Match Report – Ebbw Vale RFC 41 Aberavon RFC 8
Ebbw claim another 5 pointer
Ebbw Vale secured a place in the play offs with two games to spare, after claiming a bonus point victory at home against Aberavon.
The hosts were quick out of the blocks. A penalty within minutes of kick off by full back Evan Lloyd saw the home side take an early lead.
With the Steelmen well on top, a dangerous break by scrum half Rory Harries from around the half way line saw the scrum half carve open the away sides defence. With just the full back to beat, Harries drew the man and attempted to pass inside to support runners, only for Aberavon’s full back Steff Andrews to knock the ball on. Referee Gareth Newman adjudged the away sides full back to have deliberately knocked the ball on and showed Andrews a yellow card and awarded Ebbw a penalty try.
Moments later the home side extended their lead further. An excellent break by winger Ryan Gardner took Ebbw Vale into the Aberavon half. Quick ball out to the backs saw centre Ethan Phillips make a further break and pass to full back Evan Lloyd to cross the line. Lloyd successfully added the two points to put the hosts twenty points in the lead.
With the wind behind them, two successful penalties by Lloyd saw the Steelmen go into the half time interval with a twenty six point lead.
Half Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 26 Aberavon RFC 0
The away side came out for the second half and started to gain some time with the ball and territory. Within minutes of the restart Aberavon outside half James Davies got his sides first points of the game from a penalty.
Ebbw Vale full back Lloyd successfully kicked a penalty for Ebbw to put his side back in front by 26 points.
The Steelmen’s coach Jason Strange replaced scrum half Rory Harries with Jon Evans and moments later the front row of Morgan Davies, Joe Franchi and Adam Court were replaced by Luke Garrett, Ieuan Morris and Owen Hatherill. Further changes by Strange saw centre Dom Franchi come off for Cameron Davies and Morgan Richards came on for Kieran Meek.
Midway through the second half Aberavon scored their first try of the afternoon. A good team break saw winger Chris Banfield finish off the move in the corner. Fly half Davies was unable to add the extras.
Ebbw responded within ten minutes. Quick ball from a ruck inside the Aberavon twenty-two saw the ball go out to Lewis Young on the wing. With supporting players inside him, Young dived over the line to score his sides third try of the afternoon. Lloyd was unsuccessful with the conversion from out wide.
Further changes by Ebbw saw second row Dylan Bartlett leave the field to be replaced by Jakub Malecki and flanker Ben Main came off for Rhys Francis, who was playing in an unfamiliar position.
With the final play of the game, Ebbw had control of the ball just inside the visitor’s half. Quick ball out to Ethan Phillips saw the centre make a clean break and go over the try line under the posts unopposed to score the Steelmen’s bonus point try. Evan Lloyd kicked the conversion with the final kick of the ball.
Full Time: Ebbw Vale RFC 41 Aberavon RFC 8
Man Of The Match: Curtis Gregory
Tries: Penalty try, Evan Lloyd, Lewis Young, Ethan Phillips
Conversions: Evan Lloyd (3)
Penalties: Evan Lloyd (5)
After the game we spoke with Ebbw Vale centre Cameron Davies. Cameron thought it was a good game overall, the squad worked really hard under pressure. Cameron thought the team pressured and squeezed Aberavon and was happy to come away with the win.
Ebbw Vale’s next game is away to Carmarthen Quins in front of the S4C Clic camera’s on Thursday 11th April 2024, with kick off at 7:30pm.
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evans