By Gareth James
Ebbw Vale team manager Dan Haymond believes his club have struck a significant blow by inflicting back-to-back defeats on Llandovery.
The Steelmen have played the pre-season favourites for the Super Rugby Cymru title twice in successive weeks and won both matches.
They proved their 39-28 home win over last season’s top club side in Wales was no fluke as they went to Church Bank and spoilt the party with a 31-28 victory.
Llandovery RFC 28 Ebbw Vale RFC 31
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— Ebbw Vale Rugby (@evrfc) October 6, 2024
The Drovers were hoping to christen their newly installed 3G pitch with a much-needed win after back-to-back defeats, but the Steelmen stayed strong to the end and completed a very impressive double.
“The real challenge for us was trying to back up last week’s performance and we managed to do that. It was a significant victory for us,” said Haymond.
“The youngsters stood tall and we hung on in the end. That late penalty from Evan Lloyd was crucial and we got what we came for.
“I think the fact that every team, other than Newport, has lost at least once shows how tight this new league is going to be. The intensity certain seems higher and you have to fight right to the last whistle to win.
“It’s another step forward for our young group. We were probably ahead of the curve last season, but our results are showing they have learned from their experience.”
Steelmen do the double to spoil Drovers party via @WelshRugbyUnionhttps://t.co/MKG0qBQTTj
— Super Rygbi Cymru (@SuperRygbiCymru) October 7, 2024
As well as taking Llandovery’s ground record Llandovery – the Drovers won all 15 games in league and cup last season and were unbeaten at Church Bank in 18 games dating back to 10 March 2022, when Aberavon beat them 25-16 – the Steelmen also took home the new Super Rygbi Cymru Challenge Shield.
The Drovers were given the SRC Challenge Shield at the start of the season as the double winners from the Indigo Premiership – it is put up by the holders in every home game with the winners taking it home – after their double winning campaign in 2023-24.
Now Ebbw Vale will put their hard earned trophy on the line when they host RGC at Eugene Cross Park this weekend. In a dramatic finale, outside half Lloyd emerged as the hero as he slotted a last kick of the game penalty to take the spoils.
It was no more than the visitors deserved as they once again dominated the contact area to stop Llandovery playing their open game.The previous weekend Ebbw had edged a tight match through winning the contact area and forcing Llandovery to give away a lot of penalties and it was the same story a week later.
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Lloyd gave the Steelmen an early lead with a 30 metre penalty but it lasted just two minutes. Home wing Aaron Warren got outside his marker and swift support from brother and centre Adam, skipper and scrum half Lee Rees ended with a try for full back Jac Davies, converted by debutant fly half Steffan-Jac Jones.
As in the previous week’s game Llandovery started to concede penalties at the breakdown and two Lloyd penalties regained the lead.
Soon after, a multiple punch up ended with home prop Berian Watkins and Lloyd getting yellow cards before yet another penalty cost the Drovers dearly, a close range line out sending hooker Joe Franchi crashing through for a 14-7 lead.
Just before the break, the home side did at last put together some fluid attacks and concerted pressure gave teenage lock Will Evans his first ever try for the club. Jones’s conversion tied the scores 14-14 at half time.
A fine touch finder from Lloyd, a neat line out take and rolling maul got skipper Franchi his second try, once again improved by Lloyd’s trusty boot, and the Steelmen’s No 10 put in another great kick to set up wing Harry Rees–Weldon for another converted try to put an increasingly confident Ebbw 28-14 ahead.
But a yellow card for lock Dylan Bartlett weakened the visitors and hooker Taylor Davies rumbled over. The conversion from replacement Jack Maynard made it a one score game at 28-21.
Lloyd missed a penalty before a frantic finale saw replacement hooker Finn Thomas cross for a try that Maynard converted to tie the scores. Then Lloyd stepped up to kick his fourth penalty to win the match and the SRC Shield for his team.
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