Ebbw Vale 13 v 23 Whites
21 Feb 2009 - Eugene Cross Park
Swansea reached the quarter-finals of the Swalec Cup with an impressive win over Ebbw Vale at Eugene Cross Park. It was the first time the Whites had defeated a Premiership club away from home this season. The pack were in impressive form with flankers Sam Kiley and Peter De Snyder rampant throughout.
The Whites scored an early try in the corner through prop Tim Evans after the Steelmen’s lineout failed to function. Dixon converted. Former Swansea full back Aaron Bramwell had a chance to bag Ebbw’s first points on 12 minutes but he pulled his effort wide of the post.
Three minutes later, referee David Bodily set a precedent by yellow carding Rhodri Wells for killing the ball. With David Langdon opting to kick for territory, a well worked lineout and strong runs by Mathew Williams and Shaun Powell gave Rhys Williams an easy run in for a try. Bramwell converted. Swansea regained the initiative soon after though with an excellent move orchestrated by the back row which saw Kiley break clear and send a scoring pass out to De Snyder. Dixon missed the conversion.
Holding on the floor by Nicky Thomas gifted the home side a penalty from which Bramwell made no mistake. Swansea were soon back on the front foot though after Kiley picked up loose possession with Huw Alford driving into the heart of the Vale defence forcing Llyr Lane to kill the ball. With Wells returning to the pitch, Bodily showed Lane a yellow card, and Dixon made the Gwent men pay even more with a successful penalty goal.
Hooker Andrew Joy superbly took a high ball and drove play forward with Karauna providing support before linking with David Watts to send Thomas over for Swansea’s third try. Dixon was short with his conversion attempt. A skilful sidestep and break by Rhys Jones forced the home defence to kill the ball but Thomas was well short with his effort at goal.
Half-Time:- Ebbw Vale 10 Swansea 20
Seconds after the restart, lock Gavin Lucas became the third player to spend 10 minutes on the sidelines for killing the ball. Soon after, Dixon should have extended Swansea’s lead after the Vale defence were guilty of fiving over the top but he was wide with his shot at goal.
A drive forward by Rhys Jones set up Karauna, who in turn sent a floated pass out to Leigh Bevan on the wing, but he was unable to find Richard Payne and the promising move broke down. Powell looked to have unlocked the Swansea defence but a fantastic tackle by replacement Nathan Jones prevented a certain try and allowed the visitors to clear.
Holding on the floor by Thomas gave Ebbw Vale a penalty chance which Bramwell duly converted to narrow to gap to just seven points. Quick thinking by Karauna almost set up a try in the corner for Bevan but his chip through just evaded the winger.
A quick free kick taken by De Snyder almost resulted in a try for Roy Jones but he was held up over the line. Swansea sealed victory a minute from time after a scrummaging infringement by the home pack gifted Thomas an easy three points.
The win takes Swansea into the quarter-finals of the Cup for the first time since the 2003/04 season, when they lost to Caerphilly 21-29 at Virginia Park. Ironically the two sides meet again this year in the last eight, but this time at St. Helen’s. The Whites will go into the match confident after putting in some impressive displays in their last few matches.
Full-Time:- Ebbw Vale 13 Swansea 23
Venue:- Eugene Cross Park, Ebbw Vale
Weather:- Sunny, 13C
Competition:- Swalec Cup Sixth Round
Referee:- David Bodily
Ebbw Vale Scorers:- R. Williams (Try), Bramwell (Con, 2 Pens)
Swansea Scorers:- Evans (Try), Dixon (Con, Pen), De Snyder (Try), Thomas (Try, Pen)
Swansea Team:- 15 N. Thomas 14 Rhys Jones 13 R. Payne 12 D. Watts 11 L. Bevan 10 J. Dixon (rep: D. Karauna) 9 R. Wells (rep: N. Jones) 1 T. Evans 2 A. Joy (rep: O. Phillips) 3 D. Matthews (rep: Roy Jones) 4 H. Alford 5 R. Kelly 6 S. Kiley 7 P. De Snyder (rep: M. Popham) 8 S. Jones
By Paul Hopkins
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