Ebbw reserved their best performance of the season so far for the last game before the East and West come together. Their attacking intent was shown immediately when Carl Meyer’s perfectly timed run split the Bedwas defence and set up Ebbw’s first attacking chance. A deft kick through by Dai Jones was chased by Dai Langdon who touched down for the try. Dorian Jones converted for 7-0. Ebbw kept up the pressure and a storming burst by Cameron Regan led to Dan Haymond scoring his team’s second, with Jones’s conversion taking the lead to 14-0. Bedwas bounced back with a well-constructed driving maul off a line out that saw Dale Rogers touch down. Steffan Jones converted. Dorian Jones kept Ebbw’s tally rolling with two penalties, before another Bedwas penalty and an excellent try from a break out, finished by Andrew Williams, which Jones goaled, brought the score to 20-17. Just before half time, Dorian Jones kicked through for the alert Langdon to bag his second and Jones’s conversion gave Ebbw a healthy and deserved 27-17 half time lead.

The second half didn’t live up to the cut and thrust excitement of the first as Bedwas did their best to fight back. However, the only scores were to Ebbw’s Dorian Jones with two well-struck penalties. At 33-17, Ebbw looked comfortable but Bedwas mounted a last quarter revival and battered theme line. Ebbw’s defence was remarkable, though referee Mr Mills managed to find three offences worthy of yellow cards. Even then, Bedwas failed to capitalise and the Steelmen took the spoils.

Man of the Match was Dorian Jones whose variety of kicking was exemplary, but there were plenty of contenders on an afternoon where pride was restored.

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Wedi hanner gyntaf siomedig iawn i’w dymor, bu Glynebwy yn cadw eu perfformiad gorau (hyd yn hyn ta beth) tan y gêm olaf cyn i’r Dwyrain a’r Gorllewin ddod ynghyd.

Dangoswyd bwriad Glynebwy i ymosod yn gynnar iawn: Carl Meyer yn amseri ei rediad yn berffaith ar ôl llinell, i greu cyfle i Dai Jones gicio’r bêl trwodd, a Dai Langdon yn ennill y rhas i sgorio. 7-0 oedd y sgôr, gyda throsiad Dorian Jones, a 14-0 oedd hi wrth i Cameron Regan arwain ei dîm i mewn i diriogaeth yr ymwelwyr a Dan Haymond yn sgorio, Bu Jones yn trosi eto.

Ymosododd Bedwas am y tro cyntaf i sgorio cais gan yrru sgarmes ar ôl llinell, Dale Rogers yn croesi a Steffan Jones yn trosi. Cael a chael oedd hi erbyn hyn, Jones a Jones yn ychwanegu ciciau cosb, cyn i Andrew Williams fynd drosodd am gais gwych a ddechreuwyd gan Jones yn ei 25. 20-17 oedd y sgôr, ond bu cic Bach hyfryd Dorian Jones yn rhoi ail gais i Langdon ac aeth Gwyr y Dur i mewn i’r egwyl yn y blaen, 27-17.

O ran rugby pert ac ymosodol, siomedig bu’r ail gyfnod. Ond, o ran calon, balchder a phenderfyniad, bach o ddosbarth meistr oedd e gan chwaraewyr arwrol  Glynebwy. Am gyfnod, bu ond 12 o ddynion ar y maes ganddynt ond, serch hynny, mor drefnus a ffyrnig bu’r amddiffyn, bu Bedwas yn ffaelu manteisio. Dau gic cosb gan Seren y Gêm Dorian Jones oedd unig pwyyntiau’r ail hanner, a bu Glynebwy yn haeddu’r fuddugoliaeth gan 33 – 17, yn hollol: dial am golli mor drwm ym Medwas ym mis Hydref.

Dan Haymond, Stefan Thomas, Carl Meyer, Dai Langdon, Will Talbot-Davies; Dorian Jones, Dai Jones; Gerard Ellis, Rhys Francis, Rob Sevenoaks; Rhys Clarke, Lance Randall; Cameron Regan, Ronny Kynes (capt), Lewis Young.
Bench: Joe Franchi, Ross Jones, Josh James, Mathew Williams, Kristian Parker, Carl Lewis, Elis-Wyn Benham, Callum Hall.

Selection was again affected by injury, with back row options particularly limited.  Jon Davies picked up a shoulder injury at Merthyr that will rule him out until mid February, a month that should also see the return of knee injury victim Owen Jones. Josh Jacas will undergo surgery in the first week of the new year that should enable him to be be ready for selection in early February. Fortunately, longstanding fans’ favourites, all-action skipper Ronny Kynes and the irrepressible Cameron Regan are fit, and flank former Steelman Lewis Young who is on permit from Aberdare.

Wing Toby Fricker is unavailable as are several trial players who have been training with the club. On the positive side all will be looking forward to seeing Elis-Wyn Benham make his debut from the bench after recovering from a long standing hamstring issue.

Many thanks to the Dragons and Aberdare RFC for agreeing to permits.