Below are the views from the victors.
Carmarthen Quins 26 Ebbw Vale 24
The statistics between the two clubs in the Premier Division read Played 8 with Quins winning 7. Impressive but they bore no resemblance to the task in hand this time. Ebbw’s recent history was similar to the Quins, both had been relegated but had fought their way back into the Premier Division. The ‘Steelmen’ arrived in top spot in the League but the Quins coaching staff had done their homework and put a plan in place to exploit Vale’s weakness.
The Ebbw point’s difference was just 30 points after six matches, whilst the Quins difference was 91 after five. All of their League matches had been tight affairs so the plan was to keep the ball alive and moving. The playing conditions favoured the Vale forwards, so the ball had to be kept away from them.
The Quins were quick to put their plan into action and the early minutes were kept in the Vale 22. By moving the ball the Quins took play into the visitors half and Jason Harries was on hand to take full advantage of a loose pass and dash 30 yards to score in the corner. Dan Jones added the kick from the touch line.
The Vale side had to use the elements to get out of trouble only to see the Quins quick to counter attack and keep play in the visitors half.
The Quins eight were able to hold the Vale scrum but the visitors spoiling tactics made the line out difficult.
Ebbw Vale were caught off side and a quickly taken tap penalty gave them the chance to see Harries chip on and win the race to reach the ball and his slick handling gave Rhodri Clancy the chance to waltz over for a try only to see Dan Jones conversion hit the upright. He recovered well and minutes later he was able to put over a penalty from 30 yards. The Quins were clearly quicker than their opponents and were giving their supporters plenty to be satisfied with.
From a line out however Ebbw Vale were able to work their trade mark ‘rolling maul’ and gain 30 yards for Nathan Preece to power over for his side’s first try. Ethan Davies converted.
A Quins player was yellow carded in extra time and this gave the Vale side another chance to use their mauling tactic for Wes Cunliffe to go over. Davies brought the visitors back to within a point at the interval. The half time score was 18-17.
Whatever was said at the interval certainly worked as the Quins went on the offensive from the restart and a pin point kick ahead gave Ellis Lloyd the chance to smother the full back and Harries was up to gather and cross for a brilliant try. Again Dan Jones conversion hit the upright and stayed out.
Mid way through the half Jones made amends and put over another penalty. The Quins were 26-17 ahead and looked far more threatening with ball in hand.
Right on the 80minutes from a line out near the Quins line the Vales rolling maul took them over for a try and Ian Smerdon took his side to within two points of the Quins score. The home pack used all their experience despite another yellow card to take the spoils and with it go into second place in the Premiership with Ebbw Vale dropping to third.
Ebbw Vale clearly showed they belong in the top flight and many of their supporters will feel they could have pinched it at the end. In reality however the Quins were ahead on the scoreboard for the entire game and Ebbw were always chasing the result.
Next Friday night the Quins visit the Gnoll to take on Neath and it is hoped they will have all their missing players back for selection.
Aberavon 3-21 Bridgend
The Ravens claimed a vital win under the floodlights at the Talbot Athletic Ground following an impressive all-round performance.
Both sides missed early shots at goal before Bridgend got the first points of the game. Andrew Waite made a good break from the back of a scrum won against the head, setting the Ravens on the front foot. The ball was spread to Thomas O’Flaherty, whose pace caused Aberavon problems all evening. The winger beat the Wizards fullback to touch down and Dixon added the extras to give Bridgend a seven point lead.
Bridgend were on the front foot, hunting for more points and kicked a penalty to touch inside the hosts 22. A powerful maul was nearly driven all the way only for Rowan Jenkins to pull it down illegally. The prop was sent to the bin and Bridgend went to touch again. This time Ravens captain Ashleigh James went over in the corner. Dixon added an excellent conversion from the touchline to put the Ravens fourteen points ahead after 28 minutes.
Aberavon worked themselves a good opportunity whilst down to fourteen men. Cai Lewis received a yellow card for slowing the ball down and Ceiron Thomas slotted the penalty from right in front to give Aberavon what would prove to be their only points of the game.
The second half started slowly, with both teams making handling errors as the wet and windy conditions took their toll.
Bridgend started to get some momentum as the fleet of foot O’Flaherty continued to impress on the wing. The Ravens won a penalty six metres out and showed their enterprise turning down the shot at goal and tapping quickly. The ball was eventually held up however, and Aberavon managed to clear.
The Wizards started to pile on the pressure as some Bridgend indiscipline gave the hosts good field position. A strong maul close to the Ravens line was collapsed and Ashleigh James was sent to the bin. Aberavon spent the next ten minutes of the match camped five metres from the Ravens try line. Bridgend’s defensive effort whilst down to fourteen men was immense, holding up big maul drives and halting any scrum momentum. The Ravens held out, managing to clear their lines.
Bridgend went on to score the only points of the second half with a minute left of regulation time. Scott Hicks, stealing the ball deep in the Wizards half, made good ground. The ball was spread wide, as Aberavon were close to intercepting but the big gap left by the man leaving the defensive line saw a big overlap and Adam Williams raced over to secure the win. Dixon added his third conversion to cap an excellent performance from the Ravens.
Llandovery 10 Pontypridd 23
Llandovery made the initial advances into opposition territory but outside half James Garland seeing a kickable penalty rebound off an upright.
The home team enjoyed a good share of possession, but were unable to capitalise against a stubborn Ponty defence. The visitors in turn drove up to their opponents twenty-two, allowing outside half Lewis Williams to slot over a close range penalty with eight minutes gone.
Both teams were showing their hand in attack, defying the difficult conditions, and Llandovery making a decisive break down the flank for full back Richard Williams to cross for a try which Garland converted from a wide angle. There were plenty of thrills and spills as the game swayed from one end of the pitch to the other, the Drovers setting off on a kick and chase counter but Ponty then launching a wide attack at pace to threaten a score, before settling for a Lewis Williams penalty in front of the posts.
The game was evenly balanced and fully competitive as it reached the twenty minute mark, Llandovery sniping away in attack to test the visitors defence but held short of the twenty-two metre line, before Ponty effectively cleared upfield. There were periods of attack and counter attack although with the ball not always going to hand in a continuous downpour.
Ponty set off on a counter offensive spearheaded by flanker Luke Crocker but the Drovers responding with a concerted phase of pressure, showing good continuity before conceding a knock-on when threatening the line. The visitors were now struggling to clear their lines, pegged back in their own twenty-two and conceding points as James Garland struck over a simple penalty in front of the posts. There was still time for Ponty to advance, going into first half injury time, with home flanker Lawrence Reynolds yellow carded for impeding. The visitors continued to press forward but outside half Williams striking the post with a kickable penalty, failing to reduce an interval deficit of 10- 6
Ponty surged forward as the second half commenced, Dafydd Lockyer leading the charge but the ball knocked on to thwart a scoring opportunity. Pressure was maintained on the home line with second row Craig Locke just barged into touch in the corner. Ponty had the possession and the territory but failed to make a breakthrough before Llandovery cleared upfield. The visitors continued to probe their opponents’ twenty-two but conceding a costly turn over and allowing Llandovery once more to clear.
Persistence in attack finally paid off for Pontypridd as a pop up pass invited centre Dafydd Lockyer to charge through for a try, converted by Lewis Williams with fifty-two minutes gone. Llandovery were next up on the attack, testing the Ponty defence with a series of forward shunts in what was a full blooded contest.
With the game going into its final quarter, Ponty responded with an advance up to the home twenty-two, working off a solid scrum platform and securing a position for Lewis Williams to slot over a penalty in front of the posts. A Llandovery advance was repelled before Ponty surged back upfield, scavenging possession in the loose and pounding the gain line. As the visitors pressed into the home twenty-two Llandovery intercepted to launch a counter at pace from deep.
With phases of attack and counter attack, taking play from one half to the other, the contest continued to provide plenty of thrills going into its final ten minutes. The Drovers launched a concerted foray into the visitors’ twenty-two, going close to scoring in the corner, but wave after wave of attack repelled by a spirited Ponty defence. The Valley Commandos’ rearguard action held firm, putting in one shuddering tackle after another before clearing upfield.
As play moved up to the home twenty-two, a Drovers’ clearance kick was charged down by Ponty replacement Dale Stuckey who pounced for a decisive try which was converted by Lewis Williams. Deep into injury time Ponty still had work to do in defence but held out admirably to preserve their lead to the final whistle.
