Match Report – Ebbw Vale RFC 29 Llandovery RFC 28

Ebbw reach the final

Jason Strange’s team made a dramatic comeback in the second half to secure their place in the SRC final, after the semi final was played in glorious sunshine, in front of the S4C Camera’s at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium.

Llandovery got off to a fast start. The away sides first try was scored by centre Rhodri Jones, after a clever chip over the defence by the away side.

This was soon followed up by good back play by the Drovers ended with scrum half and captain Lee Rees going over the try line. Both tries had been converted by outside half Ioan Hughes.

Within minutes the Steelmen were reduced to fourteen men, when referee Ben Whitehouse adjudged the home side winger Ieuan Evans to have deliberately knocked the ball on.

After being back to fifteen men, the home side were again reduced to fourteen, when referee Whitehouse had thought flanker Jack Pope to have illegally used his boot in a phase of play.

Whilst still at reduced numbers the hosts hit back. From attacking play by the Drovers just outside the Ebbw twenty-two, an interception by Ebbw’s Evan Lloyd saw the number ten stretch his legs. Having made metres well into the Llandovery half and with the defenders covering across, Lloyd past to supporting winger Ryan Gardner, who showed his pace to go over the line unopposed. Lloyd was unsuccessful with the conversion.

With the first half ending, a fine bit of play by the visitors full back Jac Davies saw the young full back score an excellent solo try. Hughes again converted giving his team a sixteen-point lead at the interval.

Half Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 5 Llandovery RFC 21

Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange made his first substitution of the game during the interval with winger Ewan Bowden coming on for Ieuan Evans.

The away side were soon to be reduced to fourteen men when scrum half Lee Rees was sent to the sin bin by referee Whitehouse due to ill-discipline.

Ebbw Vale soon took advantage of the reduced numbers. With the forwards going through the phases, a nice show and go by Gruff Tough saw the young number nine beat a man, draw the last line of defence and pass to home full back Morgan Richards, who used his strength to fend off a tackle and dive over the line. Lloyd added the extras to reduce the deficit to nine points.

Further changes by the Steelmen saw flanker Jack Pope be replaced by Cameron Regan. Moments later Ieuan Morris and Adam Court replaced hooker Joe Franchi and prop Adam Williams and later Cameron Davies come on for Dom Franchi.

With Ebbw Vale on top in the second half, top points scorer Lloyd reduced the deficit to six points before prop Luke Garrett left the field to be replaced by Morgan Williams.

The visitors were given the opportunity to increase their lead further, however, fly half Hughes was unsuccessful with the penalty from far out.

Another change by coach Strange saw scrum half Gruff Tough leave the field for Rory Harries.

The hosts were about to go in front for the first time during the game. From a scrum inside the Vale half, scrum half Harries got quick ball out to centre Ethan Phillips in the centre of the field. Phillips picked his head up and put a clever chip over the Llandovery defence. With two defenders covering, Phillips sped through, got a boot to the ball before a Llandovery player, and Phillips collected the ball on the bounce and dived over for an excellent individual try. Lloyd added the two points.

With the game going into the final ten minutes the hosts scored the decisive try. After being awarded a penalty in the away sides twenty-two, Lloyd put the ball into the corner. From the lineout, the Ebbw forwards set up a driving maul, which ended with replacement hooker Ieuan Morris powering over the line. Lloyd again kicked the conversion to give the hosts an eight-point lead.

With time running out Ebbw Vale were to see out the remaining minutes with fourteen men when winger Ryan Gardner was shown a yellow card by referee Whitehouse.

The final score of an excellent game, where both teams contributed so much, was scored by Llandovery. Playing from their own twenty-two, the Drovers backs put width on the ball for speedster Harri Doel to run the length of the pitch to score under the posts. Replacement Jack Maynard kicked the conversion to bring the game to a close.

Fulltime: Ebbw Vale RFC 29 Llandovery RFC 28

Try scorers: Ryan Gardner (1), Morgan Richards (1), Ethan Phillips (1), Ieuan Morris (1)

Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3)

Penalties: Evan Lloyd (1)

Man Of The Match: Ryan Jenkins

After the game we spoke with Ebbw Vale winger Ieuan Evans. Ieuan thought the team made it hard for themselves in the first half, he thought he could have defended better himself to stop a few tries. However, Ieuan praised the side for their work ethic, including the impact the subs made in the second half to get the team over the line to reach the final.

 

The Steelmen will face Newport RFC in the SRC Grand Final on Sunday 18th May at the CINER GLASS Community Stadium. Kick Off 2.20pm

Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans