2 weeks Ago
WITH Super Rygbi Cymru now taking a four-week break, Ebbw Vale and Newport will look forward with excitement to their derby clash at Eugene Cross Park when action resumes on 23 November, . As well as league points and Gwent derby bragging rights, the SRC Challenge Shield – currently held by Ebbw – will also be up for grabs. Both the Steelmen and the Black and Ambers rounded off the first block of fixtures in SRC with maximum six-point victories over Carmarthen Quins and RGC respectively on Saturday.
Newport took the frustration of back-to-back defeats out on RGC with 10 tries to return to winning ways in crushing fashion. Right wing Lloyd Lewis bagged himself a hat-trick of tries with left winger Elliot Frewen at the double in their thumping 62-7 win over the Gogs at Newport Stadium. Ioan Davies, Che Hope, Josh Skinner and David Richards were the other scorers for the Black and Ambers – who were also awarded a penalty try.
Will Reed slotted over five conversions. This victory for Newport saw them bounce back from a home loss to Llandovery and a disappointing derby defeat at Pontypool. “We asked for a reaction this week after our poor performance against Pontypool and, credit to the guys, they really stepped up,” said head coach Ty Morris.
“In the lead up it was about us and getting our processes right and the things that we can do and control, rather than worrying too much about what threats RGC could bring. “I thought we played well up front and particularly in attack as well. If we’re honest, our attack hasn’t been where we wanted it to be, but against RGC it all seemed to slot into place.
“We were in a good position just after half time where we could make a number of changes – and the guys that came on really injected some urgency and continued where the other guys had left off.” Morris added that after a break this week, his players will be back in to start preparing for Ebbw. “We’re going to give the guys a full week off, just to mentally to have a little bit of down time and to recover,” he said.
“Then we’ll come back in for what will be a bit of a three-week prep looking forward to Ebbw Vale. “That’s a big game with a Shield at stake that we could potentially take off Ebbw Vale, so we’ll probably be looking at that with a bit of a cup final mentality.” Meanwhile hooker Ieuan Morris came off the bench to settle matters for Ebbw at Carmarthen Quins with his stunning second half hat-trick completing a 39-11 victory.
The Steelmen’s driving maul once again proved unstoppable as they powered to another six point triumph on the road with five second half tries. Morris replaced skipper Joe Franchi just moments after the latter had scored Ebbw’s second try on 58 minutes. That came after they had awarded a penalty try after the re-start.
Evan Lloyd kicked three conversions and two penalties. Quins left wing Louis Rees had scored the only try of a tight first half with the hosts leading 8-6 at the pause. Aled Thomas goaled a penalty either side of the break.
Ebbw remain two points back on leaders Cardiff – who also picked up maximum points as they saw off Bridgend Ravens 47-14 at the Arms Park. The home clash with Newport will be Ebbw’s second defence of the SRC Challenge Shield since snatching it away from inaugural holders Llandovery at Church Bank on 5 October. Jason Strange’s side made a successful first defence of the Shield in their next home fixture a week later when they defeated RGC 31-16.
Similar to New Zealand’s Ranfurly Shield, the ‘holder’ will put up the Shield for competition in every home game in the regular league season..
