Monthly Archives: January 2025
Ebbw win again
Ebbw Vale eventually wore Carmarthen Quins down in the first round of the SRC cup, to claim six points in a game played in all different weather conditions.
The away side were quick out of the blocks, winning clean ball and piling on the pressure early on. However, they were unable to convert their early pressure into points, with flying half Osian Jones sending the ball wide of the posts.
With the Steelmen in possession of the ball on the half-way line, quick ball and a quick pass by number eight Lewis Young to number ten Evan Lloyd, saw the Ebbw outside half in space with an overlap. A lovely break by Lloyd, saw the fly half draw the covering defenders and throw an audacious out of the back of the hand pass to the supporting scrum half Gruff Tough. With no defenders in front of him Tough went over unopposed to score his first try for the club. Lloyd added the extra two points.
The only other points of the first half came through a Rhys Fawcett try for the Quins after a sustained amount of pressure. Replacement Elis Payne brought the score level at seven a piece.
On the stroke of half time a tackle into touch on Ebbw winger Ewan Bowden, saw the number fourteen be helped off at the interval.
Half-time: Ebbw Vale RFC 7 Carmarthen Quins RFC 7
The hosts were forced into a change at the beginning of the second half with winger Ryan Gardner replacing the unfortunate Bowden.
Further changes by stand in Ebbw Vale head coach Aaron Coundley saw props Morgan Davies and Adam Williams replace Adam Court and Luke Garrett. Number eight Lewis Young came off for Jacob Hopkins, second row Dylan Bartlett replaced Gethin Williams and Sion Parry came on for Ewan Mcintyre.
Carmarthen were reduced to fourteen men due to ill discipline when referee Matthew Leon showed Quins replacement Iestyn Wood a yellow card.
The hosts were to take advantage of the numerical advantage, when after applying pressure on the away sides line, saw replacement Jacob Hopkins use his strength to barge over the line out wide. Lloyd was unsuccessful with the conversion from out wide.
Ebbw Vale replaced scrum half Gruff Tough with Rory Harries midway through the half.
Further sustained pressure from the Steelmen forwards resulted in prop Morgan Davies picking up the ball from a ruck and powering over the line to score the home sides third try. Lloyd was unable to add the two points.
The final try of the game came in the closing moments. With the Ebbw forwards having the grit between their teeth, an all mity push at the scrum on the five-metre line, saw the Carmarthen pack go back at a rate of nots. With the ball at his feet replacement number eight Hopkins dived on the ball to score Ebbw’s bonus point try. Lloyd successfully kicked the conversion to bring the game to a close.
Full-time: Ebbw Vale RFC 24 Carmarthen Quins RFC 7
Ebbw Vale next travel to Pontypool Park to play Pontypool RFC in both teams second game of the group on Saturday 15th February 2025, with kick off at 2:30pm.
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans
SRC Cup
Ebbw Vale RFC v Carmarthen Quins
The Steelmen return to action in the first group game of the SRC Cup against Carmarthen Quins at the CINER GLASS Community Stadium on Saturday.
The new competition sees the Steelmen in the same group as Newport RFC, Pontypool RFC, Swansea RFC and Quins with the group winners making the inaugural SRC Cup Final.
Jason Strange has selected a squad full of youth and experience for the opening fixture of SRC Cup.
Gruff Tough starts for the first time at scrum half with Morgan Richards returning at full back. Ewan Bowden and Ieuan Evans start on the wing
Upfront, Gethin Williams makes his first start for the Steelmen since returning from injury, while Lewis Young, Ben Main and Ewan McIntyre start in the backrow.
Jacob Hopkins will be looking to make his first appearance for the Steelmen from the bench having previously featured in the preseason games against Newbridge RFC and Clifton RFC
The full Ebbw Vale team is as follows
15 Morgan Richards 14 Ewan Bowden 13 Cam Davies 12 Dom Franchi 11 Ieuan Evans 10 Evan Lloyd 9 Gruff Tough
1 Luke Garrett 2 Joe Franchi (CAPT) 3 Adam Court 4 Gethin Williams 5 Curtis Gregory 6 Ewan McIntyre 7 Ben Main 8 Lewis Young
Replacements
16 A.N.Other 17 Morgan Davies 18 Adam Williams 19 Dylan Bartlett 20 Sion Parry 21 Jacob Hopkins 22 Rory Harries 23 Ryan Gardner
Match Day Information
Ebbw Vale RFC v Carmarthen Quins
Saturday 25th January
CINER GLASS Community Stadium
Kick off 2.30pm
Sat Nav Postcode: NP23 5AZ
Season Tickets
The match will be FREE entry for all Ebbw Vale RFC season ticket holders. Just show you season ticket at the gate.
Admission Prices
FULL: £14
CONCESSION: £10
Tickets can be purchased online at the following link: https://www.evrfc.co.uk/product-category/match-day-tickets/
RGC V Ebbw Vale RFC
The Steelmen travel to North Wales to face RGC in the last fixture of block 2 of Super Rygbi Cymru having beaten Pontypool RFC 34 – 3 in their previous match.
The Steelmen will be looking to maintain their position at the top of Super Rygbi Cymru with victory at Parc Eirias having won the corresponding fixture last season by 35 – 14.
The two teams met earlier in the season at the CINER GLASS Community Stadium with Ebbw Vale RFC winning by 31 points to 16.
Jason Strange has made a number of changes to the Steelmen squad for the trip to North Wales. Ryan Gardner comes into the starting XV on the wing while Ieuan Evans returns on the bench.
The full Ebbw Vale team is as follows:
15 Matt Jones 14 Ryan Gardner 13 Cameron Davies 12 Dom Franchi 11 Hamish Anderson 10 Evan Lloyd 9 Rory Harries
1 Morgan Davies 2 Joe Franchi (c) 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 Gruff Tough 22 Morgan Richards 23 Ieuan Evans
Please note the change to the kick off time
RGC V EBBW VALE RFC
Saturday 4th January
PARC EIRIAS
Kick Off 3.00pm
Ebbw Addicts Travel
Saturday 4th January
The Welfare will be open from 8.00am for breakfast rolls and refreshments before leaving for North Wales at 9.00am.
Sunday 5th January
Bus is expected back at the Welfare for 5pm having stopped off in Hereford for lunch
