Ebbw recorded a comfortable bonus point win, scoring five tries against a Swansea side struggling badly to find form in the second half of the Premiership season.

Lewis Dennett, in his first start at outside half for some time, formed a new look partnership with Sam Ireland that was full of promise. Dennett got the scoreboard moving with three beautifully struck early penalties. On ten minutes, Dan Haymond finished a move he had featured in three times, and Dennett’s touchline conversion opened the lead to 16-0. Ebbw’s pack had the Whites in all sorts of bother, and good work by Lewis Young and Sam Ireland set Haymond up for his second try which Dennett again converted. A rare incursion into Ebbw territory brought a chance for Luke Griffiths to open Swansea’s account, but a barnstorming burst by Joe Franchi saw him cross from 25m out just before the break, with Dennet’s conversion giving Ebbw a 30-3 advantage.

The bonus point was secured by Toby Fricker on 47 minutes after a great burst and feed by the impressive Dominic Franchi whose tackling and all round work in attack and defence was outstanding. Unfortunately, it was his last action of the afternoon as he was the victim of a clumsy tackle as he passed to Fricker. A long penalty by Dennett stretched the lead to 38-3, before Jon Davies rounded off a great team move, to make the final score 43-3. There was a little ill feeling late on, following a tip tackle on Joe Franchi that saw a red card for one of the Swansea players, but it didn’t spoil the afternoon which saw Ebbw pick up 5 points and move to 6th place in the league.

One of the features of the last few games has been the rise to prominence of the Ebbw locks. Kristian Parker and Lance Randall were, again, at the forefront of things for the Steelmen, carrying well and defending magnificently at the breakdown. With the back row of Clarke, Kynes and Young again on song, and the front row of young Joel Harries, Joe Franchi and Rob Sevenoaks putting in a tremendous shift, the Ebbw pack was simply too much for Swansea. The contribution of the replacements Jordan Rogers, Curtis Hicks, Rhys Francis, Jon Davies and Cameron Reagan must also be mentioned up front, where Toby Fricker enjoyed a cameo as a makeshift flanker late on. The young and inexperienced half backs, Sam Ireland and Man of the Match Lewis Dennett had excellent games, while the experience and rugby brain of James Lewis, enjoying a new lease of life under this coaching regime, is bringing out the best in those around him. Dom Franchi was outstanding in defence, and the back three of Dan Haymond, Toby Fricker and the ever-improving Stef Thomas were a constant threat. Replacements Srdan Majkic, Dai Jones and Callum Hall proved that Greg Woods and his coaching team now have that proverbial ‘selection headache’ beloved of sporting commentators.

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Bu Glynebwy’n sicrhau buddugoliaeth cyfforddus, gyda phwynt bonws, gan sgorio pum cais bendigedig yn erbyn tîm Abertawe sy’n cael trafferthion mawr yn dod o hyd i hwyl dda yn yr Uwch Gynghrair ar hyn o bryd.

Bu Seren y Gêm, Lewis Dennett, oedd yn dechrau am y tro cyntaf ers peth amser, yn sgorio thair cic gosb yn gynnar i roi hwb i’w dîm. Effeithiol ac addawol iawn oedd ei bartneriaeth gyda Sam Ireland, fu’n dechrau gêm yn yr Uwch Gynghrair am y tro cyntaf. Bu Dan Haymond yn amlwg iawn yng nghais cyntaf Glynebwy, yn dechrau ac yn gorffen symudiad gwych. Unwaith eto bu Haymond yn y man a’r lle i fynd drosodd am gais wedi i Lewis Young a Sam Ireland fanteisio ar sgrym cryf. Trosiwyd y ddau gais gan Dennett, a 23-0 oedd y sgôr ar ôl hanner awr.

Yn ystod ymweliad prin â thiriogaeth Glynebwy, daeth cyfle i Luke Griffiths agor cyfrif Abertawe. Munud cyn yr egwyl bu bâchwr bywiog Joe Franchi yn mynd ar garlam trwy amddiffyn Abertawe i sgorio o dan y pyst. Gyda Dennett yn ychwanegu dau bwynt, 30-3 oedd y sgôr hanner amser.

Sicrhawyd y pwynt bonws gan Toby Fricker ar 47 munud ar ôl bylchu a phasio gwych gan Dom Franchi – a fu’n wych cyn gadael y maes gydag anaf. Ychwanegodd Dennett gic gosb hir am 38-3, cyn i Jon Davies orffen symudiad anhygoel, i wneud y sgôr terfynol yn 43-3 i Wŷr y Dur.

Un o nodweddion y gemau diweddar fu’r cynnydd i amlygrwydd cloeon Glynbwy, Lance Randall a Kristian Parker. Unwaith eto, buont ar flaen y gad yn ymosodol ac yn amddiffynol heddiw. Mae chwarae mean pac cryf, yn ran o dîm hyderus yn helpu, wrth gwrs, ac mae gan hyfforddwr Greg Woods dipyn o her o ran y cystadlu am lefydd yn y garfan. Ond fydd e ddim yn cwyno am hynny!

Dan Haymond, Stef Thomas, James Lewis, Dominic Franchi, Toby Fricker; Lewis Dennett, Sam Ireland; Joel Harries, Joe Franchi, Rob Sevenoaks; Kristian Parker, Lance Randall; Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kanes, Lewis Young. Bench: Rhys Francis, Jordan Rogers, Curtis Hicks, Jona Davies, Cameron Reagan, Dai Jones, Srdan Majkic, Callum Hall.