It was the return match in this local derby between old friends and traditional rivals Pontypool and Ebbw Vale at Pontypool Park on Saturday in Super Rygbi Cymru, writes Ray Ruddick. The two clubs met at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium seven days previous when Ebbw took the spoils 40-15 so Pooler were out to avenge that reverse but, despite taking a significant lead in the first half, they could not hold on as Ebbw ran out worthy winners in a ninety-point thriller.

Pontypool kicked off attacking the scoreboard end of the ground on a very chilly, dry but windy afternoon, with number eight Ieuan Jones making his 100^th appearance for Pooler. Ebbw started strongly putting the Pooler defence under pressure and this pressure told in the eighth minute when flanker Sion Parry scored a try to the left of the posts. Outside half Evan Lloyd converted (0-7). Two minutes later Pooler’s outside half Harri Ford made a great break deep inside Ebbw territory and he gave a flick pass to the supporting Evan Minto and the young flanker galloped over for a try to the right of the posts. Harri Ford converted (7-7). In the 18^th minute Pooler had a throw in close to the Steelmen’s goal line. The ball went out and reached centre Pat Lewis who crashed over for a try near the posts which Harri Ford improved with a relatively easy conversion (14-7).

In the 24^th minute Ebbw were in possession near their 10-metre line but Pooler counter-rucked and gained possession. Left wing Marcus Jones received the scoring pass as he managed to touch down for an unconverted try near the left corner (19-7). Three minutes later Pooler kicked long out of defence and Ebbw gathered inside their 22 but the relieving kick was charged down by right wing Carrick McDonough who gathered, beat the last defender and scored Pontypool’s bonus-point try under the posts. Harri Ford obliged from the tee to put Pontypool into a commanding 26-7 lead. In the 37^th minute Pooler’s captain and flanker Scott Matthews and Ebbw’s loose head prop Luke Garrett were sin-binned for a minor scuffle inside Pooler’s 22, but shook hands as they made their way off the pitch. At this stage Pooler were soaking up some pressure and, two minutes later, Ebbw’s number eight Ryan Jenkins managed to get over for a try from close range, 15 metres in from the right corner. This score was converted by Evan Lloyd (26-14). Then, in the fourth minute of injury time at the end of an action-packed first half, Ebbw’s go-to weapon, their powerful driving maul, resulted in a try by hooker Ieuan Morris who scored, 15 metres in from the right corner. Evan Lloyd added the extras to make the score at the interval Pontypool 26 Ebbw Vale 21.

The Steelmen struck in the fourth minute of the re-start when, after the referee was playing an Ebbw advantage, visiting full back Morgan Richards scored his side’s bonus-point try under the posts, converted by Evan Lloyd to take them back into the lead (26-28). Five minutes later Ebbw’s wing Ewan Bowden was yellow carded after he late tackled Evan Wood when the home hooker chipped ahead inside the visitors’ 22. In the 53^rd minute Pontypool centre Ioan Evans was replaced by Joel Mahoney and, within seconds of his arrival on the pitch, he dived over for a try, 5 metres in from the left corner. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful (31-28). Just before the hour mark, Ebbw’s lethal driving maul brought them another try, this time scored by replacement hooker Joe Franchi, 10 metres in from the right corner, but the conversion attempt went wide (31-33). Pooler made a couple of changes with Aneurin James replacing Evan Wood and Morgan Allen taking over from Ieuan Jones.

In the 66^th minute Pontypool’s tight head prop Kelvyn Williams was yellow-carded for an offence when play was close to Pooler’s goal line. Ebbw elected to go for a scrum, so replacement tight head prop Owen Popple had to take the field to cover the front row, and this was in place of Marcus Jones. Soon after Ebbw had another scrum feed deep inside Pooler’s 22 and visiting scrum half Gruff Tough went blind, found space and crossed for an unconverted try in the left corner (31-38). George Tuckley then entered the fray in place of loose head prop Kyan Best for the home side and shortly after Evan Minto made way for Lloyd Riley. With less than ten minutes left, play was deep inside Pooler’s half and Ebbw chipped ahead for wing Ewan Bowden to gather and he touched down 5 metres in from the right corner. Replacement outside half Dorian Jones slotted a fine conversion (31-45). In the 77^th minute Louis Rees replaced Marcus Jones and as the game was about to enter injury time, the referee was playing a Pooler advantage with play deep inside Ebbw’s 22. A cross kick to the left corner saw the ball cross the goal line and home full back Ellis Davies was first there to dive on it and score Pooler’s sixth try of the game and Harri Ford kicking a fine conversion (38-45). However, it was the league leaders who had the final say when, in the fourth minute of added time, the referee was again playing an advantage, this time to the visitors, with play inside Pooler’s 22 and another cross kick to the right corner saw Ewan Bowden touch down for his brace in the corner. Dorian Jones slotted the conversion from wide out. Ewan Bowden’s second try took away Pontypool’s losing bonus point. Final score Pontypool 38 Ebbw Vale 52.

Congratulations to Ebbw Vale on their victory and thus gained the double over their Gwent rivals. As for Pontypool, well done to all the players who gave absolutely everything for the full 80 minutes, but they gave away too many penalties in the second period and Ebbw Vale capitalised. It was a very entertaining and passionate encounter in front of a sizable holiday crowd. The try bonus point Pooler secured has lifted them off the bottom of the table. Pontypool’s next game will be on Saturday 10 January 2026 when they will be on the road to take on bottom club Bridgend at the Brewery Field, kick-off will be at 2.30pm.

Pontypool: Ellis Davies, Carrick McDonough, Pat Lewis, Ioan Evans (replaced by Joel Mahoney), Marcus Jones (replaced by Louis Rees), Harri Ford, Morgan Lloyd, Kyan Best (replaced by George Tuckley), Evan Wood (replaced by Aneurin James), Kelvyn Williams (replaced by Owen Popple), Joe Davies, Liam Antrobus, Scott Matthews (captain), Evan Minto (replaced by Lloyd Riley) and Ieuan Jones (replaced by Morgan Allen).

Ebbw Vale: Morgan Richards, Dafydd Thomas, Ethan Phillips, Dom Franchi (captain), Ewan Bowden, Evan Lloyd, Gruff Tough, Luke Garrett, Ieuan Morris, Adam Williams, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Jack Pope, Sion Parry and Ryan Jenkins. Replacements: Joe Franchi, Morgan Williams, Morgan Bosanko, Alfred Bateman-Lloyd, Lewis Young, Dan Buffery, Dorian Jones and Cam Davies.