Match Report – Swansea RFC 19 Ebbw Vale RFC 33
Ebbw Reach The Final
The Steelmen were made to work hard to come away from St Helens with a bonus point victory and book their place in the final of the SRC Cup.
Swansea were quick out of the blocks. With the hosts backs receiving quick ball, centre Callum Dodd used his strength to break through the visitor’s defence out wide and score the first try of the afternoon. Home outside half Josh Phillips was unable to add the two points from out wide.
The away side soon hit back. A good line run by fullback Morgan Richards saw the number fifteen attack the line at pace from a good pass by Ebbw fly half Evan Lloyd. Splitting the defenders, Richards went over untouched to level the scores. Number ten Lloyd put the visitors ahead after kicking the conversion.
The visitors were reduced to fourteen men when referee Keith David sent captain Joe Franchi to the sin bin due to ill-discipline.
Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange was forced into an early change. Inform scrum half Gruff Tough was replaced by Rory Harries due to an injury, after making a tackle on a Swansea forward.
The scoreline was to sway back into the All White’s favour. After a good break by the Swansea backs, winger Harvey James used his strength to go over the line and put the home side back in front. Outside half Phillips successfully added the two points.
The away side were forced into another change when winger Hamish Anderson was replaced by Ned Bennett due to an injury.
With the hosts looking dangerous, a backs move was finished off by inside centre Joe Thomas to score the All White’s third try of the afternoon. Phillips again added the extra two points.
The away side started to spend a bit of time in the Swansea twenty-two and apply some pressure. From a lineout, the forwards set up a rolling maul, which was finished off with captain Joe Franchi diving over the line. Lloyd was unable to add the extras.
Half Time: Swansea RFC 19 Ebbw Vale RFC 12
The away side came out for the second half with the grit between their teeth. Captain Franchi was again the benefactor of a rolling maul from a lineout in the Swansea twenty-two. Lloyd added the two points to level the scores.
Ebbw Vale coach Strange rang the changes when prop Adam Williams, flanker Jack Pope and number eight Jacob Hopkins came on for Adam Court, Cameron Regan and Lewis Young. Moments later prop Luke Garrett left the field to be replaced by Morgan Williams.
Shortly afterwards the visitors were to retake the lead. From another rolling maul at a lineout inside the home side’s half, captain Franchi scored his third try of the afternoon. Lloyd again kicked the conversion.
The away side’s final change of the afternoon saw flanker Kobi Rees enter the field for Sion Parry.
Both sides were reduced to fourteen men when referee David sent Ebbw Vale second row Curtis Gregory and replacement Swansea forward Tom Crockett to the sin bin for ten minutes after an off the ball altercation.
The final try of the afternoon came from second row Dylan Bartlett. From another rolling maul at the lineout, the second row used his strength to fend off the opposition tacklers and reach out for the line. Lloyd sent the conversion through the middle of the uprights.
The steelmen won the game to book their place in their first cup final in 27 years.
Full Time: Swansea RFC 19 Ebbw Vale RFC 33
Try scorers: Morgan Richards (1), Joe Franchi (3), Dylan Bartlett (1)
Conversions: Evan Lloyd (4)
The Steelmen have a short turnaround to their next game.
The team are away to Llandovery RFC at Church Bank on Thursday 20th of March 2025 with kick off at 7:30pm, in the final of the SRC Cup. The game will be played in front of the S4C Clic cameras.