Match Report
34 - 3 HT 12 - 3 Saturday 28th December 2024 / 2:30pm Kick Off
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Abercynon)
Ebbw Vale RFC

Ebbw Vale RFC

Tries by Ryan Jenkins, Joe Franchi, Harry Rees-Weldon, Ieuan Morris and a penalty try.

Conversions by Evan Lloyd (2).

Drop Goal by Evan Lloyd.

Pontypool RFC

Pontypool RFC

Penalty by Kieran Meek.

34 - 3 HT 12 - 3 Saturday 28th December 2024 / 2:30pm Kick Off
Super Rygbi Cymru League
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Abercynon)

Tries

50

Conversions

20

Penalties

01
 

Powerful Ebbw gain revenge over Pooler in Gwent derby

Pontypool made the short journey to the Ciner Glass Community Stadium (formerly known as Eugene Cross Park) on Saturday for the return Gwent derby Super Rygbi Cymru fixture with Ebbw Vale, writes Ray Ruddick. The home side were dominant throughout the match and deservedly took the spoils, gaining revenge for their defeat at Pontypool Park the previous Saturday.

Ebbw Vale kicked-off attacking the cricket end of the ground in front of a large crowd on a chilly but fine afternoon. Pooler number eight Scott Matthews was making his 100th league and cup appearance for the club and hooker Sam Scarfe, his 50th. Ebbw made a strong start and in the eighth minute took the lead with a try by number eight Ryan Jenkins from close range to the right of the posts, following a driving lineout. Outside half Evan Lloyd converted (7-0). Nine minutes later The Steelmen were penalised 30 metres from their goal line, 15 metres in on Pooler’s left and visiting outside half Kieran Meek slotted the kick at goal (7-3).

Ebbw were gathering momentum and in the 26th minute scored another close range try, in a similar position to the first, by hooker and captain Joe Franchi but this time the conversion attempt failed (12-3). Just before the half hour mark Pooler centre Pat Lewis, who took a knock a little earlier, left the field and was replaced by Jordan Thomas who went to full back, Kieran Meek moved from outside half to centre and Harri Ford, who started at full back went to outside half. Just before the break Ebbw’s second row Dylan Bartlett was shown the yellow card for an offence near the home 22. Half-time score – Ebbw Vale 12 Pontypool 3.

At the start of the second period, Harry Drane replaced Kelvyn Williams at tight head prop for Pooler. In the 46th minute, Ebbw ran from deep inside their half and right wing Harry Rees-Weldon scored an unconverted try in the right corner (17-3). Six minutes later Sam Cochrane took over from loose head prop Kyan Best for the visitors. In the 55th minute Sam Scarfe was yellow carded for an offence inside Pooler’s 22. Pooler then had to make an enforced change to cover the front row with replacement hooker Garan Williams taking the field for his debut at the expense of left wing Marcus Jones. Around the hour mark, Pooler made a couple more changes when Lewis Robey replaced Ieuan Jones in the second row and flanker Adam Stratton made way for Ryan Jones.

With a little over a quarter-of-an-hour to play there was a scrum near the Pontypool goal line and the powerful Ebbw eight drove their opponents back, the scrum went down and the referee awarded the home side a penalty try, the Steelmen’s bonus-point try (24-3). Then Pooler introduced two more replacements with Owain Leonard taking over from scrum half Morgan Lloyd and Mathew Powell replacing Marcus Jones who did not return after he was sacrificed when Scarfe was sin binned.

Going into the final ten minutes Evan Lloyd slotted a neat drop goal from near his 10-metre line (27-3). In the 76th minute Garan Williams came on as a permanent replacement for flanker and captain Mike Herbert as Williams went to his usual position of hooker and Sam Scarfe dropped into the back row. As the game entered injury time, Ebbw were on the attack deep inside the visitors’ 22 and another powerful drive by the dominant home pack, resulted in a try to the right of the uprights by replacement hooker Ieuan Morris. Evan Lloyd added the extras to make the final score Ebbw Vale 34 Pontypool 3.

Ebbw Vale looked hungry and were better than Pontypool in every aspect of the game, so many congratulations to them. The Steelmen are top of the table for a reason, and they showed that in this impressive performance. They were just too good for Pooler. Pontypool’s set pieces were poor as the scrums were under pressure and the line-out just did not function so they could not get a platform. Pontypool need to address these issues in training ahead of Saturday’s match against Carmarthen Quins at Pontypool Park with a later-than-usual kick-off of 5.15pm as the game will be televised live on S4C.

Ebbw Vale: Matt Jones, Harry Rees-Weldon, Cameron Davies, Dom Franchi, Hamish Anderson, Evan Lloyd, Rory Harries, Morgan Davies, Joe Franchi (captain), Adam Williams, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Jack Pope, Sion Parry and Ryan Jenkins. Replacements: Ieuan Morris, Luke Garrett, Adam Court, Lewis Young, Ben Main, Gruff Tough, Morgan Richards and Ryan Gardner.

Pontypool: Harri Ford, Walker Price, Pat Lewis (replaced by Jordan Thomas), Joel Mahoney, Marcus Jones (replaced by Mathew Powell), Kieran Meek, Morgan Lloyd (replaced by Owain Leonard), Kyan Best (replaced by Sam Cochrane), Sam Scarfe, Kelvyn Williams (replaced by Harry Drane), Ieuan Jones (replaced by Lewis Robey), Dan Hill, Mike Herbert (captain, replaced by Garan Williams), Adam Stratton (replaced by Ryan Jones) and Scott Matthews.

 

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