Cardiff RFC survived a Halloween scare with a hard-fought, courageous 32-29 win against Ebbw Vale RFC in Super Rygbi Cymru at the Cardiff Arms Park.
Four weeks had passed since the Blue and Blacks handed the Steelmen a 59-14 thrashing, a result that left little doubt about the attacking threat posed by Dan Fish’s side.
Ebbw Vale would have had unwanted memories of that encounter, and Cardiff would have been keen to prove that superiority in Blaenau Gwent was no one-off as the sides renewed acquaintances on Saturday.
Their preparations, however, came without complication. They secured a convincing 31-0 victory over Bridgend Ravens in horrendous conditions last weekend, but head coach Fish made several changes.
Winger Joe Goodchild, who scored in the previous meeting with Ebbw Vale, marked his 100th appearance for the Blue and Blacks, while maintaining his impressive record of featuring in every game so far this season.
After scoring a hat-trick last weekend, Tom Howe was unavailable for selection after being named on the bench for Cardiff Rugby in their United Rugby Championship match against the Ospreys.
Ethan Coombes came into the side in Howe’s absence, having taken confidence from scoring his first competitive try against the Ravens.
Coombes was joined in the front-row by loose-head Harry Fry, who made his first start since the opening fixture of the season against Carmarthen Quins, and returning tight-head Tom Harper.
Sean Moore returned to the second-row and joined captain Craig Hudd, who scored his first try of the season last weekend. There was a late change in the back-row, with Alfie Prygodzicz replacing Evan Rees.
Prygodzicz joined Nathan Hudd and Ben Fry to complete a strong pack. Ben Coomer returned to outside-half and joined Ethan Lloyd, with the pair starting together for the first time since facing Swansea RFC.
Isaac Marsh made his first appearance for the Blue and Blacks since facing Ebbw Vale earlier this month. Tom Williams joined Marsh in midfield, while Dewi Cross and Rhys Cummings stayed in the back-three.
On the bench, Vinnay Cleak was selected and was in line for his first competitive appearance for the Blue and Blacks, having last featured against Brixham RFC during pre-season.
Named on the bench for Wednesday’s Cardiff University BUCS Super Rugby fixture against the University of Nottingham, Dylan Line was selected alongside Louis Fletcher to provide the remaining front-row cover.
Among the replacements were Jason Harries, set to make his 65th appearance for the Blue and Blacks, Tirion Bowen, Sion Davies, Ioan Leyshon, and Sonny Greenman.
Speaking after the dramatic contest, head coach Fish said: “After a slow start and gifting Ebbw 22 points, we finally managed to get a hold in the game.
“I thought we controlled the game very well but made some rash decisions in the 22.
“We were frustrated at half-time but knew we could come out and throw some shots.
“In the second-half we controlled the game all half. Took our chances well and created a lot.
“The last play of the game summed us up. We kept knocking them back, and discipline was excellent.
“To come away with a five-point win after being 22-7 down is a testament to the players.”
Before kick-off, the Cardiff Arms Park fell silent in remembrance as both sides paid their respects to former Cardiff RFC player Keri Jones and Clwb Rygbi Caernarfon and RGC player Jack Cameron Wynne Davies.
Story of the Game
The Steelmen, buoyed by their win over Llandovery RFC last Thursday, started brightly and scored within minutes.
The visitors got off to the best possible start: Ryan Jenkins powered in the opening try, and Tom Howard added the extras. Number eight Fry then carried well, but after spreading out wide, the hosts lost possession.
Cardiff were then penalised around the breakdown area, which meant outside-half Howard extended the visitors’ lead to 10 points. However, minutes later, after a frustrating opening period, the Blue and Blacks scored their opening points of the afternoon.
This came from a smartly executed cross-field kick by outside-half Coomer, as outside-centre Williams gathered and eventually offloaded to winger Cross, who showed his pace to score his sixth of the season.
Coomer added the extras to reduce the deficit to three points after 10 minutes. After scoring, Cross was then sent off for ten minutes close to the Blue and Blacks’ line.
Then, seemingly instantly, the Steelmen crossed for their second, with Jenkins claiming his brace after powering over, using the extra man and space extremely well. Howard on this occasion could not extend the visitors’ lead.
The Blue and Blacks were back on the front-foot attacking, but, as in the opening quarter, they were unable to capitalise. The Steelmen soon followed with their third.
Jenkins crossed over to secure his hat-trick at the end of the first quarter, as outside-half Howard added the extras, which put Ebbw Vale into a 15-point lead.
On the half-hour mark, Coomer brilliantly gained the hosts great territorial control with a 50-22. However, the Blue and Blacks couldn’t build on it.
Then as the second quarter advanced, Cardiff found themselves under considerable pressure. Prygodzicz expertly regathered his side possession around the breakdown, which was followed by the hosts relieving pressure.
Cardiff then began to build on the momentum, after the visitors clearly slowed the game down on more than one occasion. Finally, back with possession, Cardiff reduced the deficit to eight points before the break.
Hooker Coombes scored his second of the season from a strong catch-and-drive, with Coomer adding the extras, but the Blue and Blacks trailed at the interval.
HT: Cardiff 14-22 Ebbw Vale
Having done the hard work of scoring before the break, Cardiff had to score first in the final 40 minutes to keep the game in reach. They did, and they did so brilliantly.
Blind-side Prygodzicz crossed for his first-ever score for the Blue and Blacks. However, the jubilation of further reducing the deficit was met with despair. This was because outside-half Coomer was replaced early in the second-half.
With replacement Harries on, inside-centre Marsh took over the kicking duties after the score, but could not add the extras. Cardiff then began to flourish in attack and moved into the lead for the first time in the contest.
Before the 50-minute mark, Fry scored his first try of the season, and despite Cummings being unable to add the extras, the visitors were, for the first time this afternoon, on the back foot.
That said, the hosts’ lead grew, and so did their confidence. On his 100th appearance as a Blue and Black, Goodchild brilliantly crossed in the corner for his third of the season with a picturesque finish.
Cummings’ shot went wide, but as the third quarter ended, Cardiff held a hard-fought seven-point lead. With a large period of the game remaining, the nail-biting began for both sides.
However, the visitors responded and levelled proceedings as the game headed into the final exchanges. After a dominant scrum close to the Blue and Blacks’ whitewash, replacement Jon Evans scored the Steelmen’s fourth of the afternoon.
Dorian Jones added the extras, but there was still time for a dramatic finale to an enthralling afternoon of Super Rygbi Cymru action. In the end, the contest came down to composure, with both sides afforded an opportunity to snatch something from the closing moments.
First to blink were the visitors. Having conceded a penalty with three minutes remaining, and with their travelling support making their voices heard, full-back Cummings stepped up and held his nerve, striking a superb three points to extend Cardiff’s advantage.
Yet Ebbw Vale were not finished. With the clock almost in the red, Cardiff conceded another penalty, and the Steelmen wasted little time, sending the ball towards the corner in search of a decisive score.
However, another twist came when those on the sidelines thought differently for the visitors. After discussions with his assistant, referee Lucas Yendle brought play back to the original penalty mark because the visitors’ water carrier had already brought the kicking tee onto the pitch.
The decision gave replacement Dorian Jones a chance to rescue a draw. With the clock in the red, the experienced outside-half took aim, but his effort struck the upright and rebounded into play.
Somehow Ebbw Vale regathered possession from the failed penalty kick inside Cardiff’s 22, and then launched one final assault. The Steelmen threw everything at the Blue and Blacks, but Cardiff’s defensive resolve did not buckle.
Under considerable pressure, the visitors surrendered possession, allowing the hosts to clear their lines and secure another remarkable triumph over the Steelmen.
FT: Cardiff 32-29 Ebbw Vale
Up next for the Blue and Blacks, they welcome Llandovery RFC to the Cardiff Arms Park on Friday 20 November (KO: 19:30).
