Match Report – Ebbw Vale 34 Aberavon 22

Ebbw Start the New League With a Bang

Ebbw Vale`s first game in the new Super Rygbi Cymru league ended with the Steelmen collecting a bonus point victory in the September sun.

With the visitors taking the game to the Steelmen from the kick off, within the first few minutes of the game Ebbw Vale had a goal line dropout after full back Hamish Anderson touched down the ball behind the try line.

With Aberavon continuing to dominate territory and possession, the first try of the game soon came to the visitors when outside half Ed Dunford put in a good Crossfield kick for winger Connor Moyse to open the scoring. Flyhalf Dunford missed the conversion. The away side soon added to their advantage when number ten Dunford added a further three points to put his team eight points in front.

Soon Ebbw Vale got themselves onto the scoresheet, as as from a lineout in the Wizards half, an impressive driving maul was finished off by captain Joe Franchi. Last season`s top points scorer Evan Lloyd was unable to add the extra two points.

Straight from the restart. Ebbw Vale`s number eight Lewis Young made an explosive run through various defenders. With scrumhalf Jon Evans on his inside, Young passed the ball to Evans. Using his experience scrumhalf Evans put a clever chip over the covering defenders, only to be denied at the last moment with the referee adjudging the ball to have gone forward.

As the half wore on, the Steelmen`s forwards started to gain the upper hand and after constant pressure in the Aberavon twenty-two, quick ball out to outside centre Ethan Phillips, saw last years player of the season go over unopposed. The conversion by Lloyd went through the uprights.

Just before the half time break, the away side were reduced to fourteen men for ten minutes when front rower Rowan Jenkins was shown the yellow card.

From the resulting penalty Lloyd slotted over his attempt to extend Ebbw Vales lead to seven points at halftime.

Half time: Ebbw Vale RFC 15 Aberavon RFC 8

The second half started as the first ended, with the hosts adding their third try of the afternoon when young flanker Ewan McIntyre burst through a gap to finish off a very good team move. Fly half Lloyd kicked the conversion.

Ten minutes into the 2nd half, Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange replaced the front row of Luke Garrett, Adam Court and Joe Franchi with Morgan Davies, Adam Williams and Ieuan Morris.

From a lineout in the Wizard`s half, the Steelmen crossed the line again to score a bonus point try. In a powerful rolling maul at the lineout, the ball made its way to outside half Lloyd who found space, drew the defender and passed the ball to winger Ryan Gardner to go over in the corner. Lloyd was unsuccessful with the conversion.

The Steelmen coach Strange made a further change, bringing on centre Cameron Davies on for inside Centre Dom Franchi.

Two quick firer tries by Aberavon’s Connor Moyse and Fullback Scott Delnevo saw the deficit reduced to five points. Further changes by Ebbw Vale saw second row Dylan Bartlett, winger Ewan Bowden and flanker Ben Main be replaced by debutants Jack Pope and Josh Malson with the 3rd change seeing Kobi Rees come on in the back row

With the final play of the game, fullback Hamish Anderson showed a clean pair of heels down the wing to draw the man and pass to the supporting Jon Evans to score his team`s fifth and final try of the game. Lloyd finished the game by converting the conversion.

A hard-fought victory against a very competitive Aberavon team.

Full time: Ebbw Vale RFC 34 Aberavon RFC 22

Man Of The Match: Lewis Young

Tries: Joe Franchi (1), Ethan Phillips (1), Ewan McIntyre (1), Ryan Gardner (1), Jon Evans (1)

Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3) Pens: Evan Lloyd (1)

After the game we spoke with Ebbw Vale fullback Hamish Anderson,

Hamish said he felt the game went really well. He added there are some areas of development that need to be worked on but going to next week the team will look at the clips and correct the mistakes made during the game.  

Hamish also said he was really excited to play fullback at this level, having had previous experience of playing the position, although his more natural position is as a winger.  

Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans

Thursday 19th September

In round 2 of the new Super Rygbi Cymru, TheSteelmen travel to Cardiff RFC on Thursday night for a live game on S4C Clic..

The Addicts are providing transport for the game, leaving the Welfare at 5.15pm and returning straight after the games.

See contact details on the Addicts page on the website to book your seats