In this season of experimental point scoring, you can’t get a closer victory than a 2-pointer, and this was as close a game as you’re ever likely to see. At half time, it looked as if Ebbw were going to run away with the win, as they led 26-8 but Aberavon, enjoying the wind at their backs as Ebbw had in the first half, came back tremendously but could not quite get ahead of the excellent Steelmen.

Dai Langdon put the first points on the board on 10 minutes with a penalty after an Aberavon offence at the breakdown. Langdon missed a second shot a little later but the superiority of the Ebbw pack kept the Wizards pinned in their own 22m and, after patient pashe play, Chris Thomas crossed near the posts after a classic scrum-half dart. Langdon converted to give Ebbw a 10-0 lead as the first quarter closed.

A great breakout by Aberavon split Ebbw’s midfield and winger Jay Baker raced in at the posts, giving Cameron Clement an easy conversion to make the score 10-8.

A classic Catch’n’Kynes followed, after a Langdon kick to the corner following a scrum penalty. Langdon goaled for 18-8.

Aberavon put together their best passage of play as half time approached, but a knock on enabled Nathan Preece to boot the ball downfield. Ebbw arrived in numbers, with Mathew Williams at the helm, and a gem of a pass from Cameron Regan found Adam Jones on the wing who scored wide out. Langdon’s superb conversion sent his team in 26-8 up at the interval.

Aberavon again looked good at the start of the second period, but Ebbw looked better when a brilliant break from man of the match Adam Jones released Nathan Preece who charged for the line and looked to have scored Ebbw’s fourth try. Mr Davies ruled that he had been held and made a second movement, so awarded a penalty to Aberavon.

The visitors continued their pressure, looking to release their pacy wingers and it was one of them, Steffan Andrews, who scored next, with Clement’s conversion making it 26-16, and, just a few minutes later, it was 26-22 when replacement Rob Dudley-Jones crossed.

It was all very tense by now but, following some breathless play by both sides, Jared Rosser capitalised on a Regan grubber and a favourable bounce to Luke Crocker. It was 32-22 and, although Baker bagged a second try, which Clement converted, Ebbw held on for a famous 32-20 win, booking a place in the play-off semi final at Llandovery on May 8th.

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Y tymor hwn, amhosibl yw colli gan lai na dau bwynt, ac amhosibl oedd dychmygu gêm mwy agos, mwy tynn na hon!

Rhoddodd Glynebwy lawer o bwys ar yr ymwelwyr o’r dechrau, ac agorodd Dai Langdon y sgorio ar 10 munud, ar ôl i Aberafan gael eu cosbi. Estynodd Chris Thomas fantais ei dîm, gyda chlasur o gais gan fewnwr, yn dilyn cyfres o gymalau amyneddgar gan Lynebwy. Gyda throsiad Langdon, 10-0 oedd hi – a’r tîm cartref yn haeddu bod yn a blaen.

Yn dangos eu sgiliau gwrthymosod, aeth olwyr Aberafan drwy amddiffyn Glynebwy yn rhy hawdd, a sgoriodd yr asgellwr Jay Baker o dan y pyst, gan roi trosiad syml i Cameron Clement wneud y sgôr yn 10-8.

Ar unwaith, ymatebodd Glynebwy yn ffyrnig ac, ar ôl i Dai Langdon roi’r bêl yn y cornel, yn dilyn trosiad yn y sgrym gan yr ymewlyr, cwblhauwyd clasur o Catch’n’Kynes. 18-8 oedd hi gyda throsiad Langdon.

Wrth i’r egwyl ddod yn nes, dechreuodd Aberafan chwarae ar eu gorau a rhoi Dynion y Dur o dan dipyn o bwys, ond ffaelu cael gafael yn y bêl, a throed enfawr Nathan Preece yn anfon y bêl i mewn i 22m y Dewiniaid. Gyda Mathew Williams wrth y llyw, ennillodd Glynebwy feddiant, a phas hir, gwych gan Cameron Regan yn galluogi Seren y Gêm Adam Jones croesi yn y cornel. Trosiodd Langdon o’r ystlys, a 26-8 oedd y sgôr hanner amser.

Parhaodd Aberafan chwarae’n dda ar ddechrau’r ail gyfnod, ond rhediad da gan Adam Jones oedd yn rhoi cyfle i Nathan Preece fynd am y llinell. Yn anffodus, penderfynodd Mr Davies fod e wedi symud ar ôl cael ei daclo, felly dim cais, a chic cosb i Afan.

Roedd y Dewiniaid yn ceisio rhyddhau eu hasgellwyr cyflym ac un o’r rheiny, sêf Steffan Andrews, a sgoriodd nesaf, gyda throsiad Clement yn culhau’r bwlch i 26-16. Dim ond ychydig o funudau yn ddiweddarach, roedd yn 26-22 wrth i eilydd Rob Dudley-Jones groesi, yn dilyn sgarmes symudol.

Roedd y cyfan yn dynn iawn erbyn hyn, ond roedd y ddau dîm dal am chwarae rygbi… cymysgiad oedd yn arwain, yn anochel, i gamgymeriadau. Estynodd Glynebwy eu mantais ar ôl i Jared Rosser sgorio cais yn y cornel, a sicrhau pwynt bonws, i roi Glynebwy yn y blaen gan 32-22.

Roedd cefnogwyr y ddau dîm yn gynhyrfus iawn, yn fwy byth ar ôl i Jay Baker fynd drosodd am ei ail gais. Ond, yn y diwedd, roedd Glynebwy yn gallu cadw eu mantais fychan ac ennill gan 32 pwynt i 30.

Buddugoliaeth ardderchog gan Ddynion y Dur, a fydd yn teithio i chwarae yn erbyn Llanymddyfri mewn gêm ail gyfle, ar yr 8fed o fis Mai.