ST DAVID’S DAY DEFEAT FOR B&As
by Rhys Owain Jones
Newport fell well short for a second consecutive week at Eugene Cross Park with a disappointing 44-21 defeat.
Ebbw Vale got the better of their Gwent rivals nine days ago in the corresponding Super Rygbi Cymru fixture and secured the same outcome in this cup encounter.
On a glorious St David’s Day afternoon on the heads of valleys, both teams came into the game with two wins out of two in their cup campaign and eyed top spot in Pool B to clinch a place in the 20th March final.
Despite Jac Lloyd’s early penalty goal, the hosts instantly responded with a simple catch-and-drive move from a five-metre lineout which was completed by prop, Adam Court.
Soon after, young Newport flanker, Scott Davies, took a nasty, accidental knock to the head which led to a 12-minute break in play. The incident was dealt professionally by both teams’ medics and by referee, Ben Whitehouse. Our thoughts are with Scott and we wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.
More misery ensued for the Black and Ambers when former wing, Ryan Gardner, crossed over in the corner following an unstoppable break by scrum-half, Gruff Tough.
Then, guilty of ill-discipline while desperately stopping Ebbw Vale from scoring a third try in under thirty minutes, the B&As saw themselves down to 13 men.
Hooker, Henry Palmer, saw yellow for a dangerous, high tackle on an Ebbw attacker, before captain, Ben Roach, followed less than two minutes later for collapsing a maul in the red zone. The latter was the result of a penalty try for the Steelmen.
Two more tries rounded off the first half. The hosts’ captain, Joe Franchi, crossed over in another well-orchestrated catch-and-drive move, before a well-worked phase by the B&As’ on the opposite side of the field saw centre, Dai Richards, bag his first away try for the club since November 2021.
HANNER AMSER: Ebbw Vale 24-8 B&As
The first twenty minutes of the second half belonged to Newport. Along with two successful Jac Lloyd penalty attempts, a fine try got the Black and Ambers back in contention.
One lethal phase from a line-out on Ebbw Vale’s ten-metre line eventually saw Dai Richards tear through the opposition defence to find scrum-half, Dafydd Buckland, who finished off a classy move to the left of the sticks. Lloyd added the extras.
The hosts’ only contribution to that clinical period for the B&As was an Evan Lloyd penalty goal and two visits to the sin-bin. Prop, Morgan Davies, was given his marching orders early in the half for an offside offence, before substitute, Cameron Regan, followed just over ten minutes later for a dangerous, no-arms tackle.
With twenty minutes to go, the visitors had clawed their way back to a six-point deficit at 27-21. However, even with 14 men on the field, their Gwent rivals always looked the better side.
A third catch-and-drive phase eventually led to Lewis Young crossing the line before the son of former Wales international, Dai Young, crashed over again in the final ten minutes to secure his second try and his team’s win.
With substitute, Barney Nightingale, earning Newport’s third yellow card in between both scores for allegedly taking a player out in the air, it capped off a miserable afternoon for the B&As whose fate going forward in the cup is now out of their hands.
SGÔR TERFYNOL: Ebbw Vale 45-21 B&As
Newport now have a four-point swing to overcome in Super Rygbi Cup’s Pool B. They need to get a convincing result against Pontypool at Newport Stadium on Friday 14 March (KO 7.30pm) and hope Swansea do a number on Ebbw Vale the following day at St Helen’s.
Before that though, the 150th anniversary celebrations resume when the B&As welcome Monmouthshire County RFC’s President’s XV to Rodney Parade on Friday night, with the game included as part of supporters’ season ticket.
As we approach the climax of our historic sesquicentennial season, now is as good a time as any to get behind…
Your CITY,
Your COLOURS,
Your CLUB.
#COTP #YmlaenCasnewydd