EBBW VALE 29 LLANDOVERY 28.
Llandovery’s dreams of repeating last year’s league and cup double were dashed by Ebbw Vale in a rousing SRC Trophy semi final at Eugene Cross Park writes Huw S Thomas.
Down 21-5 at half time and seemingly out of the game, the Steelmen turned the game on its head, the pack taking control in tight and loose – forcing Llandovery into mistakes and give away penalties – to score three tries and finish with huge gusto.
“We are very disappointed after being in control of the first half “ said coach Euros Evans.
“Errors and ill discipline then gave Ebbw the momentum they thrive on and when their tails are up, they punish you hard.”
Home victory seemed improbable at the interval.
In a parody of Beauty and the Beast, the brilliance of the Llandovery back play had got the better of the rugged physicality of the home side and such was the speed and fluency of the Llandovery attacks that Ebbw had been run off their feet
Although fly half Ioan Hughes missed a relatively easy early penalty, he soon made up for it when a deft chip over the top of the defence saw centre Rhodri Jones gather on the full to race home for a try converted by his fly half.
The Drovers looked irresistible and when full back Jac Davies came into the line on the Ebbw ten metre line, he left three tacklers in his wake on the way to putting his captain Lee Rees sprinting clear.
Yellow cards for wing Ieuan Evans for a deliberate knock on and flanker Joe Pope for illegal use of the boot weakened Ebbw but the loss of hefty Llandovery lock Ed Scragg to an injury shoulder was to have a bigger influence on the game.
Ebbw could hardly get into the opposition half for long periods but were given a lifeline when fly half Evan Lloyd intercepted a Hughes pass to send wing Ryan Gardner away for a morale boosting score.
Just before the break, full back Davies scored a brilliant solo try from half, slipping past tacklers and accelerating away from the cover for a score worthy of a trip to Japan.
At 21-5, Drovers hopes of a final appearance were high but a nasty head injury to hooker Taylor Davies, soon followed by a rare yellow card for skipper Rees for an illegal tackle upset their rhythm in no time.
Scrum pressure ended with scrum half Gruff Tough putting wing Morgan Richards for a try converted by Lloyd and suddenly, Ebbw body language had changed and confidence soared as they sensed Llandovery losing their control.
Upping their physicality in tight and loose, the Ebbw forwards forced another penalty to allow Lloyd to bring it back to 21-15 on the hour-mark.
Hughes missed a penalty to relieve the pressure on the Drovers before lock Morgan Jones was held up on the Ebbw line.
That was as good as it got for the visitors who were badly missing Scragg’s influence up front and with the Ebbw replacements adding more zip to play in the loose, the game swung markedly
A fine solo effort from centre Ethan Phillips and a classic take and drive at the line out worked in replacement hooker Ieuan Morris.
With Lloyd’s points from the boot and three tries Ebbw had scored 24 unanswered points as theyg swept clear 29-21 and a yellow card for Gardner and Harri Doel’s last gasp breakaway try were of no consequence
The Steelmen will meet Newport – 35-20 winners over Cardiff – in the final at Ebbw Vale this Saturday
Ebbw Vale
Tries: R Gardner, M Richards, E Phillips, I Morris
Cons::E Lloyd (3)
Pen: E Lloyd
Llandovery
Tries: R Jones, L Rees, J Davies, H Doel
Cons I Hughes (3), J Maynard
Ebbw Vale: M Richards; I Evans, E Phillips, D Franchi, R Gardner; E Lloyd, G Tough;
L Garrett, J Franchi (capt), A Williams, D Bartlett, C Gregory, J Pope, R Jenkins, S Parry
Replacements: I Morris, M Williams, A Court, C Regan, L Young, R Harries, C Davies, E Bowden
Llandovery: J Davies; H Doel, Adam Warren, R Jones, L Morgan; I Hughes, L Rees (capt); J Hughes, T Davies, B Watkins, M Jones, E Scragg, O Davies, J Powell, S Worrall
Replacements: D Dallavalle, G Williams, B Leung, E Sheldon, N Hart, K Abraham, J Maynard, G MacDonald