Ebbw Vale 13 – Cardiff 18

Cardiff showed a huge amount of courage and masses of commitment to grind out a win that puts them back on the top of the Premiership table.

In the sunshine at Eugene Cross Park it was the home side that had the better showing in the first quarter of the game. The Steelmen’s set piece got to work and gave them field position in the Cardiff twenty-two. The Blue & Black defence – which was outstanding on the day – was up for anything that was thrown at it. The first score came from a penalty, Evan Lloyd slotting the kick to give the home side the lead. They went further ahead when a lapse in the home defensive line allowed Lewis Young to go over for a try that Lloyd converted.

Cardiff were trying to play rugby at pace but both defences were snuffing out any opportunities. The Blue & Blacks finally gained a foothold in the Ebbw half through a series of penalties and when they were awarded another near the home side line Dan Fish was alert to spot the Ebbw defence asleep and dash over. Harrison James converted and drew Cardiff level at the break with a beautifully judged kick that sent the teams in the changing rooms at 10 all.

The second half was a battle of the kickers and for long periods of the half the ball was sent from one end of the field to the other The Cardiff back three were winning the kicking dual and spent most of the half pushing Ebbw further back into their own half.

Lloyd put the Steelmen back in front with a penalty, James responded in kind before the moment that won the game. Cardiff had pinned Ebbw back in their own half and were going through the phases. When it looked like the ball was going to go to the open side James spotted space on the blind side, found Joe Goodchild running on. His perfectly timed pass gave Cameron Winnett room to squeeze over in the corner.

Ten minutes still remained on the clock, but as they had done the previous week the Blue & Blacks controlled the clock and the territory. Ebbw had one real chance towards the end when they had a lineout five metres out, but the Cardiff back row were onto the ball carrier in a flash and turned the ball over. James happily hammered the ball off the park and the team’s efforts were rewarded.

TEAM P W D L PF PA PTS
Newport 22 19 0 3 725 396 94
Llandovery 21 19 0 2 690 331 90
Ebbw Vale 20 14 0 6 615 384 71
Cardiff 21 12 1 8 579 492 63
Pontypridd 21 10 1 10 470 501 53
Pontypool 19 11 0 8 480 455 51
Merthyr 18 10 0 8 458 470 49
Aberavon 20 8 0 12 462 556 46
Bridgend Ravens 20 8 0 12 423 539 41
Swansea 19 5 0 14 377 540 30
RGC 1404 18 5 0 13 354 489 28
Carmarthen Quins 19 4 0 15 416 541 28
Neath 20 3 0 17 330 685 19