Match Report Cardiff RFC 29 Ebbw Vale RFC 12

Cardiff Take Maximum Points

The Steelmen came away from their first away game of the season pointless after a clinical Cardiff display proved the difference.

The hosts almost scored the opening try within minutes of kick off, after Ebbw Vale full back Matt Jones was unable to collect a high ball. Luckily for the visitors, the ball went over the dead ball line before a home player was able to touch it down. However, the home side soon went three points ahead, when outside half Josh Thomas slotted the kick between the uprights.

Within minutes, the Rags scored their first try of the evening when hooker Efan Daniel scored from a powerful drive by the Cardiff pack. Thomas added the two points to extend his teams lead to ten.

Cardiff scored their second try of the first half when winger Dewi Cross finished off a clever back’s move to go in over the corner. Number ten Thomas extended the lead further going into half time. Despite having opportunities inside the Rags twenty-two, the visitors were unable to cross the line to put any points on the scoreboard in the first half.

Half Time: Cardiff RFC 17 Ebbw Vale RFC 0

The away side were forced into their first change of the evening, when winger Hamish Anderson was replaced by Ieuan Evans at half time.

Ebbw got their first points of the evening when Ieuan Morris touched down after the away side spent time with the ball inside the home side’s twenty-two. Flyhalf Evan Lloyd successfully kicked the two points. With the ball in the Rags twenty-two, the home side struck straight back. A break by the hosts Tom Rice, saw the ball go through outside half’s Josh Thomas hands out to winger Cross, who used his speed to go over the try line unopposed for a good Cardiff try. Thomas added the extras.

Ebbw Vale coach Jason  Strange replaced hooker Ieuan Morris with Joe Franchi, second row Curtis Gregory came on for Jack Pope and scrum half Jon Evans replaced Rory Harries.

Ebbw Vale got their second try of the game, after number eight Lewis Young showed his strength to go over from a powerful maul at a lineout inside the home sides twenty-two. Number ten Lloyd was unable to add the extras.

Further changes by coach Strange saw flanker Ben Main came on for debutant Sion Parry and prop Morgan Williams replaced Morgan Davies.

The hosts were reduced to fourteen men for ten minutes when second row Sean Moore was shown a yellow card by referee Ben Connor. However, despite the numerical advantage, the Steelmen were unable to add any points onto the scoreboard.

Further change’s by Ebbw Vale saw ex Cardiff prop Adam Williams leave the field to be replaced by Owen Hatherill and outside half Evan Lloyd come off for Josh Malson.

With the final play of the game, Cardiff secured full points from the evening when full back Joe Goodchild scored out wide for his teams fourth try of the evening. Outside half Thomas was unable to add the extra two points. However, as the home side won by seventeen points, they collected maximum points from the game.

Full Time: Cardiff RFC 29 Ebbw Vale RFC 12

Tries: Ieuan Morris (1), Lewis Young (1)

Conversions: Evan Lloyd (1)

Ebbw Vale RFC’s next league game is at home at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium on Saturday 28^th September 2024 with kick-off at 2:30pm  against last year’s champions Llandovery RFC.

Written by: Alex Kinsella Evans