Monthly Archives: March 2025
Steelmen score big
Ebbw Vale ran in eight tries against Bridgend Ravens on Thursday night, in a game played in front of the S4C Clic camera’s.
The home side were quick out of the blocks. Within a minute, referee Craig Evans awarded a penalty to the hosts inside the Bridgend twenty. Outside half Evan Lloyd kicked the penalty to the corner. From the resulting lineout, the Ebbw forwards set up a rolling maul, which ended with number eight Ryan Jenkins powering over the line to score the games first try. Fly half Lloyd was unsuccessful with the conversion.
Moments later. A smart 50:22 kick by the hosts number ten Lloyd, gave Ebbw a lineout in the Ravens twenty-two.
From the lineout, the hosts forwards and backs made inroads into the visitor’s defence. Quick ball out of the ruck to Lloyd, saw the number ten take the tackle and pass out to winger Ryan Gardner, to score in the corner. Lloyd was unable to add the extras.
With the away side having some ball, from a scrum in the Steelmen’s twenty-two, Bridgend were awarded a penalty. After a kick to the corner, the visitors were awarded a further penalty from the lineout. Referee Evans showed second row Curtis Gregory the yellow card for early contact at the lineout.
The away side scored their first try of the game when from the lineout, hooker Corey Lewis barged over the line. The visitors fly half Paul Short sent the conversion through the posts.
Within minutes Ebbw Vale scored their third try of the game. Good play by the backs saw scrum half Rory Harries chip the ball through in the Ravens twenty-two and outsprint the covering defence to score. Lloyd missed the conversion.
Referee Evans awarded the Ravens a penalty just outside the hosts twenty-two. Fly half Short kicked the penalty to reduce the deficit to five points.
Around the half hour mark, referee Evans awarded Bridgend prop Harry Olding a yellow card for not wrapping his arms at a tackle.
With the visitors reduced to fourteen men, a lovely kick down the line by Ebbw winger Ryan Gardner, saw the last line of the Bridgend defence have no option but to take the ball into touch. From the resulting lineout, referee Evans awarded the Steelmen a penalty try when the away side’s hooker Corey Lewis collapsed the rolling maul. Lewis was subsequently sent to the sin bin for ten minutes to reduce the away side to thirteen.
Being on the backfoot, the Ravens only stopped Ebbw from scoring a further try when the ball was knocked on, when at the line. From the scrum five metres out, an almighty push by the Vale pack, saw them win the ball against the head and power over the line for Ryan Jenkins to score his second try of the game. Fly half Lloyd was unsuccessful with the conversion.
From the kick off, Ebbw Vale reclaimed the ball. A kicking contest was eventually ended when the Assistant referee judged a Bridgend kick to have gone out of play on the full. With play taken back into the Ravens half, a lineout to Ebbw saw the ball won and make its way out to centre Harry Wilson on his debut. Making a half break and passing the ball to flanker Kobi Ress in the tackle, Rees showed his strength and speed from outside the twenty-two to fend off tackles and charge over the line. Outside half Lloyd added the two points.
Half Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 34 Bridgend Ravens RFC 10
With the game twelve minutes into the second half and the score not changed Ebbw coach Jason Strange replaced the front row of Luke Garrett, Ieuan Morris, Adam Williams and Cameron Regan with Morgan Williams, Joe Franchi, Adam Court and Jack Pope.
After a long kick put into the shadows of the Bridgend post, the away side tried to play out from their goal line. A tackle by the hosts fly half Lloyd saw the Steelmen regain the ball. On the try line, hooker Joe Franchi, assisted by prop Adam Court powered their way over the line for the captain to touch down. Lloyd kicked the conversion.
Early contact at a scrum in the home sides half by the Steelmen saw referee Evans award the Ravens a free kick. From the resulting free kick, the visitors went through the phases. The ball eventually went out to winger Cameron Ellis to put a cross field kick in to be collected and scored by replacement scrum half Callaghan Smith. The conversion was kicked by Smith.
The hour mark saw Ebbw coach Strange replace centre Harry Wilson with the returning Ethan Phillips, Jacob Hopkins came on for Kobi Rees and Lewis Young replaced Ryan Jenkins.
With fifteen minutes left in the game, a scrum from a not straight Bridgend lineout, saw referee Evans award the home side a penalty. With Lloyd kicking to the corner, a lineout on the five-metre line, saw replacement Jacob Hopkins peel off the maul and beat the tackle to score the games final try of the evening. Lloyd kicked the conversion.
Ebbw Vale try scoring scrum half Rory Harries was replaced by Dan Buffrey.
With the game inside the last ten minutes, pushing and shoving off the ball ended with the assistant referee adjudging replacement centre Ethan Phillips to have thrown a punch. Referee Evans consulted his assistant and showed Phillips a red card to reduce Ebbw Vale to fourteen men for the remainder of the game.
Full Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 48 Bridgend Ravens RFC 17
Tries: Ryan Jenkins (2), Ryan Gardner (1), Rory Harries (1), Penalty try (1), Kobi Rees (1), Joe Franchi (1), Jacob Hopkins (1)
Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3)
PLEASE NOTE: The red card given to Ethan Phillips has been rescinded and Ethan will be available for the next match against Carmarthen Quins
Ebbw Vale RFC next game is at home against Carmarthen Quins on Sat 5th April 2025, with kick off at 2:30pm.
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans
Steelmen Come Unstuck
Ebbw Vale visited Church Bank, Llandovery to play the SRC Cup final against the Drovers on Thursday evening in front of the S4C Clic camera’s. The game saw captain Joe Franchi make his 200th appearance for the club and brother Dom Franchi on his 150th.
The visitors were forced into a change within the first minute when inside centre Dom Franchi was forced to leave the field, with concussion. Replacement Ieuan Evans came onto the pitch in Franchi’s absence.
The first try of the final came when influential scrum half Lee Rees made a darting run from a knock down from a lineout inside the away side’s twenty-two, to score the try. Outside half Ioan Hughes added the extras.
The Steelmen were to hit back with what was to be their only try of the evening. From a lineout in the hosts twenty-two, the forwards set up a driving maul which resulted in hooker Joe Franchi crossing the line to score his teams try. Fly half Evan Lloyd kicked the conversion to bring the scores level.
Two penalties by the home sides number ten Hughes before half time extended the lead to six points at the interval.
Half time: Llandovery RFC 13 Ebbw Vale RFC 7
The second half started in the same fashion as the first half finished with the home side on the front foot and the Ebbw Vale players putting their bodies on the line by making tackle after tackle.
The pressure was soon to pay off when hooker Taylor Davies scored his sides second try of the game from a driving maul. Hughes sent the ball through the middle of the posts.
Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange replaced scrum half Rory Harries with the returning Jon Evans. Unfortunately for the experienced number nine, within minutes Evans had to be helped off the pitch due to an injury. This saw full back Matt Jones come onto the field and starting full back Morgan Richards fill in as emergency scrum half.
Moments later Ebbw were reduced to fourteen men when flanker Jack Pope was shown the yellow card by referee Matthew Leon to spend ten minutes in the sin bin.
The Drovers were to take advantage of their numerical advantage when winger Harri Doel scored in the corner. On this occasion Hughes was unsuccessful with the conversion from out wide.
Ebbw Vale replaced the front row of Luke Garrett, Joe Franchi and Adam Williams with Morgan Williams, Ieuan Morris and Adam Court, and within a few minute’s flanker Jack Pope was not to re-enter the field, and was replaced by Cameron Regan.
A good back’s move by Llandovery from their own half was finished with winger Kian Abraham putting in a chip over the defence. The winger used his speed to dive on the ball over the line. Hughes again kicked the conversion.
The final change of the game by Ebbw coach Strange saw Lewis Young come onto the field for Ryan Jenkins.
Two tries by Llandovery during the second half were ruled out by the referee. However, the home side were to extend their lead further by scoring another converted try.
Full Time: Llandovery RFC 39 Ebbw Vale RFC 7
Try scorer: Joe Franchi (1)
Conversion: Evan Lloyd (1)
Ebbw Vale RFC`s next league game is at home to Bridgend RFC on Thursday 27th March 2025, with kick off at 7:30pm. The game will be shown live in front of the S4C Clic cameras.
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans
The Steelmen travel to Church Bank to face Llandovery RFC in the final of the SRC Cup on Thursday night, live on S4C Clic.
The Steelmen have progressed to the final after beating Carmarthen Quins, Pontypool RFC, Newport RFC and Swansea RFC in the group stage. The team becomes only the second Steelmen team to reach the final of the domestic cup competition following Kingsley Jones’s Steelmen in 1998.
Jason Strange has named the following squad for the final. There are a number of changes from the side that faced Swansea RFC last weekend. Cameron Davies, Adam Williams and Ryan Jenkins return to the starting XV. While Jon Evans and Matt Jones return from injury to appear amongst the replacements.
15 Morgan Richards 14 Ewan Bowden 13 Cameron Davies 12 Dom Franchi 11 Ryan Gardner 10 Evan Lloyd 9 Rory Harries
1 Luke Garrett. 2 Joe Franchi. 3 Adam Williams 4 Dylan Bartlett 5 Curtis Gregory 6 Jack Pope 7 Sion Parry 8 Ryan Jenkins
Replacements from
Ieuan Morris Morgan Williams Adam Court Cameron Regan Lewis Young Jon Evans Kobi Rees Ieuan Evans Matt Jones
The game sees Joe Franchi reach 200 games for the Steelmen and his brother Dom make his 150th appearance.
Road to the SRC Cup Final
The Steelmen have reached the SRC CUP Final having won all 4 matches in SRC Cup Group B
Carmarthen Quins (H) 24 – 7 won
Pontypool RFC (A) 18 – 13 won
Newport RFC (H) 44 – 21 won
Swansea RFC (A) 33 – 19 won
Played 4 Won 4
Points Scored: 119
Points Conceded: 60
Stats Attack
The Steelmen have used 31 players in the cup competition so far.
6 players started all 4 group games in the cup: Morgan Richards, Evan Lloyd, Gruff Tough, Dom Franchi, Adam Court and Curtis Gregory
The team have scored 17 tries in the 4 matches. 11 different players have scored tries with Joe Franchi the top scorer with 4 tries. There has also been a penalty try awarded to the Steelmen
Evan Lloyd has scored 32 points with the boot in the group stages.
Match Details
SRC Cup Final
Llandovery RFC V Ebbw Vale RFC
Thursday 20th March
Church Bank
7.30pm
Looking Back…
SWALEC CUP FINAL
Saturday 23rd May 1998
Ebbw Vale RFC 12 Llanelli RFC 19
Scorers: Ebbw Vale: Pens: B Hayward 3; DG: B Hayward. Llanelli: Try: M Madden; Con: C Warlow; Pen: C Warlow 4.
The Steelmen reached their one and only SWALEC Cup Final against Llanelli RFC 27 years ago in May 1998. It was also the only final to take place outside of Wales being played at Ashton Gate in Bristol. The Steelmen had beaten Swansea RFC, Cardiff RFC and Newport RFC on the route to the final.
The Ebbw Vale team that day had an all international back row in skipper Kingsley Jones, Richie Collins and Mark Jones. Behind the scrum were future Welsh Internationals Dai Llewellyn, Byron Hayward and Lennie Woodard. While in the second row was Kuli Faletau, father of current Welsh International Taulupe, who partnered Chay Billen while another Tongan International Siua Taumalolo started at full back. There was also a young back on the bench for the Steelmen. You may recognise him, his name was Jason Strange.
Going into the final 10 minutes, the game was tied at 12 all before a try from Martyn Madden secured victory for Llanelli by 19 -12.
The Independent Newspaper reported that,
While Llanelli once again confirmed their title of “cup kings”, Ebbw Vale left their first final appearance kicking themselves. They dominated the game, could and should have won the biggest prize in their history. Three unusual penalty misses from their dead-eyed dick outside-half Byron Hayward did not help, although neither did the fact they were unable to work the ball down their back line during their periods of dominance.
In their Tongan full-back Siua Taumololo they had the most potent attacking weapon on the field, as well as the nominated man of the match, yet he was confined to a handful of counter-attacking opportunities, instead of spearheading first or later phase attacks.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man and it was Madden who stole the glory with his remarkable burst in support of a Rupert Moon break.
The Teams that day were:
Ebbw Vale: Josh Taumololo; Alun Harries, Jon Hawker (Jason Strange, 75), John Funnell, Lenny Woodard; Byron Hayward, David Llewellyn; Alan Phillips, Leyton Phillips (Steve Jones, 76), Mike Wilson, Chay Billen, Kuli Faletau, Richie Collins, Kingsley Jones (captain), Mark Jones
Reps Unused: Iestyn Thomas, Lee Banks, Paul Pook, Gareth Bisp
Llanelli: Darril Williams; Wayne Proctor, Neil Boobyer (Matthew Wintle, 63), Nigel Davies, Garan Evans; Craig Warlow, Rupert Moon; Aled Jones, Robin McBryde (captain), Martyn Madden, Vernon Cooper, Mike Voyle, Chris Wyatt (Andrew Gibbs, 63), Iwan Jones, Hefin Jenkins
Reps Unused: Huw Williams-Jones, Jason Hyatt, Aled Thomas, Stephen Jones
Click on the link to watch the SWALEC Cup Final from 1998
On Thursday evening, the current Steelmen squad become the second Steelmen team to play in our domestic cup final.
#FeelTheSteel
Ebbw Reach The Final
The Steelmen were made to work hard to come away from St Helens with a bonus point victory and book their place in the final of the SRC Cup.
Swansea were quick out of the blocks. With the hosts backs receiving quick ball, centre Callum Dodd used his strength to break through the visitor’s defence out wide and score the first try of the afternoon. Home outside half Josh Phillips was unable to add the two points from out wide.
The away side soon hit back. A good line run by fullback Morgan Richards saw the number fifteen attack the line at pace from a good pass by Ebbw fly half Evan Lloyd. Splitting the defenders, Richards went over untouched to level the scores. Number ten Lloyd put the visitors ahead after kicking the conversion.
The visitors were reduced to fourteen men when referee Keith David sent captain Joe Franchi to the sin bin due to ill-discipline.
Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange was forced into an early change. Inform scrum half Gruff Tough was replaced by Rory Harries due to an injury, after making a tackle on a Swansea forward.
The scoreline was to sway back into the All White’s favour. After a good break by the Swansea backs, winger Harvey James used his strength to go over the line and put the home side back in front. Outside half Phillips successfully added the two points.
The away side were forced into another change when winger Hamish Anderson was replaced by Ned Bennett due to an injury.
With the hosts looking dangerous, a backs move was finished off by inside centre Joe Thomas to score the All White’s third try of the afternoon. Phillips again added the extra two points.
The away side started to spend a bit of time in the Swansea twenty-two and apply some pressure. From a lineout, the forwards set up a rolling maul, which was finished off with captain Joe Franchi diving over the line. Lloyd was unable to add the extras.
Half Time: Swansea RFC 19 Ebbw Vale RFC 12
The away side came out for the second half with the grit between their teeth. Captain Franchi was again the benefactor of a rolling maul from a lineout in the Swansea twenty-two. Lloyd added the two points to level the scores.
Ebbw Vale coach Strange rang the changes when prop Adam Williams, flanker Jack Pope and number eight Jacob Hopkins came on for Adam Court, Cameron Regan and Lewis Young. Moments later prop Luke Garrett left the field to be replaced by Morgan Williams.
Shortly afterwards the visitors were to retake the lead. From another rolling maul at a lineout inside the home side’s half, captain Franchi scored his third try of the afternoon. Lloyd again kicked the conversion.
The away side’s final change of the afternoon saw flanker Kobi Rees enter the field for Sion Parry.
Both sides were reduced to fourteen men when referee David sent Ebbw Vale second row Curtis Gregory and replacement Swansea forward Tom Crockett to the sin bin for ten minutes after an off the ball altercation.
The final try of the afternoon came from second row Dylan Bartlett. From another rolling maul at the lineout, the second row used his strength to fend off the opposition tacklers and reach out for the line. Lloyd sent the conversion through the middle of the uprights.
The steelmen won the game to book their place in their first cup final in 27 years.
Full Time: Swansea RFC 19 Ebbw Vale RFC 33
Try scorers: Morgan Richards (1), Joe Franchi (3), Dylan Bartlett (1)
Conversions: Evan Lloyd (4)
The Steelmen have a short turnaround to their next game.
The team are away to Llandovery RFC at Church Bank on Thursday 20th of March 2025 with kick off at 7:30pm, in the final of the SRC Cup. The game will be played in front of the S4C Clic cameras.
The Steelmen travel to St Helens to face Swansea RFC in the final group game of the SRC Cup. The Steelmen will be looking to make it 4 wins out of four in the SRC Cup having already beaten Carmarthen Quins, Pontypool RFC and Newport RFC in the group stage. Victory will see the Steelmen progress to the SRC Cup Final against Llandovery RFC.
Jason Strange has made several changes to the squad for the game. Ryan Gardner moves to outside centre with Hamish Anderson starting on the wing.
Up front, Luke Garrett starts in the front row and there are two changes in the back row with Cameron Regan and Lewis Young coming into the starting XV.
There are places on the bench for Jacob Hopkins and Ned Bennett.
Ebbw Vale Squad
15 Morgan Richards 14 Ewan Bowden 13 Ryan Gardner 12 Dom Franchi 11 Hamish Anderson 10 Evan Lloyd 9 Gruff Tough
1 Luke Garrett 2 Joe Franchi © 3 Adam Court 4 Dylan Bartlett 5 Curtis Gregory 6 Cameron Regan 7 Sion Parry 8 Lewis Young
Replacements
16 Morgan Davies 17 Morgan Williams 18 Adam Williams 19 Jack Pope 20 Jacob Hopkins 21 Rory Harries 22 Kobi Rees 23 Ned Bennett
Match INFORMATION
Swansea RFC v Ebbw Vale RFC
Saturday 15th March
St Helens
Reminder of the earlier kick off time
Kick Off 2.00 pm
Admission Prices
FULL PRICE – £12
Over 65’s – £10
Under 16’s – FREE
Ebbw Addicts Travel
The Addicts will be providing transport to Swansea on Saturday. They will be leaving the Welfare at 12.30pm
For those travelling to the match:
Swansea Rugby Club, 1 Bryn Road, Brynmill, Swansea, SA2 0AR
Ebbw maintain 100% cup record
The Steelmen claimed six points from the Gwent derby to move to the top of the SRC group Cup table after playing on a lovely sunny day.
Newport took the lead from an early penalty by fly half Jac Lloyd to put the visitors three points to the good.
However, the tone for the afternoon was about to be set. From a lineout in the Black and Ambers twenty-two, the home forwards set up a rolling maul, which resulted in prop Adam Court dotting down over the line. Club top points scorer Evan Lloyd was unsuccessful with the conversion.
The second try of the afternoon quickly followed. With a lot to do and plenty of space in front of him, scrum half Gruff Tough used his pace to race past numerous defenders from his own half. A fantastic break saw Tough draw the last line of defence and pass to winger Ryan Gardner, who showed a clean pair of heels to go over the line out wide. Fly half Lloyd successfully sent the conversion through the middle of the posts to extend Ebbw’s lead to nine points.
With the hosts dominant, a high tackle by Newport hooker Henry Palmer and ill discipline by Ben Roach, saw the away side reduced to thirteen men for ten minutes.
The home side took advantage of their numerical forward advantage. Applying pressure to the line, referee Ben Whitehouse was left with no option but to run under the posts and award the Steelmen a penalty try.
The hosts soon scored their fourth try and claim the first bonus point. From a lineout, the Ebbw Vale forwards set up another rolling maul, which saw captain Joe Franchi score the fourth try of the afternoon. Lloyd was unable to add the extras.
The home side coach Jason Strange was forced into the first substitution of the afternoon after centre Ieuan Evans was replaced by Hamish Anderson due to injury. A reshuffle in the backline was winger Ryan Gardner move to outside centre.
A good backs move from Newport inside the Ebbw Vale half saw centre David Richards score the visitors first try of the afternoon. Outside half Jac Lloyd missed the following conversion.
Half Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 24 Newport RFC 8
The Black and Ambers came out for the second half with the grit between their teeth. Shortly after half time, a break of the Ebbw Vale defensive line saw scrum half Daffydd Buckland go over the line unopposed. Number ten Jac Lloyd added the two points to reduce the deficit to nine points.
With the away side having a good spell of possession and territory, referee Whitehouse awarded the away side a penalty. As a result, Ebbw Vale prop Morgan Davies was shown a yellow card.
From the resulting penalty, Newport fly half Jac Lloyd reduced the deficit further to six points.
However, Ebbw Vale increased their lead back to nine points after fly half Evan Lloyd sent a penalty through the middle of the sticks.
The hosts coach Strange then made a host of changes. The front row of Morgan Davies, Joe Franchi and Adam Court were replaced by Luke Garrett, Ieuan Morris and Adam Williams, Cameron Regan came on for flanker Jack Pope and number eight Ryan Jenkins was replaced by Lewis Young.
Soon after the changes, the Steelmen were reduced to fourteen men for the second time during the half. Referee Whitehouse sent flanker Regan to the sin bin for ten minutes.
Newport again made it a six-point game after outside half Jac Lloyd successfully kicked a penalty from inside the Ebbw half.
Once again the hosts struck back. After the forwards went through the phases, Canadian international flanker Sion Parry used his strength to go over and score his sides fifth try of the afternoon. Number ten Evan Lloyd added the two points.
The home side fly half Evan Lloyd extended Ebbw’s lead to sixteen points from a penalty inside the Black and Ambers half.
A further change by Steelmen coach Strange, saw Kobi Rees come on for flanker Sion Parry.
With Ebbw Vale playing a lot of the game in the Newport half, the final try of the afternoon came when Lewis Young use his strength to power over and score the home sides six try of the game. Evan Lloyd successfully kicked the conversion.
The Steelmen’s final substitution of the afternoon, came when scrum half Gruff Tough was replaced by Dan Buffrey for the final few minutes.
Full Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 44 Newport RFC 21
Ebbw Addicts Man of the Match: Gruff Tough
Tries: Adam Court (1), Ryan Gardner (1), Penalty try (1), Joe Franchi (1), Sion Parry (1), Lewis Young (1)
Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3)
Penalties: Evan Lloyd (2)
After the game we spoke with scrum half Gruff Tough. Gruff thought the game went well for Ebbw with lots of positives. However, he was quick to acknowledge there were aspects of the game that still required to be worked on . Gruff believed the team made a strong start, especially in the first half and towards the end, however, he was not happy about letting Newport back into the game in the second half.
Reflecting on receiving man of the match, Gruff was happy to receive his first award from the Ebbw Addicts and is hoping to continue his good form for the remainder of the season.
Ebbw Vale’s next game is away to Swansea RFC, at St Helens for their final SRC Cup group game on Saturday 15th March 2025. Please note there is a slightly earlier kick off of 2pm.
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans