Match Report Llandovery RFC 14 Ebbw Vale RFC 41

SRC heavyweight clash

Second played first on a cold but dry Saturday evening in front of the S4c cameras at Church Bank, Llandovery.

First points of the game were awarded to the away side after outside half Evan Lloyd kicked a penalty within the first five minutes.

Shortly afterwards, the hosts scored the first try of the game. A neat kick out wide saw an unforced error put the Drovers on the front foot inside the Ebbw twenty-two. Good backs play saw the ball go out wide to the home side winger Kian Abraham, who was strong enough to fend off the covering defender to score. Fullback Jack Maynard sent the ball through the posts to add the extras.

Just short of the twenty-minute mark, the Steelmen hit back. Good play by Ebbw forwards and backs saw the ball end up in outside half Lloyd’s hands.  Lloyd took the ball to the line and despite being tackled, offloaded to flanker Sion Parry, who drew the last man and passed to the supporting Dom Franchi, who went over the line unopposed. Number ten Lloyd kicked the conversion.

After being awarded a penalty just inside the Llandovery half, flyhalf Lloyd sent the ball to the corner. From the resulting lineout, the Ebbw Vale forwards assisted by some backs set up the driving maul and Sion Parry crossed the line. Lloyd kicked the conversion successfully.

Halftime: Llandovery RFC 7 Ebbw Vale RFC 17

Within a minute of the restart, the visitors extended their lead further. After a good catch by winger Dafydd Thomas from a Rory Harries box kick, the ball went through the backs` hands to outside centre Ethan Phillips. Phillips pushed off his opposite number, sliced through a gap to draw the last defender and put in his centre partner Franchi for his second try of the game.  Lloyd added the two points from the tee.

The hosts immediately hit back. With a penalty just outside the Ebbw try line. With a tap and go from the penalty, prop Jamie Hughes dived over the tryline to score his teams` second try of the game. Maynard kicked the conversion.

Ebbw Vale secured a bonus point try when referee Ben Whitehouse awarded the Steelmen a free kick from a scrum inside the Drover`s twenty-two. A tap and go by captain Joe Franchi saw the hooker get tackled close to the line, quick ball out to number eight Ryan Jenkins, saw Jenkins use his speed and strength to run an excellent line and go over the line to score the away side`s fourth try.  Lloyd sent the ball through the uprights.

The visitors` coach Jason Strange made numerous substitutions, firstly prop Adam Williams and hooker Ieuan Morris came on to the field for Morgan Bosanko and Joe Franchi. Within minutes Alfred Bateman Lloyd replaced flanker Jack Pope and then scrumhalf Gruff Tough, prop Morgan Williams and centre Cameron Davies replaced Rory Harries, Luke Garrett and Dom Franchi. With approximately ten minutes left of the game, Dylan Edwards entered the field to replace fullback Morgan Richards.

Despite the best efforts of both teams, the next points did not come until the seventy- third minute. referee Whitehouse awarded the league leaders a penalty for offside just outside the Drover`s twenty-two. Flyhalf Lloyd kicked the penalty to extend his sides` lead to twenty points.

The away sides` finally change of the game saw number eight Ryan Jenkins leave the field to be replaced by Lewis Young.

With the game in stoppage time, a missed placed pass by a Llandovery player saw the ball bounce in midfield around the halfway line, the visitors` young replacement centre Cameron Davies picked up the bobbling ball and stretched his legs to charge over to score the game`s final try. Lloyd kept up his hundred percent record from the tee to send the ball through the middle of the posts to bring the game to a close.

Ebbw Vale claimed six points from the game to extend their lead over second place Llandovery by twenty points at the top of the SRC table.

Fulltime: Llandovery RFC 14 Ebbw Vale RFC 41

Tries: Dom Franchi (2), Sion Parry (1), Ryan Jenkins (1), Cameron Davies (1)

Conversions: Evan Lloyd (5)

Penalties: Evan Lloyd (2)

S4c Man Of The Match: Evan Lloyd

Pictures courtesy of Richard Whitcombe

Ebbw Vale RFC`s next game is the re-arranged away fixture against Cardiff RFC at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday  24^th of January 2026 with kick-off at 4: 25 pm.

Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans