SRC Cup Final – Llandovery RFC 39 Ebbw Vale RFC 7

Steelmen Come Unstuck

Ebbw Vale visited Church Bank, Llandovery to play the SRC Cup final against the Drovers on Thursday evening in front of the S4C Clic camera’s. The game saw captain Joe Franchi make his 200^th appearance for the club and brother Dom Franchi on his 150^th.

The visitors were forced into a change within the first minute when inside centre Dom Franchi was forced to leave the field, with concussion. Replacement Ieuan Evans came onto the pitch in Franchi’s absence.

The first try of the final came when influential scrum half Lee Rees made a darting run from a knock down from a lineout inside the away side’s twenty-two, to score the try. Outside half Ioan Hughes added the extras.

The Steelmen were to hit back with what was to be their only try of the evening. From a lineout in the hosts twenty-two, the forwards set up a driving maul which resulted in hooker Joe Franchi crossing the line to score his teams try. Fly half Evan Lloyd kicked the conversion to bring the scores level.

Two penalties by the home sides number ten Hughes before half time extended the lead to six points at the interval.

Half time: Llandovery RFC 13 Ebbw Vale RFC 7

The second half started in the same fashion as the first half finished with the home side on the front foot and the Ebbw Vale players putting their bodies on the line by making tackle after tackle.

The pressure was soon to pay off when hooker Taylor Davies scored his sides second try of the game from a driving maul. Hughes sent the ball through the middle of the posts.

Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange replaced scrum half Rory Harries with the returning Jon Evans. Unfortunately for the experienced number nine, within minutes Evans had to be helped off the pitch due to an injury. This saw full back Matt Jones come onto the field and starting full back Morgan Richards fill in as emergency scrum half.

Moments later Ebbw were reduced to fourteen men when flanker Jack Pope was shown the yellow card by referee Matthew Leon to spend ten minutes in the sin bin.

The Drovers were to take advantage of their numerical advantage when winger Harri Doel scored in the corner. On this occasion Hughes was unsuccessful with the conversion from out wide.

Ebbw Vale replaced the front row of Luke Garrett, Joe Franchi and Adam Williams with Morgan Williams, Ieuan Morris and Adam Court, and within a few minute’s flanker Jack Pope was not to re-enter the field, and was replaced by Cameron Regan.

A good back’s move by Llandovery from their own half was finished with winger Kian Abraham putting in a chip over the defence. The winger used his speed to dive on the ball over the line. Hughes again kicked the conversion.

The final change of the game by Ebbw coach Strange saw Lewis Young come onto the field for Ryan Jenkins.

Two tries by Llandovery during the second half were ruled out by the referee. However, the home side were to extend their lead further by scoring another converted try.

Full Time: Llandovery RFC 39 Ebbw Vale RFC 7

Try scorer: Joe Franchi (1)

Conversion: Evan Lloyd (1)

Ebbw Vale RFC`s  next league game is at home to Bridgend RFC on Thursday 27^th March 2025, with kick off at 7:30pm. The game will be shown live in front of the S4C Clic cameras.

Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans