The Blue and Blacks broke Ebbw Vale’s home-winning record after a superb second-half performance, which saw Jamie Hill, Ethan Phillips and Dewi Cross all score as Cardiff recorded a memorable 23-9 win.
On his 120th appearance, Joey Tomlinson returned to hooker and played an heroic part in The Blue and Black’s defence and attack. This was a marker as everyone else in the Cardiff team matched everything that Ebbw Vale were throwing at them as The Blue and Blacks looked for a positive start to 2024.
Just before kickoff, Jacob Lloyd was moved from the bench to the starting lineup as Matty Young dropped out due to illness with Fraser Jones coming in on the bench.
It was a tightly contested first half, and at times, both sides had the opportunity to kick at the posts but decided to go to the corner. Evan Lloyd broke the deadlock after referee Ben Breakspear awarded The Steelmen a penalty. Minutes after putting his side in front, Lloyd had another opportunity to double his side’s lead from just inside his own half, but his shot went wide.
With a lot of rugby being played and few points being added to the scoreboard, it added to the tension at The Ciner Glass Community Stadium. Harrison James brought The Blue and Blacks back level just after the 20-minute mark.
Later, Nathan Hudd was sent to the sin bin after a high tackle. It turned out not to be a costly yellow card as Cardiff’s defence was solid, as the home side could not capitalise on their extra man advantage.
With Hudd back on the field, Cardiff hunted for the afternoon’s first try. With the ball moving nicely through the hands of The Blue and Blacks backline, Luke Pollock eventually knocked the ball on, ending a very entertaining first half of rugby.
HT: Ebbw Vale 3-3 Cardiff
The second half started like the first, as each side had chances to go into the lead. Both flyhalves took those opportunities this time, Evan Lloyd put the home side back in front.
Minutes later, Harrison James brought everything back level with another penalty kick. That lead did not last too long as Lloyd converted another successful penalty.
As the half went on, Jason Harries broke through the Ebbw Vale defence and offloaded to Craig Hudd, who popped it inside to Jamie Hill, who crossed in the corner for the afternoon’s first try and put Cardiff into the lead for the first time. With minutes left on the clock, the momentum was definitely in favour of The Blue and Blacks as they searched for another try.
After a strong scrum five metres from the home line, the ball was recycled quickly from the resulting ruck with Jamie Hill offloading to Ethan Phillips, who powered his way through to score the afternoon’s second try for The Blue and Blacks
With the clock nearly in the red, Jacob Lloyd kicked to the corner, and after winning the lineout, Tom Rice rushed away from the driving maul and nearly powered his way over. Several phases followed, as both Ethan Phillips and Rhys Barratt were really close to scoring.
However, the ball was quickly spread wide through the hands of Luke Pollock and Jacob Lloyd offloaded to Dewi Cross to score in the corner as Cardiff started 2024 with a huge win away from home against a high flying Ebbw Vale side