Tries by Ronny Kynes and Jared Rosser, and 8 points from Dai Langdon’s boot took the Steelmen through to this year’s Premiership Grand Final against Pontypridd at Sardis Road.

On a very warm, sunny afternoon at Church Bank, Llandovery took advantage of the strong breeze behind them early on to pressurise the visitors. Ebbw conceded penalties but Llandovery turned down easy shots at goal for kicks to the corner, aiming to set up drives of the lines out that followed. The tactic failed as Ebbw defended superbly for the first quarter. When the Steelmen got the opportunity, they showed the Drovers how to do it with a traditional Catch’n’Kynes (TM). Dai Langdon’s conversion attempt hit a post. Four minutes later, a clearance was fielded by Dan Haymond who danced past a handful of defenders before perfectly timing his pass to Jared Rosser who crossed in the corner. Langdon converted superbly and Ebbw were 14-0 up.

Llandovery upped their game and put Ebbw under huge pressure, yeilding a string of penalties and a yellow card for Gethin Robinson. Their score came from a line out drive with Shaun Mills claiming the score that Maynard converted. A Langdon penalty opened up the 8 point gap, and the half ended with a superb tackle by Chris Thomas denying the Drovers a second score.

The whistle continued to dominate the second half as both teams were adjudged to be transgressing at the breakdown. It was tense, with Llandovery going all out to release their potent backs and Ebbw’s defence organised and ferocious. Key penalties were won by Ronny Kynes and Jared Rosser, and Cameron Regan’s tackle count must have been huge. Dai Langdon succeeded twice to increase his team’s advantage to 20-8 before a second catch and drive try, by Richard Brooks, converted by Maynard made it 20-16. The home side twice had opportunies with yet more penalties but the lines out were unsuccessful, one overthrown and one superbly stolen by Regan. Ebbw cleared downfield and mangaged the remaining time expertly to ensure that they, not Llandovery, will take on champions Ponty next Sunday afternoon.

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Ar brynhawn twym yn Sir Gâr, aeth Glynebwy drwodd i ‘Grand Final’ yr Uwchgynghrair gan guro Llanymddyfri 20-16. Fel digwyddodd y llynedd, bydd Glynebwy yn wynebu Pontypridd ar Heol Sardis (Dydd Sul, Mai 15fed, am 3 o’r gloch).

O’r dechrau, manteisiodd Llanymddyfri ar yr awel cryf y tu ôl iddynt i chwarae’r gêm yn nhiriogaeth Glynebwy. Daeth llwyth o giciau cosb, ond penderfynon nhw fynd am geisiau yn hytrach na phwyntiau, ac roedd amddiffynwyr Glynebwy yn gallu ymdopi heb fawr o drafferth.

Yn gynnar yn yr ail chwarter, ymosododd Glynebwy drwy batrwm cyfarwydd: pwys anorchfygol yn y sgrym, cic cosb i’r cornel a Catch’n’Kynes traddodiadol. Pum munud yn ddiweddarch, dan bwys unwaith eto, cliriodd Llanymddyfri gyda chic aeth yn ddwfn iawn i mewn i hanner yr ymwelwyr. Daliwyd y bêl gan Dan Haymond, a redodd ar garlam trwy amddiffyn y Porthmyn, yn ochrgamu a ffug-basio, cyn amseru pas perffaith i Jared Rosser i sgorio yn y cornel. Gyda throsiad Dai Langdon 14-0 oedd hi i Lynebwy.

Ymatebodd Llanymddyfri yn gryf iawn, yn rhoi Glynebwy o dan bwys enfawr. Yn y pendraw, daeth sgôr o sgarmes symudol i Shaun Mills, a drosiwyd gan Jack Maynard. Ar ôl i Dai Langdon ailsefydlu mantais Dynion y Dur i 8 pwynt, gwnaeth tacl arwrol gan Chris Thomas stopio Llanymdyffri rhag sgorio ar drothwy’r egwyl, ac 16-8 oedd hi ar ddiwedd y cyfnod cyntaf.

Roedd swn y chwiban, mor amlwg cyn yr egwyl, yn amlycach byth yn yr ail hanner, wrth i dyfarnwr, Craig Evans, gosbi’r dau dîm, am droseddau ar y llawr. Parhaodd Llanymddyfri geisio rhyddhau eu holwyr dawnus, ond roedd amddiffynwyr dawnus Glynebwy yn rhagorol. Ennillodd cosbau hollbwysig gan Jared Rosser a Ronny Kynes, a basai’n bosibl credu bod gwyddonwyr wedi clonio Cameron Regan: roedd e ym mhobman! Llwyddodd Dai Langdon i gynyddu mantais ei dîm i 20-8, gan ddwy gic gosb ond o’r diwedd, aeth wythwr Llanymddfri, Richard Brooks, drosodd am ail gais y Porthmyn, a Jack Maynard yn trosio am 20-16.

Daeth mwy o gyfleodd i Lanymddyfri wrth i’r gêm fynd yn nes at y chwiban olaf, ond roedd eu llinellau ymosodol yn aflwyddiannus (Regan, yn anochel, yn dwyn y bêl). Roedd gobeithion y Porthmyn wedi diflannu, a Glynebwy yn cael gafael yn y bêl am y munudau olaf i sicrhau buddugoliaeth fythgofiadwy, a chyfarfod gyda Phontypridd.