Match Report – Ebbw Vale RFC 10 RGC 18

Ebbw lose against RGC  

Injury hit Ebbw failed to secure top spot after losing their second home game in a row against RGC on a dry but windy afternoon.  

RGC were quick to come out of the blocks when flyhalf Billy McBryde slotted a penalty early on, to put his team three points to the good.  

However, the Steelmen immediately hit back. Despite the home side’s best efforts to score a try, number ten Tom Price kicked a penalty to bring the scores level.  

Despite the first half never igniting, the game was back-and-forth between the two teams; however, poor handling or ill-discipline stopped any momentum for either side.  

A few minutes before half-time, the visitors took the lead again. From a penalty inside the halfway line, the Gogs’ fly half, McBride, sent the ball through the middle of the sticks.   

 

 

Halftime: Ebbw Vale RFC 3 RGC 6  

 

A few minutes into the second half, Ebbw coach Jason Strange made his team’s first substitution of the game when Ben Main replaced flanker Joe Rees-Weldon.  

The home side eventually got a foothold in the game and took the lead when, from a lineout, Ebbw set up a rolling maul which was finished off with a try being scored by hooker and top try scorer Ieuan Morris. The conversion was successful by outside half Price to put the Steelmen four points ahead.  

With the hosts trying to stamp their authority on the game, referee Keith David reduced the visitors to fourteen after showing RGC prop Patrick Nelson a yellow card for ill-discipline.  

The numbers were soon to be equal again when referee David showed Steelmen replacement Ben Main a yellow card for ill-discipline.  

The home side’s coach, Strange, then changed the front row when Adam Court replaced prop Luke Garrett, Regan Jones came on for prop Morgan Bosanko, and Charlie Manship replaced hooker Ieuan Morris due to injury. A further change by the hosts saw replacement scrum half Rory Harries come on for Dan Buffrey.  

 

The away side then made the decisive strike. After collecting a high ball in his own half, the Gogs winger Ciao Parry evaded numerous tacklers to race half the pitch to score in the corner. Outside half McBride kicked an excellent conversion from the touchline.  

The final score of the game was in favour of the visitors. Replacement scrum half Connor Dever darted down the blindside from just inside the Ebbw half to go over the line unopposed. With the last kick of the game, McBryde was successful with the conversion.  

 

Fulltime: Ebbw Vale RFC 10 RGC 18  

Try scorer: Ieuan Morris (1) 

Conversion: Tom Price (1) 

Penalty: Tom Price (1) 

 

Ebbw Vale’s final game of the league before the play-offs is away to Carmarthen RFC at Carmarthen Park, with kick-off at 2:30pm. 

 

Written By Alex Kinsella-Evans