weight – 14st
Previous clubs – Newport, Pontypool, Bedwas, Newbridge
Honours – Crawshays
Ebbw Goes West
Ebbw head to the Talbot Athletic ground in search of a win against a high-flying Aberavon team.
Reflecting on last week’s 22 – 9 win over Swansea, coach Jason strange said defensively it was another excellent performance and our set piece continues to improve. It`s becoming a real strength for the team. It was great to win with four tries and a bonus point against a Swansea team which has started this season well.
Looking forward to the game at league leaders Aberavon, Jason added, a big focus for us going into the game is sustaining pressure for longer periods, we have started the season well with three wins and three narrow losses in the closing minutes of games. The next development for the group is to win these tight matches.
Aberavon are a team which has been together for a long time and are very established as a squad with lots of talent and depth. Head coach Jason Hyatt has been coach for a number of year`s resulting in them having a lot of experiences together. He has done a very good job in building the club and has lots of depth in their squad and familiarity.
Commenting on Ebbw`s start to the season Jason added considering the number of new players brought into our squad, it`s been a very good start, with lots to build upon for the remainder of the season. The players commitment towards the club and each other has been excellent, we know what sort of club we want to be and the players and supporters are connecting which is great.
Friday is another opportunity to show this against a very good club. Both teams are playing well and it should be a very competitive game.
By Alex Kinsella Evans
Ebbw Vale is delighted to announce the signing of experienced second row Joe Bartlett. Joe is returning to Ebbw Vale and will join his younger brother Dylan in the Steelmen colours.
On signing for Ebbw Vale Joe had the following to say;
I am glad to be retuning to Ebbw Vale after a few seasons away. After speaking with Jason and John it was an easy decision for me to come back to Ebbw Vale.
The help Ebbw Vale have provided with my recovery from my injury and goals the team have for this season as well as future seasons was really something I wanted to be a part of. There is definitely a fresh feeling in the team and theres a good balance and hopefully I can help. Personally for me my goals in the next few weeks are to get fit and put myself up for selection and help the team achieve its goals that have been set.
Joe has represented the Dragons at U18-U20 level as well as playing for Newport RFC and St Patricks in Australia.
Joseph Bartlett
27-05-93
Second row
6ft 6
120kg
