Monthly Archives: February 2025
The Steelmen play against Newport RFC for the 2nd time in 9 days at the CINER GLASS Community Stadium, this time in the 3rd group game of the SRC Cup.
The Steelmen will be looking to win their 3rd game in the cup having beaten Carmarthen Quins and Pontypool RFC in group B of the SRC Cup so far.
Jason Strange has made 4 changes to the starting XV that beat Newport RFC in Super Rygbi Cymru last week with Ewan Bowden and Ryan Jenkins returning to the match day squad. There are also 2 changes in the front row with Morgan Davies and Adam Court returning to the starting XV.
The full squad is as follows:
15 Morgan Richards 14 Ewan Bowden 13 Ieuan Evans 12 Dom Franchi 11 Ryan Gardner 10 Evan Lloyd 9 Gruff Tough
1 Morgan Davies 2 Joe Franchi © 3 Adam Court 4 Dylan Bartlett 5 Curtis Gregory 6 Jack Pope 7 Sion Parry 8 Ryan Jenkins
Replacements
16 Ieuan Morris 17 Luke Garrett 18 Adam Williams 19 Cameron Regan 20 Lewis Young 21 Rory Harries 22 Kobi Rees 23 Hamish Anderson
Match Details
Ebbw Vale RFC v Newport RFC
CINER GLASS Community Stadium
Kick Off: 2.30pm
Tickets can be purchased at the gate on match day. Both cash and card can be used to purchase match day tickets
Admission Prices:
Full Price £14
Concession: £10
Ebbw win televised derby
The Steelmen claimed a bonus point victory over Newport in a game that was played in front of the S4C Clic cameras. The game saw Lewis Young make his 150th appearance for the club and Morgan Richards on his 50th.
The away side started the game on the front foot. However, despite being awarded two kickable penalties, the Black and Ambers declined the opportunities and kicked to touch. On both occasions they failed to trouble the scoreboard. With the Ebbw forwards getting on top, referee Keith David awarded the home side a penalty. Ebbw Vale flyhalf Evan Lloyd duly obliged and put his team three points ahead.
Moments later the hosts scored the first try of the game. From a lineout inside the Newport twenty two, the Steelmen forwards, joined by the backs set up a rolling maul. Dylan Bartlett was the final player to score the try. Number ten Lloyd added the extra two points.
After awarding Newport a penalty inside their own half, referee David showed Ebbw captain Joe Franchi a yellow card just before the half time interval.
Half Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 10 Newport RFC 0
The second half started the same way as the first finished with the home side on top. Countless reset scrums on the visitors five metre line finished with Ebbw being awarded another penalty. Lloyd successfully kicked the penalty.
Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange made his first few changes of the game with Morgan Davies and Adam Court replacing Adam Williams and Luke Garrett. Minutes later captain Joe Franchi was replaced by Ieuan Morris.
Moments later the hosts extended their lead further. A sublime out of the back of the hand pass by Evan Lloyd to Harry Rees-Weldon left the young winger with plenty to do. Slicing through the defence and stepping outside of the covering defender, Rees-Weldon touched down for Ebbw’s second try of the evening. Lloyd successfully added the extras to put the hosts twenty points to the good.
The final changes of the evening for Ebbw saw scrum half Rory Harries replace Gruff Tough, Lewis Young came off for Jacob Hopkins, Sion Parry was replaced by Kobi Rees and Jack Pope came off for Cameron Reagan.
With full time approaching, Newport were awarded a penalty inside the Steelmen’s half. After the forwards went through the phases, Garin Harris used his power to score Newport a solitary try of the game. Outside half Matt O’Brien was unable to convert the conversion.
Full Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 20 Newport RFC 5
Tries: Dylan Bartlett (1), Harry Rees-Weldon (1)
Conversions: Evan Lloyd (2)
Penalties: Evan Lloyd (2)
Ebbw Vale Addicts MOTM: Sion Parry
S4c MOTM: Adam Williams
Ebbw Vale RFC face Newport RFC again next at The Ciner Glass Community Stadium on Saturday 1st March 2025 in the SRC Cup, with kick off at 2:30pm.
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans
Ebbw Win Away at Pontypool
The Steelmen came away from Pontypool Park on Saturday with a hard fought win, in a game that was played in wet weather conditions.
The home side took the lead after ex Ebbw player Kieran Meek slotted a penalty through the centre of the posts to score the first points of the afternoon.
Despite the away side not making the most of their opportunities, the first try of the afternoon came to Ebbw. From a lineout inside the Pooler half, a darting run by scrum half Gruff Tough saw the young number nine show his pace and nimble feet to avoid being tackled and score the opening try of the game. Outside half Evan Lloyd duly kicked the conversion.
A further penalty by the hosts fly half Meek saw the home side go into the break only one point behind.
Half Time: Pontypool RFC 6 Ebbw Vale RFC 7
Shortly into the second half, the Steelmen struck again. From quick ball, some quick, smooth passing in midfield saw the ball make its way out to flanker Kobi Rees on the wing. With the line in front of him, the flanker used his strength to cross the line out wide for Ebbw Vale’s second try of the afternoon. Lloyd on this occasion was unsuccessful with the conversion.
Moments later some good footwork by the visitor’s scrumhalf Tough, saw the number nine control the ball excellently. With the line in front of him the scrum half was not able to keep hold of the ball, to extend the lead further.
Midway through the second half, Ebbw Vale made seven substitutions at once. Replacement forwards Luke Garrett, Joe Franchi, Adam Williams, Dylan Bartlett, Sion Parry and Jacob Hopkins came on for Morgan Williams, Ieuan Morris, Adam Court, Kobi Rees, Cameron Regan and Lewis Young in the pack. An injury to Cameron Davies saw the young inform centre be replaced by scrum half Rory Harries, in what saw an adjustment to the backline.
With the Pontypool pack going through some phases, the home side took the lead for the first time in the afternoon. Number eight Morgan Allen powered his way over the line to score Pooler’s only try of the afternoon. Meek successfully added the two points.
However, the away side were to take advantage of the hosts ill-discipline during the last ten minutes. Two penalties by Evan Lloyd saw the Steelmen get over the line and claim the victory.
Full Time: Pontypool RFC 13 Ebbw Vale RFC 18
Try scorers: Gruff Tough (1), Kobi Rees (1)
Conversion: Evan Lloyd (1)
Penalties: Evan Lloyd (2)
Ebbw Vale’s next game sees them return to league action on Thursday 20th February 2025, where the shield is on the line against Newport RFC at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium in front of the S4C Clic camera’s. Kick off is 7:30pm.
Fixture Update – Bridgend Ravens
Our Super Rygbi Cymru fixture against Bridgend Ravens has been moved to Thursday 27th March for live coverage on S4C Clic. It will have a 7.30pm kick off.
Pontypool RFC v Ebbw Vale RFC
The Steelmen return to action in the second group game of the SRC Cup against Pontypool RFC at Pontypool Park on Saturday. The Steelmen won the opening game of the cup competition against Carmarthen Quins by 24 – 7.
This is the 3rd meeting of the season for the two team having played back-to-back Christmas derbies in December with Pontypool RFC winning at Pontypool Park before the Steelmen beat their Gwent rivals a week later at the CINER GLASS Community Stadium
Jason Strange has once again selected a squad full of youth and experience for the 2nd fixture of SRC Cup.
Young Dragons Academy players, Morgan Williams and Kobi Rees, who have been with the Steelmen for the last 2 seasons, come into the starting lineup in the front row and back row respectively.
Ieuan Morris returns to the starting XV at hooker, while Jack Pope starts in the 2nd row. Cameron Regan starts at 6. Dom Franchi will captain the team.
The full Ebbw Vale team is as follows
15 Morgan Richards 14 Ryan Gardner 13 Cam Davies 12 Dom Franchi (CAPT) 11 Ieuan Evans 10 Evan Lloyd 9 Gruff Tough
1 Morgan Williams 2 Ieuan Morris 3 Adam Court 4 Jack Pope 5 Curtis Gregory 6 Cameron Regan 7 Kobi Rees 8 Lewis Young
Replacements
16 Joe Franchi 17 Luke Garrett 18 Adam Williams 19 Dylan Bartlett 20 Ryan Jenkins 21 Rory Harries 22 Sion Parry 23 Hamish Anderson
Match Day Information
Pontypool RFC v Ebbw Vale RFC
Saturday 15th February
Pontypool Park
Kick off 2.30pm
Reminder that entrance to ground will be through card payment only.
