Ebbw maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 5-point win over Cross Keys at Eugene Cross Park in front of the S4C cameras on Saturday evening. After 36 hours of non-stop rain, the pitch was in remarkably good condition, a testimony to the hard work of the ground staff. Conditions were still tricky, even though the rain stopped before kickoff, with a southerly gale and frequent squally showers exerting an influence on proceedings.
Although Ebbw dominated the early exchanges, and had a try disallowed following intervention by the TMO, the game was in its second quarter before the home side’s increasing scrum superiority led to a great opportunist try by Dai Jones. The pack’s powerful scrummaging led to a second try from number eight Lewis Young which Rhys Jones converted. Ebbw went into the interval 17-0 ahead following a well executed Catch’n’Kynes.
The gale from Cwm was well used by Carl Meyer and Rhys Jones in the first half and Cross Keys began to benefit similarly early after the break, as Jason Tevey pinned the Steelmen back in their own 22. Superb, patient, organised defence kept the visitors out although a midfield breakdown let Leon Andrews feed Wes Cunliffe and the former Ebbw favourite raced clear for an excellent try which Tovey converted for 17-7.
James Lewis ran a great support line when Dan Haymond broke brilliantly from his own 22, but the centre was hauled down short of the try line. On the advice of the TMO a red card was issued to Keys’Tom Lampard for punching Rhys Francis, who himself saw yellow, during the move.
Ross Jones, inspirational throughout, was replaced by Joel Harries who charged over for the bonus point try to seal another win for the Steelmen and keep them in top spot.
Rhys Francis was named Man of the Match, a deserved accolade for which there was fierce competition from every one of his team mates.

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Mae Glynebwy dal ar frig yr Uwch Gynghrair wedi iddynt guro Cross Keys gan 22-7 ar Barc Eugene Cross, nos Sadwrn. Bu storm Callum yn effeithio ar y gêm ond bu Glynebwy yn maestrioli’r cyflyrau i groesi am 4 cais, a sicrhau pum pwynt.

Unwaith eto, cryfder y pac oedd prif erfyn Glynebwy gyda Ross Jones yn achosi problemau enfawr i brop ben tynn y Keys i greu cyfleoedd i Dai Jones a Lewis Young fanteisio gyda cheisiadau. Bu’r sgarmes symudol yn nerthus hefyd, a chapten Kynes yn sgorio trydydd cais ei dîm. 17-0 oedd hi ar yr egwyl.

Ar ddechrau’r ail hanner, bu maswr Keys, Jason Tovey yn defnyddio’r gwynt cryf i gadw Gwŷr y Dur yn eu hardal 22m, ond bu amddiffyn y tîm cartref yn drefnus dros ben i adael yr ymwelwyr heb ffordd trwodd. Yn y pen draw, bu Leon Andrews yn ymosod o’i hanner ac yn pasio i Wes Cunliffe, a ddangosodd bod e dal yn ddigon cyflym i sgorio cais da. Trosiodd Tovey am 17-7.

Bu Glynebwy bron yn sgorio cais bendigedig, wedi i Dan Haymond bylchu o ddyfnder a phasio i James Lewis, ond bu taclwr Keys yn ei ddal. Yn dilyn adolygiad gan y dyfarnwr a’r TMO, derbynodd carden goch gan glo Cross Keys, Tom Lampard. Bu Glynebwy yn cadw pwysau ar y Keys, a bu eilydd o brop, Joel Harries yn sgorio eu pedwaredd cais i sicrhau pwynt bonws a chwblhau buddugolaeth hollol deilwng, 22-7.
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The squad was:

Dan Haymond, Paul King, Carl Meyer, James Lewis, Toby Fricker; Rhys Jones, Dai Jones; Ross Jones, Rhys Francis, Rob Sevenoaks; Kristian Parker, Ashley Sweet; Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes (capt), Lewis Young.

Subs: Joe Franchi, Joel Harries, Curtis Hicks, Lance Randall, Cameron Regan, Matthew Flanagan, Owen Young, Stefan Thomas.