Ebbw Vale meekly surrendered the SRC Challenger Shield to bitter rivals Newport under clear blue, early Spring skies.
Despite starting brightly, the Steelmen were handed a massive blow when hooker and captain Joe Franchi was stretchered off. Jonathan Evans then departed with a broken finger, and Ebbw never really got a grip on the game.
Frustration got the better of the home side, and two yellow cards followed by a red for Ethan Phillips meant that, in the end, the visitors from the city took the spoils and the Shield.
.jpeg)
