Match Report – Ebbw Vale RFC 21 Swansea RFC 17
Steelmen take second place
Ebbw Vale won their final home game of the league season, before taking a well-earned rest and play the quarter final at home in a fortnight.
The first try of the game came in familiar fashion. Having been awarded a penalty inside the Swansea half, outside half for the afternoon Ethan Phillips sent the ball into the corner to set up a lineout to the home side. Having won the lineout, hooker Joe Franchi finished off the rolling maul by powering over the line. Winger Ewan Bowden sent the ball through the centre of the posts.
The visitors quickly struck back. Full back Harri Houston took advantage of an error by the home side to show his pace and go over the line unopposed. Fly half Tal Rees successfully added the extras to level the game.
Good defence by the All Whites stopped the home side from scoring a second try from a rolling maul at the lineout.
The second try to the home side was soon to follow. Another penalty by Phillips was sent to the corner. After setting up another rolling maul, hooker Franchi saw a gap in the Swansea defence and used his strength to break away and power over the line to score his second try of the game. Kicker Bowden added the extras.
With the half ending, the away side scored their second try of the game. After winning a lineout in the Ebbw half, a good move by the Swansea backs was finished off with winger Ieuan Cornelius. Number ten Rees sent the ball wide of the posts with his conversion attempt.
Half Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 14 Swansea RFC 12
Steelmen coach Jason Strange made a change during the break. The sides top try scorer and captain Joe Franchi was replaced by Ieuan Morris. Moments later further changes by the home side saw scrum half Dan Buffery and prop Morgan Davies be replaced by Rory Harries and Luke Garrett.
With the All Whites spending time in the hosts half, they were unable to convert their possession into points when good defence by the Steelmen kept them out.
The away side were reduced to fourteen men. A powerful run by Ebbw’s number eight Ryan Jenkins was deemed to be stopped by a professional foul by the visitors’ prop Ed Thompson.
With the numerical advantage, Steelmen fly half Phillips chipped to the corner to set up the lineout. Having won the lineout, the home side’s forwards set up another rolling maul which ended with replacement hooker Ieuan Morris powering over the line. Bowden again added the two points to put Ebbw more than one score ahead.
Changes to the Ebbw Vale pack saw prop Adam Court and back rower Owen Conquer come on for Adam Williams and Cameron Regan.
Having given away penalties in their twenty-two, another penalty awarded to the away side saw Steelmen’s flanker Sion Parry be sent to the sin bin for ten minutes. However, despite the visitors’ best efforts, the home sides magnificent defence kept them out.
Further changes to the home side saw full back Morgan Richards replace Matt Jones and second row Ewan McIntyre be replaced by Gethin Williams. Another change saw flanker Sion Parry come off for Lewis Young.
With both sides trying their best to score, the final try of the game was scored by the All Whites with the last play. Having gone through phases of play, a cross the field kick saw the ball fall into the hands of full back Houston. With a neat finish, the full back went over the line out wide. The resulting conversion hit the post to bring the game to a close.
Full Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 21 Swansea RFC 17
Try scorers: Joe Franchi (2), Ieuan Morris (1)
Conversions: Ewan Bowden (3)
After the game we spoke with scrum half Dan Buffery. Dan acknowledged the effect fatigue had played this week, considering the team had played against Newport on the Sunday and Aberavon on Wednesday. He thought the team gave away some penalties, especially through discipline. However, he was happy to have won the game and finish second in the league.
Ebbw Vale have a two-week break before they play the quarter final play off at home against either RGC 1404 or Carmarthen Quins RFC on Saturday 3rd May 2025, with kick off at 2:30pm.
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans