Monthly Archives: October 2024
Ebbw win down West
The Steelmen provided a storming second half performance to come away from Carmarthen Park with six points for the third game in a row, after playing in the autumn sun at Carmarthen.
Facing into the wind, the away side made their intentions clear from the start. Having lots of possession and territory in the Quins half, the visitors were unable to cross the line after good defence by the hosts.
The first points of the afternoon came to the visitors when fly half Evan Lloyd successfully kicked a penalty to put Ebbw Vale three points to the good.
However, the home side quickly hit back. The Steelmen were unable to collect a kick from deep inside the Quins half, and winger Louis Rees took the opportunity to race clear and touch the ball down over the line. Home outside half Aled Thomas was unable to add the two points.
Ebbw Vale`s head coach Jason Strange was forced into a first half substitution when prop Morgan Williams left the field injured to be replaced by Luke Garrett.
With the away side having lots of the ball, good defence by Carmarthen ended with referee Mike English awarding the away side a penalty. Number ten Lloyd successfully added the three points to put his team in the lead by one point.
On the stroke of half time, a penalty by the Quins fly half Thomas, saw the home side go into the break two points in the lead.
Half Time: Carmarthen Quins RFC 8 Ebbw Vale RFC 6
The away side came out for the second half with the wind behind their backs. With Lloyd putting Ebbw Vale inside the Carmarthen twenty-two from a penalty, referee English awarded Ebbw a penalty try after the maul was collapsed by the try line. English also showed Carmarthen prop James Newnian a yellow card.
Ebbw Vale replacement prop Adam Court came on for Adam Williams shortly afterwards.
However, the away sides numerical advantage was to be short lived when referee English showed the Steelmen’s number eight Sion Parry a yellow card to reduce both sides to fourteen men. The home side’s fly half Thomas took advantage and kicked three points to reduce the deficit to two points.
With the Ebbw forwards building up a head of steam, referee English showed Carmarthen replacement prop Lewis Jones a yellow card for il- discipline.
After kicking to the corner from the resulting penalty, the forwards set up a maul. With the backs joining hooker Joe Franchi dived over the line to score Ebbw’s second try of the afternoon. Top points scorer Lloyd added the extras.
However, Franchi’s afternoon was to be cut short when coach Strange replaced the captain with Ieuan Morris.
The substitute was about to make his mark, when from another driving maul inside the Carmarthen twenty-two, Morris finished the move off by touching the ball down over the line. Lloyd again kicked the conversion.
With the away side pulling further ahead, Ebbw replaced flanker’s Jack Pope and Ben Main with Ewan McIntyre and Kobi Rees and shortly after Morgan Richards and Ieuan Evans came on for Matt Jones and Ewan Bowden.
With the Steelmen’s forwards putting the hosts defence under pressure, another driving maul from a lineout inside the Carmarthen twenty-two saw replacement Morris crossed for his second try of the game and the away side’s fourth. Lloyd added the extra two points.
The final substitution of the afternoon for the visitor’s saw scrum half Rory Harries be replaced by Dan Buffery, who came on to make his league debut.
The final try of the afternoon came from the final play of the game. After setting up another unstoppable rolling maul from a lineout in the Quin’s twenty-two, replacement Morris scored a hat trick of tries to round off a fine performance. However, on this occasion, Lloyd sent the ball wide of the uprights.
Full Time: Carmarthen Quins RFC 11 Ebbw Vale RFC 39
Tries: Penalty try (1), Joe Franchi (1), Ieuan Morris (3)
Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3)
Penalties: Evan Lloyd (2)
Quiz Question
When else , if ever, have two different hookers, scored a hat-trick for the club in consecutive matches?
Congratulations Joe Franchi and Ieuan Morris
Ebbw Vale finish the first block of seven games having won six and lost one.
The squad now has a three weeks break until Saturday 23rd November when they will face Newport RFC at The Ciner Glass Community Stadium with a 2.30pm kick off . The SRC Challenger Shield will be on the line in the Gwent derby.
Report written by: Alex Kinsella-Evans
The Steelmen travel to Carmarthen Park this Saturday to face Carmarthen Quins in the 7th Round of Super Rygbi Cymru. The Steelmen did the double over Carmarthen Quins last season winning 28-24 at Carmarthen Park in a televised game on S4C Clic. The match saw onE of the youngest squads ever to take the field for the Steelmen.
The game will see the Steelmen look to win their fifth game in a row in the new competition.
Jason Strange makes several changes to the starting XV for this weekend’s game. There are 2 changes in the pack with Ben Main coming into the back row and Sion Parry moving to number 8. Rory Harries starts in place of Jon Evans at scrum half.
Replacements will be named before kick-off on Saturday.
The full squad is as follows:
15 Matt Jones 14 Harry Rees-Weldon 13 Cameron Davies 12 Dom Franchi 11 Ewan Bowden 10 Evan Lloyd 9 Rory Harries
1 Morgan Williams 2 Joe Franchi 3 Adam Williams 4 Dylan Bartlett 5 Curtis Gregory 6 Jack Pope 7 Ben Main 8 Sion Parry
Replacements
To Be Confirmed…
The game against Quins will be the last match in the first block of Super Rygbi Cymru with the league taking a month hiatus before returning on the 23rd November.
Match Day Information
Carmarthen Quins v Ebbw Vale RFC
Saturday 26th October
Carmarthen Park
Kick off 2.30pm
Carmarthen Quins Clubhouse
2 Morfa Ln,
Carmarthen
SA31 3AX
EA Travel
The Supporters Bus will be leaving the Welfare at 12.00pm.
The Welfare will be open from 10.30am.
#FeelTheSteel
Ebbw claimed yet another six-pointer, on the road defeating Bridgend 34-18 at the Dunraven Brewery Field.
A lovely afternoon and a luscious green baize to work with should have set the afternoon up for some terrific running rugby, but with a heavy tailwind behind them, Ebbw couldn’t make it pay, yielding only an early Evan Lloyd penalty to give the visitors the lead.
It was then the hosts who struck the first blow, taking advantage of the extra man and McCauley Rowley crossed in the corner to get the game’s first try. Burnell missing the conversion, his second missed kick of the game so far.
A match marred with errors and inaccuracies soon saw Liam Tobias join Dom Franchi in the sin bin and the Ebbw pack crashed over to give Joe Franchi the first of his three tries.
The game was bubbling, and soon came to a boil when Ebbw number eight Ryan Jenkins saw straight red for a tip tackle, sandwiched by two Burnell penalties. The half came to a close with Evan Lloyd, the league’s top points scorer, converting a penalty.
HALF TIME: Bridgend Ravens 11-13 Ebbw Vale
A double prop change early in the second half was the turning point for The Steelmen. A penalty try and yellow card to Bridgend second row Evan Hill was quickly followed by Franchi’s brace. The Ravens decimated by the Vale rolling maul.
The hosts were not done yet though. With the gap sitting at 16, Hill returned to the pitch to give his side the man advantage once more and it was the lock who crossed the whitewash to bring Bridgend back within two scores. The momentum lasted just nine minutes, Hill seeing red following a second yellow.
Franchi then crossed for his hat-trick following 5 consecutive rolling mauls taking Ebbw 65m up-field, and the win was sealed, Ebbw remaining second in the table, a couple of points behind frontrunners Cardiff, who themselves took maximum points this weekend.
Ebbw now get set to travel to Carmarthen Quins in a week’s time.
FULL TIME: Bridgend 18-34 Ebbw Vale
Scorers:
Tries: Joe Franchi (3), Penalty Try
Pens: Evan Lloyd (2) Cons: Evan Lloyd (3)
Report by Robert Rees
The Steelmen travel to the Dunraven Brewery Field this Saturday to face the Bridgend Ravens in the 6th Round of Super Rygbi Cymru. The game will see the Steelmen look to win their fourth game in a row in the new competition. The Ravens have also had an excellent start to the new season winning 3 of their first 5 matches. The Steelmen did the double over Bridgend Ravens last season winning 36-13 at the Brewery Field
Jason Strange makes several changes to the starting XV for this weekend’s game. There are 2 changes in the pack with Morgan Williams starting in the front row and Sion Parry returning in the back row. The match will also see Curtis Gregory make his 50th appearance for the Steelmen. There is no change with the backline.
The full squad is as follows:
15 Matt Jones 14 Harry Rees-Weldon 13 Cameron Davies 12 Dom Franchi 11 Ewan Bowden 10 Evan Lloyd 9 Jon Evans
1 Morgan Williams 2 Joe Franchi 3 Adam Williams 4 Dylan Bartlett 5 Curtis Gregory 6 Jack Pope 7 Sion Parry 8 Ryan Jenkins
Replacements
16 Ieuan Morris 17 Luke Garrett 18 Adam Court 19 Lewis Young 20 Ben Main 21 Rory Harries 22 Josh Malson 23 Ieuan Evans
Match Day Information
Bridgend Ravens v Ebbw Vale RFC
Saturday 19th October
Dunraven Brewery Field
Tondu Road
CF31 4JE
Kick off 2.30pm
For those making their own way to Bridgend the Sat Nav Postcode: CF31 4JE
EA Travel
The Supporters Bus will be leaving the Welfare at 12.00pm.
The Welfare will be open from 10.30am for breakfast rolls and refreshments.
Ebbw claim their first six pointer
The Steelmen successfully defended the SRC Challenger Shield at home against RGC in a game where the bench made the difference in the second half, on another sunny autumn afternoon at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium.
The home side came out of the blocks quickly, with the forwards having the grit between their teeth, typified by number eight Ryan Jenkins using his strength time and time again by getting over the gain line and beating defender after defender. However, despite the forwards using the powerful driving maul on numerous occasions, the hosts were unable to get over the try line.
Against the run of play, the away side took the lead. With the wind behind their backs, an impressive penalty kick from inside the Gogs half by full back Sam Earl-Jones got the scoreboard moving.
Moments later, the away side scored the first try of the afternoon. After a kick into the RGC half, the ball was in the hands of winger Sam Stoddard, who broke through the home defence, kicked the ball and collected it unopposed to score a well taken try. Outside half Billy McBryde added the extras.
Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange was forced into his first substitution early in the first half when winger Ewan Bowden was replaced by Ieuan Evans.
The visitors widened their lead to thirteen points when from a similar kick to his first one, inside his own half, full back Earl-Jones sent the ball through the middle of the sticks.
After a few penalties, further good work by the Ebbw forwards, saw the pack set up another maul, only for it to be held up on the line.
However, the hosts were soon on the scoreboard. From a five-metre scrum, in front of the away side’s posts, the Steelmen’s number nine Jonathan Evans picked up the ball from the feet of number eight Jenkins, saw the space in defence and went over the try line. Top points scorer Evan Lloyd successfully kicked the conversion to score the final points of the first half.
Half Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 7 RGC 13
With the away side having the ball, an interception from around the halfway line by substitute Ieuan Evans, saw the replacement look likely to score an interception try. However, the covering defence came across to tackle the winger into touch.
Shortly after, the home side were reduced to fourteen men after referee Matthew Leon showed second row Curtis Gregory a yellow card for ill-discipline.
The Gogs took advantage of their numerical advantage when fly half McBryde slotted a penalty over the posts.
Two further changes by Ebbw coach Strange saw props Morgan Davies and Adam Williams be replaced by Luke Garrett and Adam Court.
The hosts first points of the second half came when number ten Lloyd successfully kicked a penalty to reduce the away sides lead to six points.
Mounting concerted pressure in the hosts twenty-two for over five minutes, the RGC forwards battered their way at the try line, only to be stopped time and again by some heroic defending by the home side.
More positive play by the Steelmen’s number eight Jenkins, saw the young number eight carry the ball well, use his strength to shrug off various defenders and gain valuable metres for his side. However, the Steelmen were unable to capitalise on the advantage.
Further changes by Ebbw Vale saw hooker Joe Franchi be replaced by Ieuan Morris and moments later Lewis Young came on for Ryan Jenkins.
With the home sides substitutions making a difference, the Steelmen were awarded a scrum on the visitors five metres. After the Gogs were being penalised at the scrum on numerous occasions, referee Leon showed the away side’s number eighteen Patrick Nelson a yellow card.
After continuing to penalise the away side from the scrum, referee Leon had no alternative but to go under the sticks and award a penalty try to the Steelmen.
The home sides final change of the afternoon saw flanker Kobi Rees come on for Ben Main.
The visitors attempted to play from inside their own half after going behind in the game for the first time. After dropping the ball, home replacement winger Ieuan Evans crossed the line to score his sides third try of the game. Lloyd added the two points.
With the final play of the game and with the Steelmen’s forwards on top, scrum half Jonathan Evans picked up the ball from a ruck inside the away side’s twenty-two. Using his experience and quick thinking, Evans darted through defenders to cross for the bonus point try. Lloyd kicked the conversion with the final kick of the game to extend Ebbw’s lead to fifteen points and earn the Steelmen a further bonus point.
Full Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 31 RGC 16
Tries: Jonathan Evans (2), Ieuan Evans (1), Penalty try (1)
Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3)
Penalty: Evan Lloyd (1)
MOM: Jon Evans
After the game we spoke with Ebbw Vale’s full back Matt Jones. Matt thought Ebbw had a lot of possession in the first half, however, they were unable to convert them into points. Matt paid tribute to RGC saying they came out of the blocks firing and are a physical team and acknowledged the team had to put in an improved performance in the second half to come away with the win.
Pictures courtesy of Ebbw Players
Ebbw Vale’s next game in the league is away to Bridgend RFC at the Dunraven Brewery Field on Saturday 19th October 2024 with kick off at 2:30pm
Written by: Alex Kinsella-Evans
The Steelmen Welcome RGC!
The Steelmen welcome RGC to the CINER GLASS Community Stadium this Saturday in the 5th Round of Super Rygbi Cymru. The game will see the Steelmen defend the SRC Challengers Shield for the first time having won it last weekend after beating Llandovery RFC at Church Bank.
RGC arrive at the CINER GLASS after winning two of their first four matches in Super Rygbi Cymru including an eye catching 61 – 42 victory over Pontypool RFC in ROUND 3. The Steelmen arrive back on home turf after completing the double over Llandovery RFC last weekend with a 31 -28 victory at Church Bank courtesy of a last-minute penalty from Evan Lloyd.
The Steelmen did the double over RGC last season winning 26-10 at the CINER GLASS Community Stadium.
Jason Strange makes several changes to the starting XV for this weekend’s game. There are 2 changes in the pack with Morgan Davies starting in the front row and Jack Pope moving to the back row.
There is one change in the backline with Cameron Davies starting in the place of Ethan Phillips at centre. Kobi Rees, Ieuan Evans and Adam Court come onto the bench.
The full squad is as follows:
15 Matt Jones 14 Harry Rees-Weldon 13 Cameron Davies 12 Dom Franchi 11 Ewan Bowden 10 Evan Lloyd 9 Jon Evans
1 Morgan Davies 2 Joe Franchi 3 Adam Williams 4 Dylan Bartlett 5 Curtis Gregory 6 Jack Pope 7 Ben Main 8 Ryan Jenkins
Replacements
16 Ieuan Morris 17 Luke Garrett 18 Adam Court 19 Lewis Young 20 Kobi Rees 21 Rory Harries 22 Josh Malson 23 Ieuan Evan
Match Day Information
Ebbw Vale RFC v RGC
Saturday 12th October
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.
Steelmen claim the shield
Ebbw came away from Church Bank with a nail-biting win and a successful challenge to grab the SRC Challenge Shield from Llandovery in the Drover`s first home game of the season on an afternoon that was played in dry but windy conditions.
The away side scored the first points of the afternoon when flyhalf Evan Lloyd successfully kicked a penalty from just outside the Drovers twenty-two. However, the hosts soon hit back with a break up the wing from inside their own half ended with fullback Jac Davies crossing the line to score a well taken try, outside half Steffan-Jac Jones added the extras.
Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange was forced into an early change when in form flanker Ewan McIntyre was replaced by Jack Pope due to injury.
The away side reduced the deficit to one point when number ten Lloyd slotted his second penalty from a similar position to his first one. Marksman Lloyd then put his team into the lead for the first time during the afternoon with his third successful penalty.
Both teams were reduced to fourteen men when an altercation occurred which resulted in the steelmen`s flyhalf Evan Lloyd and Llandovery prop Berian Watkins spending ten minutes in the sin bin. From a lineout in the home side`s twenty-two the Ebbw Vale pack built up ahead of steam with a rolling maul which ended with captain Joe Franchi crashing over the line. In Lloyd’s absence centre Ethan Phillips was unsuccessful with the conversion.
Just prior to halftime Llandovery converted their pressure into points with second row Will Evans using his power to cross the line. Flyhalf Jones levelled the scores just before halftime.
Halftime: Llandovery RFC 14 Ebbw Vale RFC 14
Shortly into the second half the visitors were forced into their second change of the afternoon when influential outside centre Ethan Phillips was replaced by Cameron Davies.
With the Ebbw Vale forwards having the grit between their teeth, from a lineout inside the Drovers twenty-two, another rolling maul was finished off by captain Franchi scoring his second try of the game. Lloyd kicked the conversion from a difficult angle to put his team seven points ahead.
Further changes by the Steelmen management saw experienced prop Luke Garrett be replaced by Morgan Davies.
A lovely fifty twenty-two kick by Ebbw`s Lloyd put the visitor`s on the front foot with a lineout in the hosts twenty-two. After sustained pressure by the visitors a good backs move was rounded off by young winger Harry Rees-Weldon diving over in the corner to score Ebbw Vale`s third try of the game. number ten Lloyd successfully kicked another difficult conversion.
Strange made two more changes to the side when hooker Ieaun Morris came on for captain Joe Franchi and Lewis Young replaced number eight Ryan Jenkins.
However, the momentum changed when the home side were camped in Ebbw Vale`s twenty-two. Referee Rhys Jones sent Ebbw second row Dylan Bartlett to the sin bin for an infringement. With the extra man, the Drovers made their numerical advantage count when hooker Taylor Davies scored a try. Replacement outside half Jack Maynard kicked the conversion.
The Steelmen were given an opportunity to go more than one score ahead from a penalty inside the hosts half. However, marksman Lloyd was uncharacteristically off target with his kick.
The home side levelled the game for the second time when replacement hooker Finn Thomas crashed over the line. Maynard levelled the scores with the conversion.
The final change of the afternoon for the away side saw prop Adam Williams be replaced by Owen Hatherill with approximately five minutes left.
With time running out referee Jones awarded Ebbw a penalty to give the Steelmen a chance to come away from Church Bank with the victory. Lloyd stepped up with the final kick of the game to send the ball through the middle of the uprights to win the game and claim the shield for the away side.
Fulltime: Llandovery RFC 28 Ebbw Vale RFC 31
Tries: Joe Franchi (2), Harry Rees-Weldon (1)
Conversions: Evan Lloyd (2)
Penalties: Evan Lloyd (4)
Picture courtesy of NCR Photography
Ebbw Vale`s next game is at home against RGC on Saturday 12th of October 2024 with kick off at 2:30pm where they will defend the SRC Challenger Shield for the first time.
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans
The Steelmen return to action in Round 4 of Super Rygbi Cymru in the second of the back-to-back games against Llandovery RFC. In a fast-paced, highly competitive game last weekend, the Steelmen came out on top beating the Drovers 38-29 at the CINER GLASS Community Stadium and scoring 4 tries in the process
The match will also see the two teams compete for the SRC Challenger Shield. The first two teams to do so.
SRC Challenger Shield Info
The holding team must defend the shield in all home games during the regular season. If the challenger beats them, they will become the new holder of the shield and required to defend it at their next home game. Llandovery, as the current League champions, are the first holders of the shield with Ebbw Vale being the very first challengers to try and win the shield.
Steelmen Team Info
There have been a few changes to the team which beat the Drovers at the CINER GLASS Community Stadium last weekend with Ben Main and Ryan Jenkins coming into the back row. Adam Williams comes into the starting XV at tight head while Owen Hatherill comes onto the bench.
The full Ebbw Vale team 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 Williams 4 Dylan Bartlett 5 Curtis Gregory 6 Ewan McIntyre 7 Ben Main 8 Ryan Jenkins
Replacements
16 Ieuan Morris, 17 Morgan Davies 18 Owen Hatherill 19 Jack Pope 20 Lewis Young 21 Rory Harries 22 Josh Malson 23 Cameron Davies
#FeelTheSteel
Match information
Saturday 5th October
Llandovery RFC v Ebbw Vale RFC
Kick Off 2.30pm
Church Bank Playing Fields
Llandovery, SA20 0BA
For those travelling by car, the post code is SA20 0BA
Ebbw Addicts
The Addicts are providing transport to the match and will be leaving the Welfare at 11am.
The Welfare will be open for breakfast rolls and refreshments from 10am.
The Addicts will return from Llandovery RFC at 5.30pm