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
After the game we spoke with player / coach Dorian Jones. Dorian was happy with the result for the team. He thought it was really needed after pre-season, to gage where the squad was. He believes the squad is in a good position. Dorian paid tribute to Aberavon by acknowledging it was a hard-fought game and thought they started the game well, which tested the home side. He believed the side responded well, come together, dug deep and got a hard fought but well deserved six points from the game.
Discussing his return to the club, Dorian was overjoyed to return and see the familiar faces in and around the club that make it so special. He said it was great to get back out onto the Ciner Glass Community Stadium pitch, especially as he had come through the ranks, from the under eight-year-olds up to the senior squad. Dorian was really enjoying his return and was looking forward to the remainder of the season.
Finally, discussing the difference between being at the club originally and returning. Dorian said when he first started playing senior rugby at Ebbw at the age of seventeen the club used to have experienced players such as Ross Jones and Damien Hudd. He continued by staying he was now one of the more experienced players amongst the current squad and was looking forward to helping the younger squad members come through. Dorian finished by advising he was lucky to be able to transition from playing into coaching and was grateful for the opportunity to start his coaching career at Ebbw.
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans
Pictures courtesy of Richard Whitcombe
Match Day Squad
