Newport Round Up

Head coach Greg Woods confident the future is bright for Ebbw Vale despite a third consecutive loss.

The Steelmen were well beaten on Saturday afternoon as Gwent rivals Newport claimed an impressive win at Ciner Glass Community Stadium to extend their winning run to four games and move top of the Indigo Group Welsh Premiership Cup East conference.

Tries from Dafydd Howells and Ethan Phillips weren’t enough to secure the victory for Ebbw as the black& ambers stormed to victory with tries from Lennon Greggains, Matt O’Brien, Garin Harris and Matthew Powell x2, a penalty try and 14 points from the boot.

Ebbw discipline was an area of concern again as they lost Dan Hill, Lewis Young and stand in captain Dom Franchi to the bin. Although, Ebbw managed these periods surprisingly well.

Woods commented; “Newport were deserved winners as any Gwent Derby is won or lost up front. We struggled in the set piece and that put us under constant pressure”.

Despite defeat Woods remains confident in his team and expressed how impressed he was with the younger members of the squad, particularly the Dragons contingent of allocated academy players. One of whom, Joe Westwood, deservedly made the Welsh Premiership Podcast’s ‘Team of the Week’ on his senior debut.

“I was really pleased with our younger players in Connor Chapman, Joe Westwood, Joe Peard, Ben Moa and Euan Rosser they played superbly. Although a very disappointing defeat the future is looking good with many of these boys making their senior debuts this year”.

This week Ebbw welcome Dale McIntosh’s Merthyr to Ciner Glass Community Stadium, a side that they beat in round one of the Welsh Premiership Cup.

Woods said; “Although we have a few bumps we need to regroup quick as there is a huge challenge in Merthyr facing us this week. We need to tighten up our set piece and defence and that is what we will be working hard on this week”.

Video highlights https://youtu.be/8s0ssY88ClA