Ebbw Vale 13 Cardiff 18, Indigo Welsh Premiership, 29/04/2023

With Spring with us at last, the sun shone on the visitors to Ebbw Vale in a hard-fought encounter which put a slight dampener on what had been, overall, a good season for the Steelmen.

The home side struck first through an Evan Lloyd penalty. Then following a series of persistent infringements yielding a Cardiff yellow card, Ebbw took advantage through a Lewis Young try converted by Lloyd. 10-0.

Cardiff hit back through a Dan Fish try, which was converted and followed up with another penalty, leaving the sides on 10 a-piece at half time.

The Steelmen started the second half on top and the pressure told, giving Lloyd the chance to add a further 3 points. The lead was short-lived as Cardiff hit back, 13-13.

In the final quarter, a Cardiff try gave the visitors the spoils and a well-grafted away win.

It was a slightly low note on which to end the season, but at the outset supporters would have settled for a top half finish with such a young squad. So 5th is a satisfactory outcome and bodes well for the future.

Ebbw Vale 38 Aberavon 26, Indigo Welsh Premiership, 22/04/2023

Ebbw Vale collected an excellent bonus-point victory over the Wizards which kept alive the home side's fading prospects of a top four finish.

Aberavon struck first blood with a neat break by stand-off Thomas. Ebbw hit back with a penalty, but Avon struck again with a well-worked move which went unconverted. Ebbw converted another 3 points. 6-12. 

Finally getting some forward dominance, the Steelmen were starting to force errors yielding a yellow card for the aforementioned Thomas. Good handling and good work by Evan Lloyd brough the deficit down to 1 point.

Taking advantage of the extra player, Ebbw worked the ball well to Carrick McDonough, who sped over for a converted try, giving Ebbw a 6-point advantage at the break 18-12.

Further pressure saw Ebbw extend their lead through a penalty at the start of the second half. Then more slick back play built upon forward pressure saw McDonough sent away for a second touchdown, again converted by Lloyd. 28-12.

Aberavon were not finished and some desperate defence led to a 10-minute sin bin for Dom Franchi. Avon took advantage with a 7-point gain. They made that 14 unanswered points, giving the visitors a bonus point, and only a 2 point deficit.

Back to 15 players, and with the bench thrown on, Ebbw came good again with Ethan Phillips breaking through and crossing the whitewash for another 7-pointer. A final penalty from Lloyd saw the home side to victory with a full 5 points.

Ebbw Vale 30 Bridgend 27, Indigo Welsh Premiership, 18/02/2023

Ebbw Vale scraped home in a last-gasp victory over a battling Bridgend due to an injury time drop goal from Kieran Meek.

In truth, it was not a good display from the home side as both sides made multiple errors in tricky February conditions.

First blood went to Bridgend following a knock on. 0-7 Bridgend. Ebbw hit back with a penalty from Evan Lloyd. Bridgend struck again through a neat handling move 3-14.

Ebbw flanker Joe Thomas hit back with a well-worked try, converted by Lloyd. 10-14.

More good work from scrum half Evans and centre Dom Franchi, saw Luke Garrett sent over, converted by Lloyd again. 17-14. Several penalties were exchanged, which saw the sides all square at 20-20 at the interval.

An interception try by Morgan Richards saw Ebbw restore their lead before Bridgend hit back again with a third try. 27 all.

Following several delays and a yellow card for the visitors, the Ebbw pack piled on the pressure in the visitors 22. With the clock having ticked red, phases of patient pressure led to the final chance which Meek did not squander, yielding a crucial home win as Ebbw kept up their play-off push.