Ebbw Vale 71 Beddau 13, SWALEC Cup, 04/01/14

It was yet another home demolition day for the Steelmen as their pace and power was evidently too much for the visitors from near Pontypridd in this SWALEC 1st round cup tie.

 

With the match declared 'on' early on Saturday morning, it was a question of what the pitch would be like following a week in which Noah was thinking of building a second ark. Incredibly, the surface was barely damaged by the recent heavy rainfall and held up well throughout the encounter.

 

A smaller crowd than at Christmas time came along but enjoyed some rampant try scoring by Ebbw as well as some bizarre referring from Chris Williams.

 

By half time, Ebbw had moved into a 26-6 lead with the usual scrummaging power, tight mauling and incisive back play.

 

Pics (taken with new Nikon so bear with me)



 

 

A Vale catch and drive......

 



 

.....sets up Rhys Clarke....

 



......for the 1st of his 4 tries from lock

 



 

Beddau rallied briefly at the start of the second half, but Vale's superior fitness told in the end. Try scorers were Clarke (4), Ashley Sweet, Liam Roberts, Spencer Gibson (2), Wes Cunliffe, Dai James and Ronnie Kynes, with 8 of the 11 tries being converted.

 

2nd half pics

 



It's unlikely Ebbw will be in action next Saturday as scheduled opponents Bargoed will have to play their postponed cup tie. The club visit Narberth on the 18th of January.