Match Report – Ebbw Vale 40 Llandovery 22
Ebbw Snatch Bonus Point Victory
Ebbw Vale played in cold conditions under the lights and in front of the S4C camaras for the first time this season, at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium looking to continue their six points winning streak.
Immediately from the kick off the Steelmen were awarded a penalty by referee Carwyn Sion for a side entry by Llandovery. Ebbw no.10 Dorian Jones missed the kick to the corner. Referee Sion awarded Llandovery a penalty for holding on. Llandovery opted for a lineout which then was judged to be not straight enough for the referee`s liking. From the Ebbw scrum, the home side was gifted a free kick.
Referee Sion offered Llandovery the chance to take the lead after a home side player came in at the side of the ruck. Llandovery no.10 Ioan Hughes slotted the penalty from the ten-metre line to put Llandovery three points ahead.
The first try of the game came moments later when referee Sion gave the hosts a penalty, to which Jones kicked into the corner. From the lineout, the Steelmen forwards set up a maul, which ended with hooker Ieuan Morris using his strength to crash over the line. Fly half Jones converted the conversion to give the home side the lead 7-3.
A quick lineout by the hosts full back Evan Lloyd, saw the young number fifteen pass to outside half Jones. With acres of field in front of him, Jones put in a banana kick which resulted in a 50:22 and a lineout to Ebbw. However, from the top of the lineout, the ball was turned over by Llandovery, who cleared their lines.
The home sides coach Jason Strange was forced into an early change when second row Dylan Bartlett had to go off due to injury and was replaced by young second row Alfred Bateman Lloyd. After the little stoppage, Llandovery went for the corner.
With Llandovery enjoying quick ball and enjoying consecutive penalties, the Drovers finished off a good passage of play with centre Rhodri Jones crashing over the line, despite the efforts of the Ebbw Vale defence. Number ten Hughes shunts the ball through the uprights to put Llandovery back in front 7-10.
The visitors quickly added another try, when from a long pass in midfield by scrum half Lee Rees to winger Tomi Lewis, saw the winger walk over out wide. Hughes was unable to add the extras.
The hosts scored their second try of the half soon after. Good work by the Ebbw forwards saw scrum half Rory Harries deliver quick ball to Dorian Jones. With an overlap outside him, the experienced number ten, drew his man and passed to centre and captain Ethan Phillips. With the defence rushing at him Phillips stood up the defender and passed to flyer Ewan Bowden on the wing. Bowden did the rest by using his speed to go in at the corner unopposed. Number ten Jones powered the ball through the sticks to make it a one-point game.
Halftime: Ebbw Vale RFC 14 Llandovery RFC 15
Llandovery came firing out of the blocks in the second half. The referee awarded the Drovers a penalty. Llandovery choose to go to the corner as Ebbw coach Strange made his second change of the night bringing on experienced centre Dom Franchi for Cameron Davies. From the resulting lineout, the away side gained another advantage. The home side`s number two Morris was yellow carded by referee Sion for illegal play in the ruck. With the Steelmen down to fourteen, Llandovery took advantage and scored a try through Tiaan Sparrow, Hughes slotting the conversion to regain an eight-point lead.
From quick play and inside the visitor’s half, the ball made its way out to Ebbw Vale flanker Sion Parry, who was tackled. From which all players gathered pushing and shoving each other. Referee Carwyn Sion stopped play, reviewed the ruck with assistant referee Craig Evans. and showed Llandovery’s outside centre Corey Baldwin a red card for a stamp on Ebbw’s number fifteen Lloyd`s side of the head.
With a man advantage Ebbw Vale fly half Jones put the ball into the corner. With Morris in the sin bin, replacement hooker Charlie Manship came on for his debut and Bowden was sacrificed. With the grit between their teeth, from the lineout the Steelmen set up a driving maul and heaved their way over the line for debutant Manship to score. Jones was successful with the conversion, leaving it with one point between the two sides.
Within minutes of each other the hosts coach Strange decided to bring on fresh legs in the front row with Adam Court replacing Adam Williams and Luke Garrett making way for Morgan Bosanko.
Quick ball to the Ebbw backs, saw the ball make its way out to speedster Bowden on the wing. After having his kick charged down, replacement centre Franchi showed his power to break through three tackles before going to ground. More quick ball out to centre Phillips, resulted in Phillips taking the tackle and setting up the next phase of play. A long-switched pass by winger Bowden saw the ball go through the forwards hands before being tackled. Quick ball by Harries to full back Lloyd saw Lloyd quickly pass the ball onto second row Bateman-Lloyd. Running a good line and taking two tacklers, the young second row passed to supporting centre Franchi who managed to take the ball behind him, swivel and power through a tackle to score a well taken try. Number ten Jones kicked the conversion.
In the last quarter of the game, the home side stretched their lead. Excellent play in the backs saw a long pass by Lloyd make its way out to winger Dafydd Thomas. Using his speed and strength the winger got over the gain line and into the visitors twenty-two. Quick ball back and forth saw fly half Jones pick a good line and pass out of the tackle to supporting centre Phillips. Despite the best efforts of the covering defenders, Phillips used his speed and strength to go over out wide. Jones hooked the ball wide.
The hosts coach Strange brought on replacement scrum half Dan Buffery for Rory Harries and Lewis Young for number eight Owen Conquer.
With the game inside the last ten minutes and Ebbw making their numerical advantage count, from a lineout in the Drovers twenty-two, the Steelmen scored their six try of the game. The forwards once again set up a rolling maul, with the backs joining in and hooker Morris powered over to score his second try of the game. Dorian Jones converted the try.
With only 5 minutes left of the gave Ebbw brought on Dylan Edwards for Fullback Evan Lloyd.
Fulltime: Ebbw Vale RFC 40 Llandovery RFC 22
Tries: Ieuan Morris (2), Charlie Manship (1), Ewan Bowden (1), Ethan Phillips (1), Dom Franchi (1)
Conversions: Dorian Jones (5)
After the game we spoke with winger Dafydd Thomas. Dafydd thought it was a really good game. However, he thought the team started slowly. Dafydd saw similarities to the Cardiff game at home two weeks previously. To improve, Dafydd thought the team need to build the game, coming out of the blocks early. Dafydd praised Llandovery for showing what they are all about as a club in the first half, Finally, Dafydd praised the team for outmuscling Llandovery, in particular praising both Ieuan Morris and Charlie Manship on the night, for scoring a lot of tries.
Pictures courtesy of Richard Whitcombe
Ebbw Vale RFC`s next game is a Gwent derby away to Newport RFC at Newport Stadium on Saturday 25th October 2025, with kick off at 2:30pm.
Written by Alex Kinsella-Evan
The Steelmen squad for the game against Llandovery RFC
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