Ebbw Vale RFC Vs Carmarthen Quins

This Swalec Cup match was in doubt until the last minute. Eugene Cross Park was sodden with standing water splashing up in many areas. When the game did commence, however, the home side revelled in the conditions making their opponents very much “second best” on the day.

            Ebbw Vale kicked off against a strong wind and immediately went on the attack putting phase after phase together. Carmarthen tackled well but even so their line was saved by a forward pass and put under severe pressure after having a kick charged down behind the posts and all in the first ten minutes. The Steelmen were rather unlucky, therefore, to find themselves behind when Aled Thomas kicked a 40m. penalty as a result of the visitor’s first foray into the opposition half.

            The early danger signs were compounded in the second quarter when the usually dominant Quins pack started to buckle and get pushed back. One such scrum resulted in Dorian Jones levelling the score with a penalty of his own.

            As the half progressed Carmarthen did get into the game a little more and there were some neat handling moves involving James Davies, Haydn Pugh and Rhys Thomas but their only further score came from the boot of Aled Thomas. Ebbw Vale were back on top as the half came to an end and made it all the more surprising that firstly they were behind 6-3 and secondly that they decided to end the half by kicking out when they still had chances.

            The second half continued where the first one had left off except that the home side used the wind at their backs much more effectively to augment the superiority their pack provided. Quickly Ebbw Vale were level again with a successful long dropped goal by Dorian Jones. Ian Jones tried to show his team the way taking the ball to the opposition and, for a while, the Quins swung the ball along the line forcing the Steelmen to tackle. Rhys Thomas showed some nice moves and stand in scrum half, Huw Rees, tried to keep the ball moving but to no avail.

            Towards the end of the third quarter a massive hit on Haydn Pugh by Damien Hudd seemed to turn the game in favour of Ebbw Vale yet again. Jones kicked them in front again with a 52m. penalty and although he missed with a further couple of outrageous dropped goal attempts the writing seemed to be on the wall.

            For the last ten minutes or so Ebbw Vale kicked for territory and used their big pack to drive Carmarthen into the corners near the try line. Attempts at running from deep and ineffectual touch finding kicks all failed to remove the danger as the home side kept the pressure on. Eventually a battered pack gave up a penalty try and Ebbw Vale were the deserving winners by 16 points to 6.

            Ebbw Vale will now be on a high after crushing Newport and Carmarthen Quins in the cup and topping Division 1 East. The Quins, on the other hand, must quickly put this defeat behind them as they have a tough, important league match at home against Pontypridd next Saturday. (Kick Off – 12 Noon)

Reporter ~ Keith Bond