Ebbw Vale 41 Aberavon 8, Indigo Premiership, 06/04/24

A comprehensive bonus-point victory for Ebbw Vale resulted from one of the Steelmen's most complete performances of the season against notoriously tough opponents from the Talbot Athletic Ground.

It may have turned British Summer Time seven days previously but the strong southerly wind blowing up the valley suggested that winter was not over.

Ebbw took full advantage of the wind behind them in the first half, combining big touch finders with forward power and strong defence. This yielded two tries, the first a penalty try when a neat backs' move was halted by a deliberate knock-on, the second from Evan Lloyd at full back finishing off a sharp Ethan Phillips break, duly converted by Lloyd. These added to his four first half penalties giving the home side a 26-0 half time lead.

Nonetheless, the lead was deceptive as now Ebbw had to play down into the wind, and Aberavon were sure to respond to their first half mauling.

Indeed they did, penalties were exchanged, and then crisp Wizards handling led to a Chris Banfield try, making the score 29-8.

Avon hopes of a comeback were thwarted however as Ebbw's strong bench gave the Steelmen a boost. Powerful running and crisp handling led to Lewis Young crossing the whitewash in the corner.

Ebbw were now keen for the bonus point, but time was running out as Aberavon defended stoutly. But with the last move of the game, lineout ball 'off the top' was quickly spread and Ethan Phillips took a lovely pass from Cameron Davies and crashed through the defence and raced 40 yards to go under the posts. Lloyd converted to make it 41-8.

With the victory, Ebbw secured at least third place in the table and achieved the season's aim of reaching the play-offs, with a likely away semi-final against Llandovery or Newport.

Ebbw Vale 25 Newport 31, Indigo Premiership, 23/03/2024

Ebbw Vale came off second best in the Gwent derby as a late Newport try from Elliott Ferriman  secured the victory in a toughly contested contest.

In fairness, it was a much-improved performance from the Steelmen following the debacle in the cup semi-final, in that there was no lack of effort or commitment.

In an entertaining encounter on a cold afternoon, both sides made multiple errors and will need to be better if either is to deny Llandovery the Premiership crown.

Newport started well and responded to an early Evan Lloyd penalty with a Che Hope touchdown converted by Matt O'Brien. Ebbw responded with an excellent move leading to a Jordan Thomas try converted by Lloyd, making it 10-7.

O'Brien responded with a penalty before Ebbw indiscipline saw both Dylan Bartlett and Jon Evans sent to the sin-bin. Newport took advantage with Elliott Frewen crossing the whitewash and O'Brien adding the extras. Lloyd kicked a penalty for Ebbw to making the interval score 13-17.

Early in the second half, things looked ominous for Ebbw as the visitors' pack took control through a hooker's try from Henry Palmer, converted by O'Brien. Home coach Jason Strange rang the changes and this gave the hosts a boost of energy.

Ebbw's forward were now in the ascendancy and powered their way to two tries from Joe Franchi, the latter converted by Lloyd, giving them a 25-24 lead.

Unfortunately, continuing errors, including missing touch and an inability to secure their own lineout ball, cost Ebbw dear, as relentless pressure from the visitors eventually saw the home defence crack. Newport's late try was converted making it 25-31 and even though there was time for a restart, Ebbw could not make any inroads.

Llandovery 43 Ebbw Vale 7, Indigo Premiership Cup Semi-final, 02/03/24

Ebbw Vale's visit to the Talbot Athletic Ground for its 10th WRU Cup semi-final ended in massive disappointment for the club's vocal and loyal supporters, as Llandovery demonstrated superiority in all aspects of the game.

The eagerly-anticipated contest followed two tight games in the league earlier in the season where honours were even between the sides. This, however, was no contest at all as a rare bad day from the Steelmen was compounded by a quick, well-drilled Llandovery outfit. Not even Ebbw's big pack could get any foothold as even the set pieces yielded little joy.

Right from the off, the Drovers were sharper and more clinical as they raced to a half time 29-0 lead, through tries from Jac Davies, Ioan Hughes, Adam Warren and Jamie Hughes, supplemented by 3 conversions and a penalty from Hughes.

Any hopes of an Ebbw revival after the break were quickly dissipated with a further try from Davies (although there seemed to be a blatant knock-on as he gathered the kick through). There was a late Ebbw consolation score from Reece Dunn converted by Kieran Meek, but Ebbw's pain was not over as Llandovery Number 8 Joe Powell completed the rout. Both tries were converted.

Whilst Ebbw supporters have some gripes about infringements leading to two of the Drovers tries, let's be clear that the best team won, and Ebbw's 53-year wait for a Cup Final on Welsh soil goes on. On a personal note, I've now seen Ebbw in seven semi-finals and have yet to see a victory.

Ebbw Vale 36 Swansea 7, Indigo Premiership, 25/11/2023

On a bitterly cold afternoon in Blaenau Gwent where winter had arrived, Ebbw Vale recorded a comprehensive victory, as comfortable as you could expect in the Premiership, over a disappointing Swansea side, who threatened more than they could deliver.

In fairness the first half was relatively even, with the home side's power pack contrasting with the speed and slick handling of the Whites' backs.

 

Following early exchanges of possession, the Steelmen kicked a penalty to the corner and, in the now time-honoured fashion, rolled towards the visitors' line after a lineout. The maul went down but Curtis Gregory was on hand to pick and drive over the line. Keiran Meek converted. After Swansea pressure was repelled, a repeat Ebbw catch and drive yielded a full lineout and maul with captain Rhys Francis burrowing over to make it 12-0.

Swansea struck back with some good skills giving Morgan Rees the opportunity to cross the home line, with former Ebbw favourite Rhys Jones adding the extras.

The sides went in a half time 15-7, due to Meek adding a penalty on the stroke of the interval, with Ebbw on top but the game not won.

The second half saw the home pack take total control. Following concerted pressure, home prop Harry Drane went over, duly converted.

More Steelmen pack power led to a penalty try to give Ebbw the bonus point.

The final try from the Vale was the afternoon's highlight. A loose kick from Swansea was taken by Evan Lloyd who passed to fellow sub Owen Conquer who then went on a storming run into the Swansea half shedding tacklers as he went. With maturity beyond his eighteen years, he offloaded to the supporting Jonathan Evans for an outstanding score, warming the hands of the freezing faithful on the steps of the bank.

These 21 unanswered second half points gave a final score of 36-7 to the Steelmen, who keep up the pressure at the top end of the table.

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Ebbw Vale 18 Bridgend 16, Indigo Premiership, 28/10/2023

Ebbw Vale eventually ground out a victory despite being below par for most of this encounter. Nonetheless, it kept up the pressure on the other clubs around them at the top of the Indigo Welsh Premiership.

On a cool afternoon interspersed with squally showers, quite typical of the last day of British Summer Time, it was the Steelmen who struck first with a catch and drive marshalled and executed by home skipper Rhys Francis. The try went unconverted.

The visitors from Bridgend struck back with a penalty, but Evan Lloyd responded likewise to make the score 8-3.

At that point, Bridgend started to take some control and pressure from them led to Ebbw indiscipline which yielded two more penalties for the visiting 10 Price to slot over, making the half time score 8-9 in the Ravens favour.

Bridgend started the second half as they ended the first, and struck again immediately with slick handling leading to Jordan Collier crossing the whitewash, again converted by Price.

With an eight-point deficit, Ebbw coach Jason Strange rung the changes. Pressure led to a penalty kick, ably converted by Evan Lloyd, reducing the deficit to five points.

Incessant pressure from Ebbw yielded penalty after penalty. Then a red card was awarded for a high tackle on Owen Conquer. Further yellow cards meant that the visitors ended the game with 12 men. The Ebbw onslaught eventually told on the Ravens and a penalty try was awarded at a pushover scrum, putting the Steelmen in front by 18-16.

Incredibly, the 12 men from the Brewery Field went through enough phases to win a penalty in the Ebbw half, but, to the relief of the cold and damp faithful on the bank, the kick fell short and the home defence cleared and gladly heard the final whistle.

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Ebbw Vale 26 RGC 10, Indigo Premiership, 30/09/2023

Ebbw Vale left it late to secure a winning bonus point via an injury time, fourth try from replacement scrum half Rory Harries, in a match where victory was rarely in doubt despite some unconvincing spells.

In quite a contrast to the heatwave of three weeks previously, conditions were more 'normal' for North Gwent at the end of September with grey cloud dominating the landscape.

RGC started well securing an early 3 points penalty. The home forwards soon got a grip and applied pressure. A neat move saw winger Harry Rees Weldon cross in the corner. This was followed by a classic lineout catch'n'drive with the backs joining in. Rhys Francis emerged as the try scorer. Evan Lloyd added the extras for a 12-3 half time scoreline.

The second half started as the first had finished. Ebbw forward pressure was applied in another driving maul as Francis crossed the whitewash once again. Lloyd converted.

A bonus point fourth try would appear to be a formality but it wasn't quite so straightforward as RGC mustered some stern resistance at 19-3 down, eventually resulting a converted try of their own.

As the clock ticked down, it appeared as though Ebbw has little chance of the elusive fourth try, but a broken down backs' move from the North Wales outfit, led to an Ebbw breakaway with great handling, culminating a last gasp try from Harries.

Ebbw Vale 38 Pontypridd 21, Indigo Welsh Premiership, 09/09/2023

It's a rare day when you have to wear sunscreen to a rugby match in Ebbw Vale, but a September heatwave meant that some 'bank' regulars took refuge from the striking sunlight by sitting in the grandstand.

On the field, Ebbw were looking to bounce back from an away defeat at Merthyr on the opening weekend, but once again a slow start threatened to undo all the good work put in during the week. Ponty raced to a 15-0 lead, with only two Evan Lloyd penalties able to shorten the deficit initially.

However, the Ebbw pack started to get a grip and a lineout and driving maul led to a Lewis Young touchdown converted by Lloyd to make it 13-15. A further Ponty penalty meant that the half time score was Ebbw 13 Ponty 18.

The second half was a different story as Ebbw imposed themselves on a mistake-ridden visitors outfit.

Flying winger Ryan Davies scored in the corner, converted by the outstanding Lloyd, who supplemented this with another 3 points penalty plus a drop goal.

Ponty got a foot in the half with a penalty of their own, but in reality it was all Ebbw. A disrupted lineout close to Ponty's line yielded a Ryan Jenkins try, and the game concluded with Man of the Match Lloyd powering over from close range and adding the extras, to make it a superb bonus point win for the Steelmen.

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TUI Falesia Blue, Olhos d'Agua, Portugal, August - September 2023

 Some pics from summer holiday 2023...