Ebbw were comfortable and deserved winners at sunny Sardis Road, defeating reigning champions Pontypridd by 38 points to 12 to claim the Principality Championship title.

For the second year running, the Grand Final featured the most successful club side of recent years, Pontypridd, against the Steelmen who have been reborn since relegation 6 years ago.

The first 15 minutes or so were reminiscent of Ebbw’s game at Llandovery last Sunday, with the home side piling on pressure but Ebbw’s defence organised, patient and controlled. When Ebbw broke out, a penalty kick to the corner, following a scything burst by Jared Rosser, set up the Catch’n’Kynes to give Ebbw a 6-0 lead, stretched to 8-0 by Dai Langdon’s superb conversion.

Ponty continued to boss possession and territory but could find no way through and Ebbw tacklers lined up to stop and drive back their opponents. Ponty’s attacking lineout was blunted, with Cameron Regan and Ashley Sweet spoiling and stealing and, even when Ronny Kynes was sin-binned, the defence held. Another breakout saw David Williams start and finish a move that gave his side a 14-0 half time advantage.

It was still tense in the crowd, but the atmosphere was relieved a little when one Ebbw wag asked, “Are you sure we’re safe from relegation now?”

Damien Hudd got a metaphorical hand on the trophy 7 minutes into the second period when Ebbw completed a second perfect Catch’n’Kynes (Ronny’s 19th try of the season) and Langdon’s conversion went over via the cross bar. Five minutes later, it really was all over; Luke Crocker pounced on a Pontypridd overthrow and the ball went swiftly via Mathew Williams and Ronny Kynes then Chris Thomas, Dai Langdon, Adam Jones, Dan Haymond and, finally, David Williams who scored his second, his side’s fourth, and took the game beyond Ponty’s grasp. Langdon’s left foot made it 30-0.

The home side came back once again, with Bradley Cooombes scoring. Five minutes before the end, they were again threatening, but a turnover saw the ball squirt out and Dan Haymond gathered to race 80 metres for the score. Langdon added two and it was 38-6. The game’s last play saw Seb Davies gain a second consolation for the hosts, but it was too little too late. Ebbw Vale were Premiership Champions, and the party started…

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Blwyddyn yn ôl, aeth Glynewby i Heol Sardis i wynebu Pontypridd am Bencampwriaeth yr Uwchgynghrair. Roedd yr achlysur, y gwrthwynebwyr, yr her yn ormod i Wyr y Dur, ac ennillod Ponty yn ddigon hawdd. On roedd popeth yn wahanol heddiw: Glynebwy wedi curo Pontypridd dwywaith yn barod ac, yn ystod yr wythnosau diweddar, wedi bod yn chwarae eu rygbi gorau’r tymor. Ond… Ponty… ar Heol Sardis…

Roedd y 15 munud cyntaf yn debyg iawn i’r gêm yn erbyn Llanymddyfri ddydd Sul diwethaf, gyda’r tîm cartref yn pwyso a bygwth, ond yn ffaelu sgorio am fod amddifynwyr Glynebwy mor effeithiol. Pan dorrodd Glynebwy mas o’u tiriogaeth, aeth Jared Rosser yn syth trwy olwyr Pontypridd ac er bod e’n cael ei daclo, daeth cic gosb i’w dîm. Aeth Dai Langdon am y cornel ac – wel, chi’n gwybod beth sy’n digwydd wedyn – aeth yr enwog Ronny Kynes drosodd am “Catch’n’Kynes” perffaith. Trosiodd Dai Langdon, ac 8-0 oedd hi.

Roedd Ponty dal yn dominyddio, o ran methiant a thiriogaeth, ond roedd taclo Glynebwy yn ffyrnig, a’u hamddiffyn mor drefnus. Er bod Pontypridd yn ennill cyfres o giciau cosb, doedd eu llinell ddim yn gweithio ac roedd Cameron Regan ac Ashley Sweet yn dwyn methiant yn gyson. Yn y pendraw, torrodd Glynebwy eto, gyda David Williams yn dechrau a gorffen symudiad gwych i sicrhau ail gais i’w dîm. 14-0 oedd hi i Lynebwy ar yr egwyl, a chefnogwyr yn dechrau breuddwydio…

7 munud ar ôl yr egwyl, roedd y breuddwyd yn troi’n wir, gydag ail “Catch’n’Kynes” a throsiad oddi ar y bar gan Langdon. Pum munud wedyn, doedd dim dwywaith amdani: roedd y tlws yn mynd i Flaenau Gwent am y tro cyntaf ar ôl i Luke Crocker ddwyn bêl Ponty yn y llinell a mynd ar garlam trwy’r amddiffyn cyn cysylltu â Mathew Williams, a basiood i Ronny Kynes. Aeth y bêl yn gyflym trwy ddwylo Chris Thomas, Dai Langdon, Adam Jones, Dan Haymond ac, yn olaf, David Williams a sgoriodd ei ail gas i estyn mantais Glynebwy i 30-0 gyda throsiad Langdon.

Pob clod i Bontypridd, daethon nhw’n ôl a sgoriodd Bradley Cooombes yn y cornel. Ond roedd y gêm ‘wedi cwpla’ i’r Bont ac aeth cefnwr Glynebwy, Dan Haymond, 80m i gyflawni buddugoliaeth helaethwych. Gyda symudiad olaf y prynhawn, sgoriodd Seb Davies gais cysur i Bonty ond roedden nhw wedi cael eu curo’n gyffyrddus ac yn gyflawn gan Lynebwy, clwb sy wedi dychwelyd o’r dyfnderau i haeddu lle ar ben yr Uwchgynghrair.

Llongyfarchiadau i’r ddau dîm, a’r swyddogion, am gêm gyffrous ar brynhawn hafaidd. Bydd y parti yng Nglynebwy yn parhau tan ddechrau’r tymor nesaf, siwr o fod!