Forty years ago to the Saturday, Ebbw travelled to Coventry knowing that a win would see them crowned unofficial Welsh champions. (Note to younger readers: this was before leagues, play-offs, mid-season splits, regions and even websites.) Ebbw lost that day, and the title slipped away. Fast forward four decades and the current Steelmen, including two whose father played in the 1977 game, knew that the chance of being able to defend their title as Premiership Champions hinged on a win at Churchbank.

Llandovery RFC is rich with memories for Ebbw. A snowbound midweek cup tie, a couple of utter hammerings, a glorious playoff semi final win… and always that westerly wind!

This encounter began encouragingly for the Steelmen who looked lively and inventive in the early exchanges. A typical Drovers counter attack, against the run of play, led to a try for Jack Maynard but Josh Lewis brought it back to 5-3 with a penalty as Ebbw’s pack exerted superiority. That superiority soon earned a penalty try, converted by Lewis. The impressive Maynard added two further penalties before half time to make the score 11-10 to Llandovery.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Ebbw looked favourites but error after error yielded field position and opportunities were lost. Llandovery scored next through Dean Howells, Maynard converting to give his side an 18-10 advantage. Back came the visitors immediately and Dom Franchi scored in the corner. Josh Lewis’s attempted conversion hit the post. His opposite number again stretched the lead to 21-15 and, in injury time, a Lewis penalty set Ebbw up for a potentially match winning catch’n’Kynes. Unfortunately for the Steelmen, the ball was lost forward and, soon after, it was all over, with Llandovery winning 21-15.

Ebbw can still make the playoffs but it will take a bonus point win over Merthyr and a bonus point free draw between Pontypridd and RGC.

Ebbw Vale team v Llandovery
Dan Haymond, Nathan Preece, Dominic Franchi, Dai Langdon, James Lewis; Josh Lewis, Dai Jones; Ian George, Joe Franchi, Rob Sevenoaks; Damien Hudd (c), Ashley Sweet; Lance Randall, Ronny Kynes, Rhys Clarke.
Subs: Jonny Bowen, Ross Jones, Gethin Robinson, Max Williams, Dawid Rubasniak, Rob Lewis, Will Talbot-Davies, Srdan Majkic.

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Ar brynhawn gwyntog – wrth gwrs – yn Llanymddyfri, roedd yr ymwelwyr yn hela buddugoliaeth a fyddai’n rhoi hwb i’w gobeithion i amddiffyn eu teitl yn Bencampwyr yr Uwch Gynghrair. Dechreuodd y gêm yn dda i Lynebwy gydag olwyr a blaenwyr yn cyfuno’n effeithiol i ddatblygu cyfres o ymosodiadau treiddgar. Fodd bynnag, pan enillodd y Porthmyn meddiant yn eu hanner eu hunain, rhedodd maswr Jack Maynard trwy amddiffyn yr ymwelwyr i sgorio yn y cornel.

Bu cic cosb Josh Lewis yn sicrhau pwyntiau cyntaf ei dîm ac roedd yn amlwg bod blaenwyr Glynebwy’n drech na’u gwrthwynebwyr. Aeth Dean Howells at y cell cosb, a daeth cais cosb i Lynebwy, gyda Lewis yn trosi am fantais 10-5.

Cyn i’r hanner cyntaf orffen, bu Maynard – a oedd yn rhagorol trwy’r gêm – yn llwddo gyda dau gic cosb ac aeth y ddau dîm at yr orennau gyda’r Porthmyn ar y blaen, 11-10.

Gyda’r gwynt cryf y tu ôl iddynt, a’u blaenwyr â rheolaeth ar flaenwyr Llanymddyfri, bu Glynebwy yn ffefryn i ennill y gêm… ond roedden nhw’n euog o wneud gwallau, camgymeriadau, camsyniadau, ac ildio meddiant a thiriogaeth, tro ar ôl tro. Bu’r Porthmyn yn hollol haeddu’r sgor nesaf – Howells ym mynd drosodd am gais, a Maynard yn trosi ond chwarae teg i Lynebwy: roeden nhw yn ôl yn y gêm ar unwaith, trwy gais Dom Franchi a 18-15 oedd hi. Gyda’r blaenwyr, unwaith eto, yn arwain, bu Glynebwy yn taflu popeth at y Porthmyn ond y nesaf i sgorio oedd Maynard, ei gic cosb yn estyn mantais ei dîm i 21-15.

Daeth cyfle olaf i Lynebwy gipio’r gêm: Josh Lewis yn mesur cic cosb yn berffaith i’r cornel, i sefydlu siawns am ‘Catch a Kynes’. Yn anffodus, roedd y llinell oedd yn dilyn yn siop siafins, a’r moment wedi mynd, a bu Llanymddyfri yn ennill, gyda phwynt bonws pitw yn gysur bach i Wyr y Dur.

Bydd rhaid i RGC a Phontypridd chwarae gêm cyfartal, heb bwyntiau bonws, a bydd rhaid i Glynebwy guro Merthyr gyda phwynt bonws os ydyn nhw i fynd trwodd i’r gemau ail gyfle am y trydydd tymor yn olynol.