Match Report Ebbw Vale RFC 9 Cardiff RFC 23

Ebbw’s unbeaten home run comes to an end

Cardiff brought the Steelmen’s unbeaten home run this season to an end on a cold winter’s day.

The home side took the lead early on through an Evan Lloyd penalty. However, the visitors soon brought the game level through outside half Harrison James.

The Rags were reduced to fourteen men just before the half hour mark, after flanker Nathan Hudd was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes.

With the home side trying to get a foothold in the game, scrum half Jon Evans saw a gap in the away sides defence. With a two man overlap outside him, the experienced scrum half decided to go alone. However, the play came to nothing.

With no further scores being added to the scoreboard, the referee Ben Breakspear blew his whistle to make it all square at half time.

Half Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 3 Cardiff RFC 3

The hosts were soon back in front shortly after the restart, after marksman Lloyd was successful with a penalty.

The away side soon drew level again with a penalty. However, Lloyd was again on hand to kick his third penalty of the afternoon to put Ebbw back in front.

Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange started to make the changes and replaced props Harry Drane and Morgan Davies with Adam Court and Luke Garrett.

The first try of the game was scored by the away side. A breakthrough the defence by the Rags centre and offload led to the ball being passed to replacement scrumhalf Jamie Hill, who went over out wide. The visitors were unable to add the extra two points.

The hosts coach Strange made further changes. Winger Amir Jiwa Walji was replaced by Ewan Bowden, forwards Ewan McIntyre and Kobi Rees replaced Cameron Regan and Owen Conquer, Rory Harries came on for Jon Evans, hooker Ieuan Morris replaced Joe Franchi and Kieran Meek replaced centre Dom Franchi.

With Cardiff having the momentum and a scrum in the Steelmen’s twenty-two, quick possession from the scrum saw the home defence hold tight. Quick recycling of the ball, saw it land at the hands of Ethan Phillips, who powered through the defence and over the try line to extend the visitors lead. Jacob Lloyd successful kicked the conversion.

Deep into injury time the away side scored their third try of the game. From a driving maul in the Ebbw twenty-two, the ball went through the hands and out wide to winger Dewi Cross who crossed for the final points of the game.

Full Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 9 Cardiff RFC 23  

Ebbw Addicts Man Of The Match: Dom Franchi

Scorers :Penalties: Evan Lloyd (3)

Ebbw Vale’s next game is away to RGC on Saturday 13^th January 2024 at Park Eirias, with kick off at 14:30.

Written By Alex Kinsella-Evans