Match Report – Ebbw Vale RFC 18 Newport RFC 27
Ebbw suffer final heartbreak
The Steelmen came up short in the SRC Grand Final, in a game that was played in front of a big crowd and the S4C cameras. The game was to see flanker Cameron Regan make his final appearance before retiring from the game.
The hosts came out of the blocks fast. However, good defence by the Black and Ambers kept the home side out.
The first points of the game came to the Steelmen. After being awarded a penalty, the clubs top point scorer Evan Lloyd successfully kicked the penalty.
The visitors were soon to strike back. After referee Ben Breakspear awarded the away side a penalty, Newport fly half Jac Lloyd levelled the scores from the tee.
A decisive moment in the game came when influential Ebbw Vale captain Joe Franchi had to be replaced by Ieuan Morris due to injury.
Moments later the away side took the lead. After good play, which saw Newport being stopped just by the try line, scrum half Dafydd Buckland picked the ball up from the ruck and dived over for the games first try. Outside half Jac Lloyd added the extras.
Ebbw Vale reduced the deficit when number ten Lloyd successfully sent a penalty through the centre of the posts to make it a four-point game.
With the last play of the first half the Black and Ambers struck again. After receiving a kick inside their own half, the Newport backs made an excellent break into the Ebbw twenty-two. With the forwards going through the phases, the ball made its way out to fly half Jac Lloyd, who saw a gap in the home defence, put in a sidestep and went over unopposed. Lloyd successfully kicked the conversion.
Half Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 6 Newport RFC 17
With both teams starting the second half with intent, the hosts struck first. A tremendous break from the home sides twenty-two by Ebbw`s Ryan Jenkins, saw the young number eight make inroads in the Black and Ambers twenty-two. However, the play came to nothing after a knock on from a further phase of play.
From the resulting scrum, a huge effort by the hosts pack, saw the Steelmen push Newport off the ball. With the forwards going through phase after phase and under the visitor’s posts, scrum half Gruff Tough saw winger Bowden out wide in space. Gruff put in a clever kick for Bowden to take the ball in the air and score the home sides first try out wide. Evan Lloyd was unsuccessful with the conversion.
However, the away side struck straight back. Receiving the ball in their own half, fullback Carwyn Penny took the ball and put in a kick over the defence. With scrum half Tough the last man in defence, a wicked bounce of the ball saw Penny collect the ball and stretch his legs to go over the try line out wide. Outside half Lloyd sent the ball through the centre of the posts.
The home sides first change of the afternoon came when coach Jason Strange replaced flanker Jack Pope with the retiring Cameron Regan.
The Steelmen reduced the deficit again. After Newport played in their own twenty-two, Ebbw turned over the ball just outside the try line. Second row Curtis Gregory picked up the ball and dived over the line. Fly half Evan Lloyd added the two points.
Further replacements by Ebbw Vale saw props Luke Garrett and Adam Williams come off and be replaced by Morgan Williams and Adam Court.
The final points of the game came when Newport were awarded a penalty by referee Breakspear. Jac Lloyd added the three points to stretch their lead to two scores.
Changes to the hosts side saw scrum half Rory Harries, centre Cameron Davies, full back Matt Jones and number eight Lewis Young enter the field to replace Gruff Tough, Dom Franchi, Morgan Richards and Ryan Jenkins.
However, despite a yellow card being shown to Newport second row Josh Skinner late on, the Steelmen were unable to take advantage and add any further scores. The game ended with Newport inflicting Ebbw’s first home defeat of the season.
Full Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 18 Newport RFC 27
Tries: Ewan Bowden (1), Curtis Gregory (1)
Conversion: Evan Lloyd (1)
Penalties: Evan Lloyd (2)
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans