Match Reports

Match Report Archive 2024/25 Match Report Archive 2023/24

MATCH REPORTS 2025/26

Ebbw win on the road

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

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

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

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

Half Time: Bridgend Ravens 3 Ebbw Vale RFC 10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Full Time: Bridgend Ravens 17 Ebbw Vale RFC 34

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

Conversions: Evan Lloyd (4)

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

Five Try Ebbw

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Half Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 22 Aberavon RFC 10

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

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

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

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

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

Full Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 36 Aberavon RFC 17

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

Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3)

Penalty: Evan Lloyd (1)

Man of the match: Ewan Bowden

All reports by Alex Kinsella-Evans (unless stated)