Monthly Archives: September 2015
After the excitement of Saturday night’s gargantuan encounter with England, please join us in watching Wales v Fiji on the big screens in the clubhouse this Thursday from 4pm.
There will be a film crew in attendance relating to RWC2015 and highlighting the part rugby clubs play in Wales so the more we can get supporting the better!
There are changes to the starting line up for Saturday’s visit to Llandovery, for what Head Coach Nigel Davies has called his side’s toughest challenge so far. “Llandovery are a very good team and play a very good brand of rugby,” said Davies. “They play from all over the park and have some really dangerous runners. We’ve won our first three games but have only just done enough. I want us to go to Llandovery and express ourselves a bit more.”
Jared Rosser makes a first start at full back, having impressed as a replacement on the wing against Neath, and Nathan Preece, recovered from injury, slots in alongside the in-form Dominic Franchi. Ian George and Rhys Buckley pack down in the front row, Joe Bartlett comes in for Damien Hudd at lock and Ronny Kynes is back at openside. Ashley Sweet captains the team.
Last week’s Man of the Match, Steffan Jones, will be looking to add to the brace of tries he bagged in the victory, especially as he has the treat of visiting beautiful rural Carmarthenshire on his birthday.
The team is:
Jared Rosser, Steffan Jones, Nathan Preece, Dominic Franchi, Tom Watkins; Iain Smerdon, Luc Jones; Ian George, Rhys Buckley, Robert Sevenoaks; Joe Bartlett, Ashley Sweet (capt), Luke Crocker, Ronny Kynes, Harrison Keddie.
Bench: Joe Franchi, Ross Jones, Luke Leddington, Rhys Clarke, Cameron Regan, Chris Thomas, Dan Haymond, Jordan Howells.
The latest episode of EVRFC TV is ready for you to watch on our youtube channel.
It’s not a a ‘rugby highlights’ programme as such, although there is quite a bit of action in there, but it’s more a flavour of the day at last Saturday’s home match with Neath. Here’s the link.
Following last Saturday’s bonus point win over Newport, Head Coach Nigel Davies makes 8 changes to the starting line up for tomorrow’s home match against the Welsh All Blacks, Neath.
David Williams moves to full back, with Tom Watkins moving to the left wing to accommodate Steffan Jones on the right. Iain Smerdon and Luc Jones come in at half back and, up front, there are first starts of the league season for Rob Sevenoaks, Ashley Sweet and Cameron Regan.
David Williams, Steffan Jones, Jordan Howells, Dominic Franchi, Tom Watkins; Iain Smerdon, Luc Jones; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Robert Sevenoaks; Damien Hudd (capt), Ashley Sweet; Luke Crocker, Cameron Regan, Harrison Keddie.
Bench: Joe Franchi, Keagan Bale, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Bartlett, Ethan Doyle, Chris Thomas, Jared Rosser, Dan Haymond.
Neath have not had the best of starts to the season, losing narrowly at home to Newport then conceding 40 at Carmarthen – though they did score 22 themselves. However, they are always formidable opponents and any team coached by Patrick Horgan and Gareth Llewellyn will always represent a serious challenge. Ebbw’s coaches and players know they’ll need to be at their best to win this one. Have a look at them in training this week in the latest episode from EVRFC TV.
There’ll be some familiar faces in the Neath squad tomorrow; as well as our former coach Patrick Horgan, look out for ex-Steelmen Aaron Bramley, Aaron Coundley, Marc Jones and Jonathan Griffiths.
If you missed Saturday’s big win over Newport, or if you just want to relive some of the key parts of the match day experience, click on over to EVRFC TV where our roving video auteur Chris Peet takes us through a visual account of the day.
Please note, this is not a highlights video, nor is it meant to be. It’s something new we’re trying and we’d welcome your feedback.
Nigel Davies has announced his first Ebbw Vale Premiership team, ready for the season’s opener at the Brewery Field, Bridgend on Saturday afternoon, kicking off at 1:30.
The side is as follows:
Dan Haymond; Owen Williams, Jordan Howells, Dominic Franchi, David Williams; Dai Langdon, Tom Edwards; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (capt), Rhys Clarke; Luke Crocker, Ronny Kynes, Harrison Keddie.
Replacements: Joe Franchi, Ian George, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Bartlett, Chris Thomas, Iain Smerdon, Ryan Gardiner.
There are league debuts for new Steelmen Dom Fanchi, David Williams and Luke Crocker. Referring to the pre-season fixtures, Nigel Davies said,”Going up against two teams from the English Championship has been great and taught us a lot about ourselves. Now, we are really looking forward to testing ourselves against the rest of the Premiership again. It will be tough at Bridgend because they are the Swalec Cup holders, have quality in their squad and will be looking for a strong start at home.”
The WRU has today confirmed that experimental laws will be trialled in the Principality Premiership (including the Challenge Cup but NOT the Swalec Cup) for the coming season.
The main changes will be as follows:
Points values
Try – 6 points
Conversion – 2 points
Penalty – 2 points
Drop goal – 2 points
Penalty try – 8 points (no conversion required)
Bonus points
A team scoring 4 tries will gain a bonus point
A team losing but by 8 or less points will gain a bonus point
Front row replacements and substitutions
If, because of a sending off or an injury, a team cannot provide enough suitably trained front row players, the match continues with uncontested scrums. In this case the scrums have to be played with 8 players.
Time regulations
If time expires and a mark, free kick or penalty is then awarded, the referee allows play to continue. If time expires and a player then kicks to touch from a penalty kick anywhere in the playing area, the referee allows the throw in to be taken, and play continues until the next time that the ball becomes dead.
Kick off and restarts
Kick off sanction is a free kick at the centre of the half way line.
The changes will commence in the first round of Premiership matches this weekend.