Despite a powerful rally in the final quarter, that yielded two tries, Ebbw went down to Cross Keys and find themselves at the foot of the Premiership East division. The problem for the Steelmen was that they had allowed the home side to build up a 20 point advantage by the 50th minute, despite enjoying superiority in the scrums and in much-improved lines out.

Keys took the lead on 17 minutes, after a dropped pass ended a promising move by the Steelmen. As Keys broke up field, frantic defence by Ebbw included an illegal ruck entry which gave Josh Prosser the simplest of chances to claim a 3-0 lead. The gap increased when Nathan Trowbridge galloped in for a toucdown converted by Prosser, then the outside half added a penalty. Lewis Dennet pushed a late effort wide, as Keys’ infringements mounted, and the host took a 13-0 lead into the changing rooms at half time.

Things got worse for Ebbw after the break, as James Leadbeter darted in for a classic scrum half snipe, which Prosser again goaled. At 20-0, with half an hour left, prospects for Ebbw looked decidedly poor. However, the Steelmen now began to play some rugby, looking to get the ball wide, punching through the middle and kicking for position. The first reward came from a classic Catch’n’Kynes, and the onsluaght continued. To Keys’ credit, they defended well and, at times, Ebbw were forced to play side-to-side rather than going forward. Eventually, quick ball went left and Srdan Majkic did well to score, despitet the attentions of several Keys defenders. Callum Hall’s touchline conversion brought the score to 20-12 and Ebbw clearly sniffed a bonus point, even if the win was beyond them. As it transpired, neither came, and Cross Keys deservedly ended as winners.

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Ar ôl gadael i Cross Keys adeiladu mantais 20 pwynt, daeth Glynebwy’n ôl yn y chwarter olaf i sgorio dau gais – ond doedd hynny ddim yn ddigon i gipio’r gêm. Yn sicr, bydd Prif Hyfforddwr, Lee Davies, yn hapus gan y sgrym rymus a’r llinell, oedd yn well llawer iawn nag yn y gêm yn erbyn Pontypridd. Fydd e ddim mor hapus â chamgymeriadau a phenderfyniadau anghywir.

Aeth Keys ar y blaen ar 17 munud, ar ôl i symudiad addawol gan Lynebwy ddifyggio. Wrth i Keys wrthymosod, roedd amddiffyn ffyrnig Glynebwy Ebbw yn cynnwys anghyfreithlondeb a roddodd i Josh Prosser gyfle digon hawdd i agor cyfrif ei dîm. Cyn yr egwyl, roedd e wedi trosi cais Nathan Trowbridge a chicio triphwynt i roi mantais 13-0 i Keys. Doedd fawr o ddawn greadigol i’w gweld gan un dîm na’r llall, ond roedd Keys wedi cael gafael gryf yn y gêm. Bu Lewis Dennet yn ffeilu trosi cic cosb yn hywr yn yr hanner cyntaf.

Aeth pethau o ddrwg i waeth i Lynebwy ar ôl yr egwyl, wrth i James Leadbeter sgorio cais da a Prosser – braidd yn anochel – yn ychwanegu dau bwynt. 20-0 oedd y sgôr, a 25 munud yn weddill. Yn sydyn, bu Glynebwy’n penderfynu chwarae tipyn bach o rygbi! Gwaith galed, cryf gan y blaenwyr yn rhoi cyfleoedd i’r olwyr rhedeg ac ymestyn amddifyn eu gwrthwynebwyr. Daeth clasur o ‘Catch’n’Kynes’, a chais gwych gan Srdan Majkic i roi bach o barch i’r sgôr, ond roedd Gwyr y Dur wedi ei adael yn rhy hwyr. Pob clod i Keys ar eu buddugoliaeth, ond parch hefyd i Lynebwy am drio mor benderfynol yn yr ail hanner.

Ebbw Vale team:
Will Talbot-Davies, Steffan Thomas, Srdan Majkic, Dom Franchi, Andy Evans; Lewis Dennet, Carl Lewis; Ian George, Joe Franchi, Rob Sevenoaks; Lance Randall, Ashley Sweet; Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes (capt), Cameron Regan. Subs: Rhys Francis, Ross Jones, Josh James, Jon Davies, Owen Jones, Dai Jones, Callum Hall, Dai Langdon.

Tries: Ronny Kynes, Srdan Majkic
Con: Callum Hall