Looking Back… SWALEC Cup Final 1998

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