Match Report – Ebbw Vale RFC 45 Carmarthen Quins 35

Ebbw reach the semi final

Ebbw Vale were made to work hard by Carmarthen to come away with the victory to reach the semi final of the play offs next week.

The visitors hit the front early on after fly half Ifan Davies sent the penalty through the middle of the posts to put his team three points to the good.

With their tails up, the away side scored the first try of the game when winger Louis Rees took advantage of a bouncing ball to go over the line unopposed. Number ten Davies successfully kicked the conversion.

However, the hosts were to hit back. After a penalty was sent into touch in the Quins twenty-two by outside half Lloyd, the Ebbw forwards secured the lineout and set up a driving maul which was finished off by top try scorer Joe Franchi. Lloyd added the extras to make it a three-point game.

With the Steelmen forwards getting the grit between their teeth, another penalty into the Carmarthen twenty-two by Lloyd set up a driving maul from the lineout, which was only stopped illegally. Referee Adam Jones went under the sticks to award the home side a penalty try and show the visitors number eight Lewys Millin a yellow card.

When reduced to fourteen men, the away side struck back. A well taken try by centre Jac Howells and conversion by outside half Davies put the Quins back into the lead.

The home side were soon reduced to fourteen men when Ebbw Vale second row Dylan Bartlett was shown a yellow card for ill-discipline.

With Carmarthen back to full numbers and having a numerical advantage they benefited to stretch their lead further. After being awarded a penalty near the hosts line, scrum half Lucca Setaro took a quick tap and darted over the line. Number ten Davies kicked the conversion.

Half Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 14 Carmarthen Quins RFC 24

The home side came out for the second half in determined fashion. With a lineout inside the Quins twenty-two setting up the rolling maul, flanker Sion Parry split away from the maul and used his strength to fend off defenders and score. Lloyd added the points to reduce the deficit to three points.

The away side extended their lead to six points when flyhalf Ifan Davies sent the ball through the centre of the sticks.

The first change by the hosts coach Jason Strange saw centre Cameron Davies come off for Dom Franchi.

Within minutes, the Steelmen reclaimed the lead. From a lineout inside the Quins half, the forwards set up a driving maul which finished with hooker Joe Franchi scoring his second try of the game. Lloyd kicked the conversion to put Ebbw one point to the good.

The Ebbw Vale skipper Franchi claimed another hat trick this season, when from a lineout the forwards power showed and Franchi benefited from it. Evan Lloyd added the extras.

Home hooker Franchi was replaced by Ieuan Morris and moments later replacement props Adam Court and Morgan Williams came on for Luke Garrett and Adam Williams.

Midway through the second half Carmarthen again reduced the deficit to five points when Davies kicked a well taken penalty.

Further changes by Ebbw coach Strange, saw Cameron Regan and Lewis Young come onto the pitch for flanker Jack Pope and number eight Ryan Jenkins.

With time ticking away, the home side struck a decisive blow.  With the forwards going through the phases inside the visitors twenty-two, scrum half Gruff Tough saw space out on the wing. With plenty left to do, the young scrum half backed himself and darted over the try line for a well taken try. Lloyd again successfully kicked the conversion.

Ebbw replacement Morgan Richards was sent onto the field to replace full back Matt Jones.

Shortly afterwards scrum half Gruff Tough left the field to be replaced by Rory Harries. However, within minutes Harries was shown a yellow card and spent the remaining minutes in the sin bin for a miss timed challenge in the air.

The Quins gained from their numerical advantage when scrum half Setaro saw space and scored a well taken try out wide to set up a tense finale. However, the conversion was missed.

After being awarded a penalty in the final moments of the game, Ebbw fly half Lloyd sent the ball through the posts to extend the home sides lead to ten points. Referee Jones decided to call time on play for a home victory.

Full Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 45 Carmarthen Quins RFC 35

Try scorers: Joe Franchi (3), Sion Parry (1), Gruff Tough (1), Penalty try (1)

Conversions: Evan Lloyd (5)

Penalty: Evan Lloyd (1)

Ebbw Vale RFC man of the match: Sion Parry

The Steelmen next play Llandovery RFC in the semi final of the play offs at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium on Saturday 10^th May 2025. Kick off to be confirmed.

Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans