Monthly Archives: September 2024
Ebbw Beat Last Years Champions
Ebbw Vale made it two wins from their first two home games after securing a try bonus point victory against last years champions Llandovery.
Straight from the kick off the visitors were awarded a penalty which fullback Jack Maynard converted to put Llandovery three points ahead.
The Steelmen soon hit back when from a scrum in the Drovers half quick ball from scrum half Jon Evans to outside half Evan Lloyd saw the number ten put outside centre Ethan Phillips into space. With plenty still to do the centre made a trademark break through the mid field to go over the line unopposed. Flyhalf Lloyd added the two points.
The home side doubled their try tally when from a missed pass in the mid field by the away team, home winger Ewan Bowden kicked the ball into space. The winger used his speed and footballing skills to be first to the ball to go over the try line with defenders scrambling back. Lloyd kicked the conversion successfully.
From scrappy play in the Steelmen`s half, the visitors scored their first try of the afternoon when winger Aaron Warren used his strength to beat two covering defenders to go over in the corner. Maynard missed the conversion.
With the ball in the hands of young winger Harry Rees-Weldon inside his own half, the winger put in a clever fifty-twenty-two kick to give his side an attacking line out, however, despite pressure Ebbw were unable to convert the pressure into points.
Llandovery went ahead from a try by hooker Taylor Davies. Fullback Maynard added the extras.
Ill-discipline by the Drovers resulted in sharpshooter Lloyd turning the tables back in the favour of Ebbw Vale with a penalty to put his side two points in the lead.
On the stroke of halftime, from a rolling maul by the Steelmen forwards, inside the visitor’s half, winger Bowden scored his second try of the afternoon out wide. However, on this occasion Lloyd was unable to add the extras.
Half time: Ebbw Vale RFC 22 Llandovery RFC 15
The first substitution by Ebbw saw number eight Lewis Young be replaced by Owen Conquer.
The home side extended their lead to ten points when marksman Lloyd kicked a huge penalty from just inside the halfway line. The flyhalf added another penalty to his tally to push the hosts further ahead.
Ebbw Vale stand-in head coach Aaron Coundley replaced props Luke Garrett and Adam Court with Morgan Davies and Adam Williams.
With the Steelmen on the front foot, a quick tap on the Drovers twenty-two by experienced scrum half Jon Evans resulted in the number nine scoring an excellent individual try. Lloyd slotted the conversion to put his team twenty points in front.
Two quick fire tries by Evan Sheldon and Lee Rees, both converted by the number fifteen Maynard brought the deficit back to a one score game.
In the aftermath of the second Drovers try, Steelmen scrumhalf Jon Evans was shown a yellow card to spend the remainder of the game in the sin bin for ill-discipline.
The hosts made a further change when second row Curtis Gregory was replaced by Jack Pope.
With time running out the hosts were awarded a penalty on the Llandovery twenty-two. Flyhalf Lloyd kicked the penalty to take a losing bonus point away from the visitors.
Full Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 38 Llandovery RFC 29
Man of the Match: Ewan Bowden
Tries: Ewan Bowden (2), Ethan Phillips (1), Jon Evans (1)
Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3)
Penalties: Evan Lloyd (4)
After the game we spoke with Ebbw Vale`s number Eight Owen Conquer.
Owen praised Llandovery, believing they are a tough side to play against which is shown with them being back-to-back winners in the league two years in a row. Owen thought Ebbw played the game in the right areas, showed some grit towards the end especially when being reduced to fourteen men. Owen also praised the home set piece; he thought the scrum went well and the set pieces was executed as planned.
The Steelmen play the reverse fixture against Llandovery next week when they travel to Church Bank on Saturday the 5th of October 2024 with kick off at 14:30pm
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans
The Steelmen return to action in Round 3 of Super Rygbi Cymru in the first match of a double header against Llandovery RFC.
Both teams have one win from two matches played so far this season. Last season in the Premiership, there was one win apiece, with the Steelmen winning 25-17 at the CINER GLASS Community Stadium under the S4C Clic lights.
Jason Strange has made a number of changes to the team from the defeat at Cardiff RFC with the experienced Dom Franchi, Jon Evans and skipper Joe Franchi returning to the starting XV. The back rows stays the same as the match against Cardiff with Curtis Gregory coming back into the starting lineup to partner Dylan Bartlett. The bench will be selected before kick off.
The Ebbw Vale XV is as follows:
15 Matt Jones 14 Harry Rees-Weldon 13 Ethan Phillips 12 Dom Franchi 11 Ewan Bowden 10 Evan Lloyd 9 Jon Evans
1 Luke Garrett 2 Joe Franchi (c) 3 Adam Court 4 Dylan Bartlett 5 Curtis Gregory 6 Ewan McIntyre 7 Sion Parry 8 Lewis Young
Replacements from
Morgan Davies, Ieuan Morris, Adam Williams, Jack Pope, Owen Conquer, Ben Main, Rory Harries, Josh Malson and Cameron Davies
Match information
Kick Off 2.30pm
CINER Glass Community Stadium
Post Code: NP23 5AZ
Admission Price
Full Price: £14
Concession: £10
Payments: Both card and cash can be used to purchase tickets at the ground
The Steelmen will travel to Church Bank next weekend to face Llandovery again in the return fixture.
Cardiff Take Maximum Points
The Steelmen came away from their first away game of the season pointless after a clinical Cardiff display proved the difference.
The hosts almost scored the opening try within minutes of kick off, after Ebbw Vale full back Matt Jones was unable to collect a high ball. Luckily for the visitors, the ball went over the dead ball line before a home player was able to touch it down. However, the home side soon went three points ahead, when outside half Josh Thomas slotted the kick between the uprights.
Within minutes, the Rags scored their first try of the evening when hooker Efan Daniel scored from a powerful drive by the Cardiff pack. Thomas added the two points to extend his teams lead to ten.
Cardiff scored their second try of the first half when winger Dewi Cross finished off a clever back’s move to go in over the corner. Number ten Thomas extended the lead further going into half time. Despite having opportunities inside the Rags twenty-two, the visitors were unable to cross the line to put any points on the scoreboard in the first half.
Half Time: Cardiff RFC 17 Ebbw Vale RFC 0
The away side were forced into their first change of the evening, when winger Hamish Anderson was replaced by Ieuan Evans at half time.
Ebbw got their first points of the evening when Ieuan Morris touched down after the away side spent time with the ball inside the home side’s twenty-two. Flyhalf Evan Lloyd successfully kicked the two points. With the ball in the Rags twenty-two, the home side struck straight back. A break by the hosts Tom Rice, saw the ball go through outside half’s Josh Thomas hands out to winger Cross, who used his speed to go over the try line unopposed for a good Cardiff try. Thomas added the extras.
Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange replaced hooker Ieuan Morris with Joe Franchi, second row Curtis Gregory came on for Jack Pope and scrum half Jon Evans replaced Rory Harries.
Ebbw Vale got their second try of the game, after number eight Lewis Young showed his strength to go over from a powerful maul at a lineout inside the home sides twenty-two. Number ten Lloyd was unable to add the extras.
Further changes by coach Strange saw flanker Ben Main came on for debutant Sion Parry and prop Morgan Williams replaced Morgan Davies.
The hosts were reduced to fourteen men for ten minutes when second row Sean Moore was shown a yellow card by referee Ben Connor. However, despite the numerical advantage, the Steelmen were unable to add any points onto the scoreboard.
Further change’s by Ebbw Vale saw ex Cardiff prop Adam Williams leave the field to be replaced by Owen Hatherill and outside half Evan Lloyd come off for Josh Malson.
With the final play of the game, Cardiff secured full points from the evening when full back Joe Goodchild scored out wide for his teams fourth try of the evening. Outside half Thomas was unable to add the extra two points. However, as the home side won by seventeen points, they collected maximum points from the game.
Full Time: Cardiff RFC 29 Ebbw Vale RFC 12
Tries: Ieuan Morris (1), Lewis Young (1)
Conversions: Evan Lloyd (1)
Ebbw Vale RFC’s next league game is at home at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium on Saturday 28th September 2024 with kick-off at 2:30pm against last year’s champions Llandovery RFC.
Written by: Alex Kinsella Evans
Cardiff RFC v Ebbw Vale RFC
Ebbw Vale RFC head off to the capital city in round 2 of the inaugural Super Rygbi Cymru competition when the Steelmen face Cardiff RFC at the Arms Park with a 7.30pm kick off
Last season in the Indigo Premiership, both teams claimed 1 victory apiece in the league, with the Steelmen winning at the Arms Park by 36-20.
Jason Strange has selected a squad full of youth and experience for the game against Cardiff making 9 changes to the starting XV and 12 changes to the squad overall from the game against Aberavon RFC
Full back, Matt Jones will make his debut for the Steelmen having signed from the Bristol Bears in the summer. While Canadian International, Sion Parry, will also make his debut in the back row following his signing from Pontypridd RFC.
Further changes see Rory Harries and Cameron Davies come into the starting lineup and Harry Rees-Weldon also returns to the squad.
Upfront, there is a complete change in the front row with Morgan Davies, Ieuan Morris and Adam Williams starting for the Steelmen. Jack Pope makes his first start for the Steelmen in the 2nd row having come off the bench in the victory over Aberavon last week.
On the bench, Abergavenny product, Ieuan Evans is set to make his debut for the Steelmen.
Ethan Phillips captains the Steelmen for the very first time.
The full Ebbw Vale team is as follows
15 Matt Jones 14 Harry Rees-Weldon 13 Ethan Phillips (C) 12 Cameron Davies 11 Hamish Anderson 10 Evan Lloyd 9 Rory Harries
1 Morgan Davies 2 Ieuan Morris 3 Adam Williams 4 Dylan Bartlett 5 Jack Pope 6 Ewan McIntyre 7 Sion Parry 8 Lewis Young
Replacements
16 Joe Franchi 17 Morgan Williams 18 Owen Hatherill 19 Curtis Gregory 20 Ben Main 21 Jon Evans 22 Josh Malson 23 Ieuan Evans
Game Information
Tickets can be purchased online at the following link: Event Information Screen – eTickets (eticketing.co.uk)
The online programme for the match is now online: Cardiff RFC v Ebbw Vale RFC | Zeeon
The game is being streamed live on S4C Clic and YouTube Channel
Ebbw Start the New League With a Bang
Ebbw Vale`s first game in the new Super Rygbi Cymru league ended with the Steelmen collecting a bonus point victory in the September sun.
With the visitors taking the game to the Steelmen from the kick off, within the first few minutes of the game Ebbw Vale had a goal line dropout after full back Hamish Anderson touched down the ball behind the try line.
With Aberavon continuing to dominate territory and possession, the first try of the game soon came to the visitors when outside half Ed Dunford put in a good Crossfield kick for winger Connor Moyse to open the scoring. Flyhalf Dunford missed the conversion. The away side soon added to their advantage when number ten Dunford added a further three points to put his team eight points in front.
Soon Ebbw Vale got themselves onto the scoresheet, as as from a lineout in the Wizards half, an impressive driving maul was finished off by captain Joe Franchi. Last season`s top points scorer Evan Lloyd was unable to add the extra two points.
Straight from the restart. Ebbw Vale`s number eight Lewis Young made an explosive run through various defenders. With scrumhalf Jon Evans on his inside, Young passed the ball to Evans. Using his experience scrumhalf Evans put a clever chip over the covering defenders, only to be denied at the last moment with the referee adjudging the ball to have gone forward.
As the half wore on, the Steelmen`s forwards started to gain the upper hand and after constant pressure in the Aberavon twenty-two, quick ball out to outside centre Ethan Phillips, saw last years player of the season go over unopposed. The conversion by Lloyd went through the uprights.
Just before the half time break, the away side were reduced to fourteen men for ten minutes when front rower Rowan Jenkins was shown the yellow card.
From the resulting penalty Lloyd slotted over his attempt to extend Ebbw Vales lead to seven points at halftime.
Half time: Ebbw Vale RFC 15 Aberavon RFC 8
The second half started as the first ended, with the hosts adding their third try of the afternoon when young flanker Ewan McIntyre burst through a gap to finish off a very good team move. Fly half Lloyd kicked the conversion.
Ten minutes into the 2nd half, Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange replaced the front row of Luke Garrett, Adam Court and Joe Franchi with Morgan Davies, Adam Williams and Ieuan Morris.
From a lineout in the Wizard`s half, the Steelmen crossed the line again to score a bonus point try. In a powerful rolling maul at the lineout, the ball made its way to outside half Lloyd who found space, drew the defender and passed the ball to winger Ryan Gardner to go over in the corner. Lloyd was unsuccessful with the conversion.
The Steelmen coach Strange made a further change, bringing on centre Cameron Davies on for inside Centre Dom Franchi.
Two quick firer tries by Aberavon’s Connor Moyse and Fullback Scott Delnevo saw the deficit reduced to five points. Further changes by Ebbw Vale saw second row Dylan Bartlett, winger Ewan Bowden and flanker Ben Main be replaced by debutants Jack Pope and Josh Malson with the 3rd change seeing Kobi Rees come on in the back row
With the final play of the game, fullback Hamish Anderson showed a clean pair of heels down the wing to draw the man and pass to the supporting Jon Evans to score his team`s fifth and final try of the game. Lloyd finished the game by converting the conversion.
A hard-fought victory against a very competitive Aberavon team.
Full time: Ebbw Vale RFC 34 Aberavon RFC 22
Man Of The Match: Lewis Young
Tries: Joe Franchi (1), Ethan Phillips (1), Ewan McIntyre (1), Ryan Gardner (1), Jon Evans (1)
Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3) Pens: Evan Lloyd (1)
After the game we spoke with Ebbw Vale fullback Hamish Anderson,
Hamish said he felt the game went really well. He added there are some areas of development that need to be worked on but going to next week the team will look at the clips and correct the mistakes made during the game.
Hamish also said he was really excited to play fullback at this level, having had previous experience of playing the position, although his more natural position is as a winger.
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans
Thursday 19th September
In round 2 of the new Super Rygbi Cymru, TheSteelmen travel to Cardiff RFC on Thursday night for a live game on S4C Clic..
The Addicts are providing transport for the game, leaving the Welfare at 5.15pm and returning straight after the games.
See contact details on the Addicts page on the website to book your seats
Ebbw Vale RFC v Aberavon RFC
It’s the start of a new era in Welsh club rugby as the Steelmen entertain Aberavon RFC in the first round of the inaugural Super Rygbi Cymru competition.
Last season in the Indigo Premiership, both teams claimed 1 victory apiece, with the Steelmen coming out on top 41-8 at the CINER GLASS Community Stadium in April.
Jason Strange has selected a squad full of youth and experience for the opening fixture of the league season. Hamish Anderson starts at full back with Ryan Gardner and Ewan Bowden taking their place on the wing. Upfront, Dylan Bartlett and Curtis Gregory continue their partnership in the 2nd row while talented youngsters Ewan McIntyre and Ben Main join the experienced Lewis Young in the back row. Joe Franchi will continue to captain the squad.
The full Ebbw Vale team is as follows
15 Hamish Anderson 14 Ewan Bowden 13 Ethan Phillips 12 Dom Franchi 11 Ryan Gardner 10 Evan Lloyd 9 Jon Evans
1 Luke Garrett 2 Joe Franchi (CAPT) 3 Adam Court 4 Dylan Bartlett 5 Curtis Gregory 6 Ewan McIntyre 7 Ben Main 8 Lewis Young
Replacements
16 Ieuan Morris 17 Morgan Davies 18 Adam Williams 19 Jack Pope 20 Kobi Rees 21 Rory Harries 22 Josh Malson 23 Cameron Davies
On the new league Dom Franchi commented, “It’s always nice to be at home for the first game of the season. All the teams have strengthened, and it is going to be highly competitive from the first game to the very last.”
Match Day Information
Ebbw Vale RFC v Aberavon RFC
Saturday 14th September
CINER GLASS Community Stadium
Kick off 2.30pm
Sat Nav Postcode: NP23 5AZ
Admission Prices
FULL: £14
CONCESSION: £10
Please note there are no online ticket purchases for this match, however both card and cash payments will be able to be taken at the game.
Season Tickets
Season Tickets can be purchased online and collected at the club before the match on Saturday.
Ebbw Addicts Information
Our next fixture is on Thursday 19th September, when the Steelmen travel to the Arms Park to face Cardiff RFC for a game live on S4C Clic.
The Addicts are looking to provide transport to the above game. Please see the Addicts crew in the club shop on Saturday to book your seats on the bus.
#FeelTheSteel
Ebbw Vale RFC are pleased to announce that Joe Franchi will continue as captain of Ebbw Vale RFC for the 2024/25 season.
Joe, who is closing in on 200 appearances for the Steelmen stated, “As always, it’s a massive honour to captain my hometown club. We’ve got another very competitive squad this year and I’m confident we can build on the two semi-finals from last season and go one better this season.”
#FeelTheSteel
The Steelmen are delighted to announce the coaching setup for the first season of Super Rygbi Cymru.
Jason Strange will continue as head coach of Ebbw Vale RFC, with Steve Lang and Aaron Coundley starting their 3rd season as assistant coaches for the Steelmen.
There is a change at Strength and Conditioning Coach, following Nicky Strange’s decision to step down from the role, with former Steelman and Polish Rugby International Dawid Rubasniak becoming the new S&C coach.
There are also changes to the medical team with Nikki McLaughlin joining as head physio from Merthyr RFC. Nikki will work alongside Alan Hancock. Also joining the team are new physios Imogen McClelland and Gemma Hill.
Rhys Thomas will continue as the club doctor.
Dan Haymond will be the Team Manager for a 3rd season. While Andrew Phillips will continue in his team comms role.
The invaluable backroom staff continue for another season with Ron Taylor remaining as kit manager. The team will be supported on match days and training sessions by Dilwyn Snelgrove and Ashley Margetson throughout the season.
#FeelTheSteel
Ebbw Vale RFC are delighted to announce the signings of outside half Josh Malson and 2nd Row forward Alfred Bateman Lloyd.
Josh joins the Steelmen after appearing for both Newbridge RFC and Pontypool RFC last season. Josh has previously played for Talywain RFC.
On joining the Steelmen, Josh stated, “I’m very grateful to sign for this club with its great history and I’m excited for the year ahead with the boys.”
Also joining the squad is the latest signing from the link up between Christ College, Brecon and the Steelmen. Alfred Bateman Lloyd was part of the college’s first XV last season and also represented Welsh Crawshays.
On signing for the Steelmen, Alfred commented, “I an so excited to be part of this club and step up from youth to men’s rugby.”
#NewSignings #FeelTheSteel
Ebbw Vale RFC recorded their 2nd win of the preseason with a 27 -19 win against Clifton RFC on Saturday.
In what was a good’ physical workout for Jason Strange’s squad, over 30 players took to the field during the match.
The try scorers were: Joe Franchi, Ewan Bowden, Ben Main, Ieuan Morris and Jake Hopkins with a conversion from Josh Malson.
The focus will now turn to preparation for the Steelman’s first game in the new Super Rygbi Cymru which starts on Saturday 14th September with the visit of Aberavon to the CINER GLASS Community Stadium.
#FeelTheSteel