Ebbw had to settle for a losing bonus at the end of a game they could have won. A pre-match snowstorm welcomed the visitors who were keen to avenge a home defeat earlier in the season. The first ten minutes were evenly fought out between the 22s, until Ebbw went offside and Ben Thomas scored the first points of the game. Ebbw responded well, and Dai Jones broke the Cardiff defences and released his backs. Dan Haymond finished well and Callum Hall’s touchline conversion put the Steelmen in front. Cardiff regained the lead via hooker Ian Jenkins, capitalising on an untidy defensive line out by Ebbw, plus a Thomas conversion, and extended their advantage when the outside half kicked another penalty to make it 13-7. An excellent move by Ebbw almost saw Srdan Majkic claim a touchdown, and, although the move was stifled, Ebbw’s attacking intent pressurised Cardiff into conceding penalties. Callum Hall added 6 points to send the sides off at half time level at 13 apiece.
Ebbw’s dominance continued after the break, Cardiff eventually earning two yellow cards for Ben Thomas and skipper Ben White. Another Hall penalty and a great finish by Dan Haymond put the Steelmen 21-13 up. However, a missed tackle in midfield gave Cardiff wing Corey Howells a run in, and Thomas’s conversion put his side just a point behind.
There was a certain inevitability about the denouement as Mr Phillips adjudged Ebbw to be at fault as a scrum broke up – he had previously penalised the visitors for wheeling – and Thomas made no mistake to give his team the win 23-21.
Despite the disappointment of defeat, Ebbw could take a lot of positives from the game, particularly from the first hour, in which they were on top. Callum Hall looked comfortable at 10, Dan Haymond had a great game at 15 and the pack put in their usual sterling shift with Cameron Regan, Lance Randall and Rhys Clarke particularly prominent.
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Colli bu hanes Glynebwy unwaith eto, ond gêm dynn, cael a chael oedd hi. Roedd yn brynhawn gaeafol iawn ar Barc Eugene Cross wrth i Caerdydd drio dial colli eu gêm gartre ym mis Medi. Nhw oedd y gyntaf i sgorio, maswr Ben Thomas yn trosi cic cosb ar ôl 10 munud. Bu Glynebwy’n ymateb yn gryf, a gwaith da gan Dai Jones yn creu cyfle i Dan Haymond fynd drosodd am gais. Bu trosiad Callum Hall o’r ystlys yn berffaith a 7-3 oedd y sgôr.
Yn anffodus i Lynebwy, fu eu mantais nhw ddim yn parhau. Bu rhywbeth yn mynd o’i le mewn llinell amddiffynol a bachwr Caerdydd, Ian Jenkins, yn croesi am gais cyntaf ei dîm. 10-7 oedd y sgôr gyda throsiad Thomas – ac yntau’n agor y bwlch i 13-7 gyda chic cosb. Bu Gwŷr y Dur yn dod nôl ar unwaith ac yn pwyso ar amddiffyn Caerdydd, a fu’n euog o gamsefyll a chamweddu’n gyson. Bu Callum Hall yn llwyddo gyda dau gic cosb, a 13-13 oedd hi ar yr egwyl.
Bu dechreuad yr ail hanner yn debyg iawn i orffeniad y cyntaf: Glynebwy yn ymosod a Chaerdydd yn troseddu – ac yn derbyn cardiau melyn i Ben Thomas a chapten Ben White. Bu Glynebwy’n manteisio’n dda a sgorio cais gwych gan Haymond a chic cosb gan Hall am 21-13.
Unwaith eto, bu camgymeriad – colli tacl yng nghanol y maes – yn arwain at gais i Gaerdydd. Bu Thomas yn trosi cais Corey Howells a chael a chael oedd hi, yn 21-20 i Lynebwy, wrth i’r gêm fynd tua chwpla. Braidd yn anochel, a dweud y gwir, bu’r dyfarnwr yn penderfynnu taw Glynebwy oedd yn gyfrifol am broblem mewn sgrym ac yn cynnig cyfle i Ben Thomas gipio’r fuddugoliaeth i’w dîm e. Aeth ei gic yn syth trwy’r pyst i dorri calonnau a gobeithion Gwŷr y Dur – ond llongyfarchiadau iddynt am berfformiad gwell llawer iawn.
Seren y gêm oedd Maser Glynebwy, Callum Hall.
1. Ian George
2. Rhys Francis
3. Josh James
4. Kristian Parker
5. Lance Randall
6. Rhys Clarke
7. Ronny Kynes (capt)
8. Cameron Regan
9. Dai Jones
10. Callum Hall
11. Toby Fricker
12. Dai Langdon
13. Dom Franchi
14. Srdan Majkic
15. Dan Haymond
16. Joe Franchi
17. Ross Jones
18. Robert Sevenoaks
19. Jonathan Davies
20. Mathew Williams
21. Carl Lewis
22. Lewis Dennett
23. James Lewis
Traveling Reserves:
Joel Harries
Will Holley
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