Ebbw Vale arrived at the Arms Park having not won in the capital since 2017 (and not having beaten the Blue and Blacks since a 22-20 victory at Eugene Cross Park in 2018). A blustery wind and the threat of rain greeted the sides and it was Cardiff that started the better attacking the Ebbw line in the early exchanges. The visitors finally got their hands on the ball and a dominant forward display ensured that Cardiff would endure a torrid afternoon.
By half time the visitors were leading 21-10, their three tries all resulting from powerful driving mails to which Cardiff had no answer – Ieuan Morris got a brace (both converted by Evan Lloyd) and a penalty try. The Cardiff points came from a long range penalty by Harrison James and a driving try of their own with hooker Alun Rees the man with the ball at the bottom of the pile (on one of the few incursions into the Ebbw 22).
With visits to the Ebbw Vale 22 at something of a premium in the first half the second half had to be better. That looked to be the case when, within a couple of minutes of the resumption Joe Williams and Arron Pinches sent Dewi Cross away from just outside the Cardiff 22. As he approached half way, Cross drew the last defender and put league debutant Kodi Stone clear. The young speedster easily outpaced the covering defence to dive over in the corner, Harrison James converting. Any thoughts of a Cardiff recovery were soon dispelled as Ebbw Vale returned to their first half dominance. Another driving maul brought another try, this time for Ryan Jenkins, before the visitors finally decided to give the backs a go and allow the ball to pass through the hands, releasing Harry Rees-Weldon to score in the corner.
With time running out Cardiff finally got into the visitors 22 with Morgan Allen and Joey Tomlinson both coming within a metre of scoring tries but it was too little, too late. The final nail in the Cardiff coffin came with a red card shown to Nathan Hudd (for two yellow card offences) and the final few minutes of a depressing afternoon being played with 14 men.