LLANDOVERY 28 EBBW VALE 31

A crisp autumnal day, the inauguration of the 3G pitch and the Llandovery attempt to defend the innovative Challenge Shield all made for a splendid occasion at Church Bank writes Huw S Thomas

The WRU initiative imitates New Zealand’s famous Ranfurly Shield, wherein the “holder”- in this case, Llandovery, as 2023-2024 Premiership champions – put up the trophy for competition at every home game in the regular season.

To the disappointment of a large crowd, Llandovery no sooner had their hands on the SRC Challenge Shield than Ebbw Vale snatched it away from them in dramatic circumstances

Llandovery had not been beaten at home since March 2023 but Ebbw fly half Evan Lloyd slotted a last kick of the game penalty to take the spoils and the trophy.

It was no more than the visitors deserved as they once again dominated the contact area to stop Llandovery playing their open game.

Coach Gareth Potter, as honest as ever, summed it up nicely.

“Unless you’re disciplined, accurate and work harder you won’t win games of rugby.”

“At the moment we are conceding too many penalties which means we don’t have the required platforms in opposition half and end up defending for long periods.”

“Some key errors in attack also led to back to back errors and conceding two tries in the third quarter when we should have been in the ascendancy.“

“We have been in position to win games in each of the three defeats so we are not a long way away but, at the moment, we are below par in too many elements of the game. We have to work more to turn it around.”

The Ebbw Vale win means that the Shield passes to them and they will try to retain it at their next home game against RGC on October 12.

The Drovers will have to wait a while before being in a position to challenge, the opportunity dependent on which club has its hands on the Shield.

The week before, Ebbw had edged a tight match 39-28 through winning the contact area and forcing Llandovery to give away a lot of penalties and it was the same story on Saturday.

Fly half Evan Lloyd gave the Steelmen an early lead with a 30 metre penalty but it lasted just two minutes.

Wing Aaron Warren got outside his marker and swift support from brother and centre Adam, plus skipper and scrum half Lee Rees ended with a try from 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 finished 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.

Llandovery possession was continually slowed down by the Ebbw forwards but 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 but there was a fear around the ground that the Ebbw forwards were proving too hot to handle.

A fine touch finder from Lloyd, a neat line out take and rolling maul got skipper Franchi his second try, converted by the fly half.

Another great kick from Lloyd set up wing Harry Rees-Weldon to put an increasingly confident Ebbw 28-14 ahead.

But a yellow card for lock Dylan Bartlett weakened their cause and hooker Taylor Davies rumbled over, replacement Jack Maynard converting well for 28-21.

Lloyd missed an easy penalty and in a frantic finale replacement hooker Finn Thomas’s close range rolling maul try and excellent Maynard conversion tied the scores.

The fourth try also secured a bonus point with time all but up.

It looked as if Llandovery had escaped with the draw but they foolishly tried to launch an attack from very deep, only to be penalised for going off their feet at the ruck.

Up stepped Lloyd who put over the winning kick for a personal tally of 16 points, to win the Shield for his team and leave Llandovery having to be satisfied with two league points.

*** After four games and three defeats, the Premiership champions find themselves eighth in the 10 strong SRC table and now travel to Newport on Thursday night to take on the Black and Ambers in front of the S4C cameras

 

Llandovery

Tries: J Davies, W Evans, T Davies, F Thomas

Cons: S-J Jones (2), J Maynard (2)

Ebbw Vale

Tries: J Franchi (2), H Rees-Weldon

Cons: E Lloyd (2)

Pens: E Lloyd (4)

 

Llandovery: J Davies; T Baldwin, Adam Warren, R Jones, Aaron Warren; S J Jones, L Rees (capt); D Dallavalle, T Davies, B Watkins, M Jones, W Evans, O Davies, N Hart, E Sheldon,

Replacements: J Hughes, F Thomas, G Hawley, C Long, J Evans, I Phillips, J Maynard, B Thomas

Ebbw Vale: M Jones; H Rees-Weldon, E Phillips, D Franchi, E Bowden; E Lloyd, J Evans; L Garrett, J Franchi (capt), A Williams, D Bartlett, C Gregory, E McIntyre R Jenkins, B Main

Replacements: M Davies, I Morris, O Hatherill, J Pope, L Young, R Harries, J Malson, C Davies,