Ebbw got the second half of the Premiership season off to a tremendous start with a five point win over Llanelli at Eugene Cross Park on Saturday afternoon. After a close first half, in which Ebbw spurned a couple of good chances, Llanelli led 10-6,  through a try by Ryan Davies, converted by Lewis Williams who also slotted a penalty. Dorian Jones kicked two penalties for the hosts, the second from his own half.

Whatever coaches Jason Strange and Ceri Jones said at half time had an immediate effect as, from the kick off, Dan Haymond made a great break and timed his pass perfectly for Stefan Thomas to race in. Jones converted, and Ebbw had the lead. As the Steelmen began to increase the pressure, Llanelli fell foul of referee Mr Brakespeare and Dorian Jones made no mistake to extend the lead to 19-10. By 60 minutes, the game was over as a contest. A classic catch’n’Kynes came first, followed by a superb team move that was ended by Cameron Regan scoring wide out on the right. The unerring Jones added the finishing touches and scored another penalty to take the score to 36-10. With the Steelmen scenting their first attacking bonus of the season, it was Llanelli who scored next, ex-Cross Keys number 8 Jack Condy touching down in the corner. By now, Ebbw had complete dominance at forward, and it was fitting that the final score came from a penalty try as Llanelli illegally stopped a a try-bound scrum. It finished 43-15, and Ebbw’s faithful supporters can now look ahead with confidence to the New Year.

As was the case last week, this was a fine team performance based on organisation and every man knowing the part he had to play. There were some outstanding individual efforts: Cameron Regan was in the thick of everything; Ronny Kynes led from the front; Rhys Francis and Rhys Clarke put in their customary exemplary shifts; and Dorian Jones was the puppet master at fly half. Man of the Match was Dan Haymond, whose scintillating break got the ball rolling just after half time and led to 33 unanswered points.

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Mae hi bron yn amhosibl i gredu faint mae Glynebwy wedi gwella yn ystod y pythefnos diwethaf. Yn dilyn buddugoliaeth wych dros Bedwas, daeth llwyddiant arall heddiw yn erbyn Llanelli, gan 43-15.

Er bod yr hanner gyntaf bach yn siomedig a digon tyn, â Llanelli yn y blaen gan 10-6 ar yr egwyl, stori arall bu’r ail gyfnod ar ôl i Dan Haymond ddechrau gan redeg trwy amddiffyn y gwrthwynebwyr a phasio i Stef Thomas i sgorio yn y cornel. Gyda throsiad Dorian Jones, bu Glynebwy yn y blaen, 13-10.

Wedi hynny, bu Glynebwy yn cael gafael gryf yn y gêm a rhoi’r ymwelwyr o dan bwysedd enfawr: ciciau cosb Dorian Jones yn ymestyn mantais ei dîm i 19-10 cyn i Ronny Kynes – gyda chlasur o ‘Catch a Kynes’ – a Cameon Regan yn mynd drosodd am geisiadau, a throsiadau Jones yn mynd â’r sgôr i 36-10.

Erbyn hyn, bu Glynebwy yn chwarae gyda hyder bod ni heb ei weld y tymor hwn, ac yn mynd am bwynt bonws am y tro cyntaf. Er bod Llanelli yn taro’n ôl gyda chais da gan Jack Condy, bu gwobr y tîm cartref yn anochel, ac yn dod trwy ei sgrym nerthus: y dyfarnwr yn mynd o dan y pyst, ac arwyddo cais cosb. 43-15 oedd y sgôr terfynol, a bydd chwaraewyr, rheolwyr a chefnogwyr Gwŷr y Dur yn disgwyl ymlaen at y flwyddyn newydd gyda gobaith am a ddaw.

Seren y gêm oedd cefnwr Dan Haymond,  gydag eraill fel Ronny Kynes, Rhys Clarke, Rhys Francis, Cameron Regan a Dorian Jones yn amlwg iawn… ond, mae’n bwysig iawn pwysleisio taw perfformiad gwych gan yr holl dîm oedd hwn.

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Bench: Gerard Ellis, Joe Franchi, Josh James, Mathew Williams, Kristian Parker, Srdan Majkic, Calum Morris. Lewis Dennett.

Tries: Steffan Thomas, Ronny Kynes, Cameron Regan, penalty try
Conversions: Dorian Jones (3)
Penalties: Dorian Jones (5)