Monday, November 16, 2009

Rugby Notes

A fine win for Ebbw Vale on Saturday. In windy conditions accompanied often by torrential rain at Eugene Cross Park, they beat high-flying Swansea 14-7. (BTW, it was nice of Wales to move their game against Samoa to Friday night so as not to clash with Ebbw’s fixture.)

A well deserved win as they played the conditions better than the visitors, and the pack showed a huge improvement over recent weeks, especially at rucks where the clearing out meant that there were far fewer turnovers lost. Jonathan Griffiths did some great work in the lineout too, stealing some important ball.

Special praise must go to the half backs. Andrew Williams was every bit as good as Gareth Bowen (3 pens), and Andrew Jenkins had by some distance his best game for Ebbw, clearly man of the match. Olli Halford took his try well, and Nick Wakley looked useful at full back, threatening in attack and solid in defence.

Thankfully the shocking decision by the touch judges in giving Swansea’s conversion despite it sailing wide right didn’t affect the result.

There’s a pause in activities while Wales have a couple of friendlies, and then its a trip to Pontypool on 5 December.

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