Wednesday, October 14, 2020

2020 - a desperate year

 There's no doubt that 2020 has been a desperate year.


Nothing is more important than life and death, nor indeed good health, but one of the side effects of the virus has been the complete absence of the very events that make this blog.


No gigs, no live cricket, no live rugby. No holidays abroad.


2020 was the first summer since 1978 that I did not see Glamorgan at all 'in the flesh'.

Likewise, if we have no club rugby season this winter, then it will be the first time sine 1974/75 that I won't have been to Eugene Cross Park to watch Ebbw Vale.


Let's hope that 2021 brings us a return to the things we love.


In the meantime, some memories:











Monday, April 6, 2020

Ebbw Vale 20 RGC 17, Indigo Premiership, 07/03/2020

In what turned out to be the final fixture of the season, Ebbw Vale secured a much needed win and a rare double over RGC, the visitors from North Wales.

The first half was one for the connoisseurs as the packs largely slugged out an up-front battle. Against a stiff breeze, the home side went in at half time just 3 points in deficit; a scoreline which pleased the home faithful.


After the break, the scoreline expanded, with the Colwyn Bay based outfit quickly responding to a Rhys Jones penalty with a converted try of their own. Then, a forward drive saw a Lewis Young try converted by Jones to put the Steelmen 13-10 up and the home side sensed victory.


It was not so straightforward however, as a simple handling move seemed to have secured the spoils for the 'Gogs', who now led 17-13.

But Ebbw were made of tougher stuff in the second half of the season and a series of 'pick and drive' moves eventually saw Dan Hill forced over, converted by Jones.

Ebbw won possession from the kick off and successfully ran down the clock to secure vital points, points which seemed even more important with news filtering through that Bridgend has gone down to Carmarthen Quins, and were now clear relegation favourites.


Sadly it all proved rather academic. The spread of the global pandemic of Covid 19 (Coronavirus) meant that the rest of the season was cancelled and there would no further games played. Promotion and relegation was suspended.