Ebbw Vale 34 Aberavon 22, Super Rygbi Cymru, 14/09/2024

Bright September sunshine greeted the brave new world of Welsh semi-professional rugby as Super Cymru Rygbi got under way with this clash between two clubs with proud steel-making traditions.

It was very much a clash of the Ebbw Vale power game against a faster, offloading game from the Wizards of Aberavon.

Ebbw started slowly and quickly found themselves under pressure yielding an early 8-0 deficit. Soon, the home side got its act together, with the classic rolling maul steered over the try line by captain Joe Franchi.

With further attacks, Ebbw were starting to gain the upper hand; powerful centre Ethan Phillips crossed and Evan Lloyd added the extras to make it 12-8. Following scrum pressure, Lloyd added a further 3 points to give the Steelmen of Gwent a 15-8 half time lead.

With 'Avon still down to 14 men at the start of the second half, Ebbw took advantage with Ewan McIntyre adding a third try, converted by Lloyd. The bonus point score followed shortly afterwards with slick back play allowing wing Ryan Gardner to score the home side's 4th try.

At 27-8 the game appeared over, but Ebbw Vale weren't going to have it all their own way though. The spirited Wizards added two quick scores, to give the jitters to the bank faithful. Thankfully, more great handling led to a score from scrum half Jonathan Evans, converted by Lloyd to round off a successful afternoon for Ebbw Vale.

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