3rd May Ebbw Vale v Carmarthen Quins

Description

Date: Saturday, 3rd May 2025 Kick-off: 7:30 PM BST Venue: Eugene Cross Park, Ebbw Vale

This Saturday evening, the highly anticipated Super Rygbi Cymru Trophy quarter-final clash between second-placed Ebbw Vale RFC and ninth-placed Carmarthen Quins will take place at Eugene Cross Park.

Season So Far

Ebbw Vale: The Steelmen have had a strong campaign, finishing second in the Super Rygbi Cymru regular season with 13 wins out of 18 matches. Their home form has been imposing, remaining undefeated at Eugene Cross Park. They will capitalise on this home advantage to aim for a place in the semi-finals.

Carmarthen Quins: The Quins had a more challenging regular season, securing six wins. However, they demonstrated their fighting spirit by overcoming RGC 1404 15-12 in a hard-fought wildcard playoff match away in Colwyn Bay last Saturday, securing their spot in the quarter-finals. This victory will undoubtedly give them confidence as they head into this tricky away fixture.

Head-to-Head

Ebbw Vale has had the upper hand in the two previous meetings between the sides this season:

• Super Rygbi Cymru (14th September 2024): Carmarthen Quins 29 – 39 Ebbw Vale
• SRC Cup (5th April 2025): Ebbw Vale 40 – 20 Carmarthen Quins

However, knockout rugby often throws up surprises, and the Quins will be determined to reverse this trend in this crucial encounter.

Key Match-Ups to Watch

• Ebbw Vale Forwards vs. Carmarthen Quins Pack: The strength and aggression of the Ebbw Vale pack have been a cornerstone of their success this season. The Carmarthen Quins forwards, led by their captain and lock Lee Taylor, will need to be at their absolute best to compete for parity in possession.
• Ebbw Vale Backline vs. Carmarthen Quins Defence: Ebbw Vale possess a dangerous backline capable of scoring tries from anywhere. The Carmarthen Quins’ defence, which showed resilience against RGC, must be well-organised and disciplined to contain the Steelmen’s attacking threats.
• Fly-Halves: The tactical kicking and playmaking abilities of both fly-halves will be crucial in controlling territory and creating scoring opportunities.

Road to the Semi-Finals

The winner of this match will advance to the Super Rygbi Cymru Trophy semi-final on 10th May, where they will face the winner of the quarter-final between Llandovery and Pontypool. If Ebbw Vale were to win and Llandovery also emerged victorious, Ebbw Vale would have a home advantage in the semi-final.