Match Report – Carmarthen Quins 11 Ebbw Vale RFC 39

Ebbw win down West

The Steelmen provided a storming second half performance to come away from Carmarthen Park with six points for the third game in a row, after playing in the autumn sun at Carmarthen.

Facing into the wind, the away side made their intentions clear from the start. Having lots of possession and territory in the Quins half, the visitors were unable to cross the line after good defence by the hosts.

The first points of the afternoon came to the visitors when fly half Evan Lloyd successfully kicked a penalty to put Ebbw Vale three points to the good.

However, the home side quickly hit back. The Steelmen were unable to collect a kick from deep inside the Quins half, and winger Louis Rees took the opportunity to race clear and touch the ball down over the line. Home outside half Aled Thomas was unable to add the two points.

Ebbw Vale`s head coach Jason Strange was forced into a first half substitution when prop Morgan Williams left the field injured to be replaced by Luke Garrett.

With the away side having lots of the ball, good defence by Carmarthen ended with referee Mike English awarding  the away side a penalty. Number ten Lloyd successfully added the three points to put his team in the lead by one point.

On the stroke of half time, a penalty by the Quins fly half Thomas, saw the home side go into the break two points in the lead.

Half Time: Carmarthen Quins RFC 8 Ebbw Vale RFC 6

The away side came out for the second half with the wind behind their backs. With Lloyd putting Ebbw Vale inside the Carmarthen twenty-two from a penalty, referee English awarded Ebbw a penalty try after the maul was collapsed by the try line. English also showed Carmarthen prop James Newnian a yellow card.

Ebbw Vale replacement prop Adam Court came on for Adam Williams shortly afterwards.

However, the away sides numerical advantage was to be short lived when referee English showed the Steelmen’s number eight Sion Parry a yellow card to reduce both sides to fourteen men. The home side’s fly half Thomas took advantage and kicked three points to reduce the deficit to two points.

With the Ebbw forwards building up a head of steam, referee English showed Carmarthen replacement prop Lewis Jones a yellow card for il- discipline.

After kicking to the corner from the resulting penalty, the forwards set up a maul. With the backs joining hooker Joe Franchi dived over the line to score Ebbw’s second try of the afternoon. Top points scorer Lloyd added the extras.

However, Franchi’s afternoon was to be cut short when coach Strange replaced the captain with Ieuan Morris.

The substitute was about to make his mark, when from another driving maul inside the Carmarthen twenty-two, Morris finished the move off by touching the ball down over the line. Lloyd again kicked the conversion.

With the away side pulling further ahead, Ebbw replaced flanker’s Jack Pope and Ben Main with Ewan McIntyre and Kobi Rees and shortly after Morgan Richards and Ieuan Evans came on for Matt Jones and Ewan Bowden.

With the Steelmen’s forwards putting the hosts defence under pressure, another driving maul from a lineout inside the Carmarthen twenty-two saw replacement Morris crossed for his second try of the game and the away side’s fourth. Lloyd added the extra two points.

The final substitution of the afternoon for the visitor’s saw scrum half Rory Harries be replaced by Dan Buffery, who came on to make his league debut.

The final try of the afternoon came from the final play of the game. After setting up another unstoppable rolling maul from a lineout in the Quin’s twenty-two, replacement Morris scored a hat trick of tries to round off a fine performance. However, on this occasion, Lloyd sent the ball wide of the uprights.

Full Time: Carmarthen Quins RFC 11 Ebbw Vale RFC 39

Tries: Penalty try (1), Joe Franchi (1), Ieuan Morris (3)

Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3)

Penalties: Evan Lloyd (2)

Quiz Question

When else , if ever, have two different hookers, scored a hat-trick for the club in consecutive matches? 

Congratulations Joe Franchi and Ieuan Morris

Ebbw Vale finish the first block of seven games having won six and lost one.

The squad now has a three weeks break until Saturday 23^rd November when they will  face Newport RFC at The Ciner Glass Community Stadium with a 2.30pm kick off . The SRC Challenger Shield will be on the line in the Gwent derby.

Report written by: Alex Kinsella-Evans