Rugby Notes

In probably the shock of the season thus far, Ebbw Vale went down to the Gnoll and came with a 20-15 win. Ebbw completed their first double of the season (having turned Neath over 29-10 back in October), and got their first win in the Premiership in 2009.

Something very significant must have happened to change things around following last week’s loss at Pontypridd, and some of it may fall on Christian Loader, pictured, who has joined Ebbw last month as forwards coach.

I wasn’t there, deciding (very wrongly) that it would be a wasted journey. There are reports here, here and here.

Team: A McLaughlan; I Coombes, P Smith, S Powell, A Bevan; A Williams, L Lane; A Coundley (A Lott 53), M Williams (R Wilkes 75), M Jones (A Coundley 59), W Jones, M Griffin, J Griffiths (S Waldron 76), G Lucas (capt) (J Thomas 66), S Pengelly

Scorers: Tries for Ieuan Coombes and Andrew Williams, two conversions and two penalties for Williams.

Man of the match: by all accounts, Simon Pengelly led the way. Boy, are we a better team when he plays.

Next week its Pontypool at home, another one I’ll be missing as its bank holiday weekend and I’ll be in Tresaith. The game scheduled for the week after has been postponed as its cup semi final day and Swansea are still in.

To avoid rugby withdrawal symptoms, I’ll have to take in the Heineken Cup quarter finals this weekend. The fixtures are:

Saturday 11 April
Cardiff Blues v Toulouse and Leicester v Bath

Sunday, 12 April
Harlequins v Leinster and Munster v Ospreys

My heart says Toulouse, Bath, Leinster and Munster and, mostly, my head agrees.