Rugby Notes

A disappointing night at Swansea last Friday. The travelling faithful saw Ebbw turn around with a useful 20-12 lead, only to go to pieces in the second half and let Swansea run riot. It finished up a thrashing 20-42. Only three tries to two, but there was only one team in the second half which the Jacks won 30 point to nil.

Team: A McLaughlin, S Hunt, J Lewis, K Owen, A Bevan, B Shelbourne, G Williams, D Watchurst, R Wilkes, A Lott, M Griffin, W Thomas, R Jenkins, J Bowd, N Aiono.

Scorers: Tries for Anthony Lott and Rhys Jenkins, two conversions and a penalty for Byran Shelbourne.

My man of the match: John Bowd, who had another awesome season for Ebbw.

It contrasts with a great result the previous Saturday when Ebbw saw of the robust, physical challenge of Cross Keys to win 29-12. Robust. Physical. OK, thug-like is probably a better term.

Team: A McLaughlan, S Hunt, J Lewis, K Owen (G Roberts 76), A Bevan, B Shelbourne, R Lewis (G Williams 65, A Lott, R Wilkes (M Williams 40), M Jones (D Watchurst 76), M Griffin, W Thomas, N Aiono (D Watchurst 47-56, J Thomas 56), J McPhail, J Bowd (captain, R Jenkins 71).

Scorers: Tries for Richard Wilkes, Andrew Bevan, Simon Hunt and Bryan Shelbourne, who also added three conversions and a penalty.

My man of the match: Andrew Bevan, who seems to have had a new lease of life this past month.

As REL points out in his column on the Ebbw Vale RFC website, the end of season tally of 15 wins, two draws and nine losses (only two at home) is something to be pleased about. We topped the mini-League of Gwent clubs.

A big question for the future is whether the new plans to develop players for the “regional” teams (their word, not mine) will lead to a thinning of the talent pool in Gwent; a pool to which Pooler get added next term. Congratulations Pontypool, on your promotion. Sorry to see Maesteg go, there were far more worthy teams to go down – just how Glamorgan Wanderers, to name just one, passed the WRU ground criteria is quiet beyond me.