Heartbreaking one for the Drovers to reflect on, but it’s the loss that isn’t the hot topic of this match. A nasty red card from Curtis Gregory took the headlines as Joe Powell luckily came out without any harm. An unstoppable Ebbw maul was the key to success as three driving maul tries completed the comeback. Written by Seán Richards, Llandovery RFC Media.
A fast start to the game despite the scoreline being low, as Sam Potter’s penalty was the only score in the opening fifteen minutes. Controlling the game from the off were the Drovers, but a chance came for Ebbw as Ieuan Morris thought he was over but he was aiming for the wrong line on the Churchbank artificial pitch. The pressure mounted on to a yellow card for Ebbw Vale’s Gruff Tough, but Drovers’ closest chance was through Dino Dallavalle who spilt the ball before his grounding.
The pressure was too much for the steelmen in the end as it was Aaron Warren who crossed for the Drovers just before the twenty minute mark. A start that was deserving of a score was brought by a lovely miss one pass by Jac Davies for Warren to cross on the wing. Potter couldn’t quite convert as the scores remained at 8-0 to the home side against the 14 men of Ebbw Vale.
Not long before half time, Curtis Gregory saw the red card for some serious foul play. An offence that was awarded the full match red card despite the new 20 minute rule. The Drovers were the ones defending before the break as a scrum penalty won on their own line kept the score at 8-0. A half where the Drovers seemed to be the controlling side, although Ebbw had their chances with one mistake potentially preventing the score.
Aaron Warren found his second try of the evening in a way he would never have imagined. Finding himself in a ball carrying position and a strong power over secured the try. An easy conversion for Sam Potter, furthered the lead to 15-0.
The ill discipline of Ebbw was killing them, picking up their third card of the evening as Ewan Bowden saw yellow for a deliberate knock on. Costing the visitors to the maximum, as now they were down to thirteen men for the next ten minutes.
Despite this the visitors responded with a huge maul for Ieuan Morris to pick up his fifth maul try in two games. A key asset for the Gwent side as it always has been, but under these circumstances, a much needed overload in the maul secured seven points following the conversion.
The grit of the men from Gwent was superb despite the thirteen men as they scored another. Cam Davies the scorer as the defence couldn’t quite hold up. A reaction was made by the visitors in the strangest circumstances of the two man disadvantage. Tom Howard converted yet again to bring it to a one point game in favour of the hosts.
It only got stranger as the Steelmen went on to take the lead with their now only a man advantage. Despite a penalty advantage, the ball remained in forward hands as Ryan Jenkins powered through. The man advantage was now nullified for ten minutes as Cam Lewis saw yellow in the build up. Tom Howard missed his first conversion of the evening but the visitors now led for the first time 19-15.
In a short space of time, the momentum had flipped on its head with yet another massive maul allowing Ieuan Morris to cross again. A lethal weapon of Ebbw Vale is the driving maul, and it’s yet another massive maul to further the lead to eleven points with the conversion successful. Ieuan Morris then went on to secure his hat trick in a maul from around the Drovers’ 22’ metre line. Almost the whole team joined in on the push over the line and Ebbw wrapped up the game there.
A game that was there for the taking will haunt the Drovers with the man advantage and a fifteen point lead. A miraculous come back by Ebbw who scored 31 points to come back, but unfortunately the game hasn’t been remembered for this but the awful red card that took place.
Llandovery Starting XV (Coach: Euros Evans)
Dino Dallavalle, Cam Lewis, Llyr Green, Morgan Jones, Joe Powell (C), Griff Evans, Tom Curry, Ben Evans, Lucca Setaro, Sam Potter, Aaron Warren, Tom Hughes, Kian Abraham, Tomi Lewis (SCA), Jac Davies 50th (SCA).
Replacements
Finn Thomas, Tom Phillips, Teifi Thomas, Harry Holden, Tian Sparrow (SCA), Josh Thomas, Gryff Watkins (SCA), Llien Morgan
Ebbw Vale Starting XV (Coach: Jason Strange)
Luke Garrett, Ieuan Morris, Adam Williams, Cam Davies, Curtis Gregory, Ben Main, Sion Parry (C), Ryan Jenkins, Gruff Tough, Tom Howard, Mitch Rankine, Cam Davies, Ethan Phillips, Ewan Bowden, Devon Shorney
Replacements
Liam Lewis, Codi Purnell, Morgan Bosanko, Alfred Bateman Lloyd, Joe Rees-Weldon, Rory Harries, Ryan Gardner, Morgan Richards
(SCA) Scarlets Academy (DRA) Dragons Academy
Trys
Llandovery: Aaron Warren
Ebbw Vale: Ieuan Morris x3, Cam Davies, Ryan Jenkins.
Conversions
Llandovery: Sam Potter x1
Ebbw Vale: Tom Howard x3
Penalties
Llandovery: Sam Potter
Yellow Cards
Llandovery: Cam Lewis
Ebbw Vale: Gruff Tough, Ewan Bowden.
Red Cards
Ebbw Vale: Curtis Gregory