Match Review – Ebbw Vale RFC 38 Llandovery RFC 29

Ebbw Beat Last Years Champions

Ebbw Vale made it two wins from their first two home games after securing a try bonus point victory against last years champions Llandovery.

Straight from the kick off the visitors were awarded a penalty which fullback Jack Maynard converted to put Llandovery three points ahead.

The Steelmen soon hit back when from a scrum in the Drovers half quick ball from scrum half Jon Evans to outside half Evan Lloyd saw the number ten put outside centre Ethan Phillips into space. With plenty still to do the centre made a trademark break through the mid field to go over the line unopposed. Flyhalf Lloyd added the two points.

The home side doubled their try tally when from a missed pass in the mid field by the away team, home winger Ewan Bowden kicked the ball into space. The winger used his speed and footballing skills to be first to the ball to go over the try line with defenders scrambling back. Lloyd kicked the conversion successfully.

From scrappy play in the Steelmen`s half, the visitors scored their first try of the afternoon when winger Aaron Warren used his strength to beat two covering defenders to go over in the corner. Maynard missed the conversion.

With the ball in the hands of young winger Harry Rees-Weldon inside his own half, the winger put in a clever fifty-twenty-two kick to give his side an attacking line out, however, despite pressure Ebbw were unable to convert the pressure into points.

Llandovery went ahead from a try by hooker Taylor Davies. Fullback Maynard added the extras.

Ill-discipline by the Drovers resulted in sharpshooter Lloyd turning the tables back in the favour of Ebbw Vale with a penalty to put his side two points in the lead.

On the stroke of halftime, from a rolling maul by the Steelmen forwards, inside the visitor’s half, winger Bowden scored his second try of the afternoon out wide. However, on this occasion Lloyd was unable to add the extras.

Half time: Ebbw Vale RFC 22 Llandovery RFC 15

The first substitution by Ebbw saw number eight Lewis Young be replaced by Owen Conquer.

The home side extended their lead to ten points when marksman Lloyd kicked a huge penalty from just inside the halfway line. The flyhalf added another penalty to his tally to push the hosts further ahead.

Ebbw Vale stand-in head coach Aaron Coundley replaced props Luke Garrett and Adam Court with Morgan Davies and Adam Williams.

With the Steelmen on the front foot, a quick tap on the Drovers twenty-two by experienced scrum half Jon Evans resulted in the number nine scoring an excellent individual try. Lloyd slotted the conversion to put his team twenty points in front.

Two quick fire tries by Evan Sheldon and Lee Rees, both converted by  the number fifteen Maynard brought the deficit back to a one score game.

In the aftermath of the second Drovers try, Steelmen scrumhalf Jon Evans was shown a yellow card to spend the remainder of the game in the sin bin for ill-discipline.

The hosts made a further change when second row Curtis Gregory was replaced by Jack Pope.

With time running out the hosts were awarded a penalty on the Llandovery twenty-two. Flyhalf Lloyd kicked the penalty to take a losing bonus point away from the visitors.

Full Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 38 Llandovery RFC 29

Man of the Match: Ewan Bowden

Tries: Ewan Bowden (2), Ethan Phillips (1), Jon Evans (1)

Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3)

Penalties: Evan Lloyd (4)

After the game we spoke with Ebbw Vale`s number Eight Owen Conquer.

Owen praised Llandovery, believing they are a tough side to play against which is shown with them being back-to-back winners in the league two years in a row.  Owen thought Ebbw played the game in the right areas, showed some grit towards the end especially when being reduced to fourteen men. Owen also praised the home set piece; he thought the scrum went well and the set pieces was executed as planned.

The Steelmen play the reverse fixture against Llandovery next week when they travel to Church Bank on Saturday the 5^th of October 2024 with kick off at 14:30pm

Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans