By: Paul Hopkins
Swansea’s winless streak continued as they were comprehensively beaten by high flyers Ebbw Vale in an ill-tempered match at St Helen’s that saw referee Aaron Parry hand out six yellow cards.
A good run by centre Joe Thomas began the Whites’ first attack from kick off and he found Brandon Wood in support, although the winger was well tackled. The ball was instead worked into midfield, but prop Freddie Chapman dropped a regulation pass.
The first scrum looked ominous as Swansea pack were driven backwards at the rate of knots, with the Steelmen earning a penalty, which fly half Evan Lloyd chipped to touch.
Number eight Ryan Jenkins drove forward from the lineout and the Ebbw pack looked to power on, but a knock on brought an end to the move.
Lock Jack Pope took good lineout ball on halfway and prop Adam Court was on hand to charge into the Whites’ defence, but winger Harry Rees-Weldon was unable to collect Lloyd’s high kick, and play was stopped for a nasty looking injury for Wood.
Lloyd tried another chip ahead, but the home side had failed to retreat from the previous passage of play and gave away a penalty. Lloyd found touch inside the 22 and a decent drive from the lineout was initially repelled by the Whites’ defence, but lock Ben Roberts was penalised for handling in the ruck.
Lloyd again chip deep into the corner and this time a well worked rolling maul saw hooker Ieuan Morris score Ebbw Vale’s first try. Lloyd dragged his conversion effort wide of the posts.
Full back Matt Jones made a break out of defence and found winger Ewan Bowden through the hands of centre Dom Franchi, but his chip ahead was well fielded by full back Lewis Edwards who cleared long.
Lock Matt Dodd stole an Ebbw Vale lineout to gift the home side with unexpected possession, but a Phillips box kick was taken by the visitors who were able to clear.
Joe Thomas slipped a pass to replacement winger Tom Edwards as the home side inched towards the 22, and a high tackle on the former gave Swansea a penalty, which Phillips successfully kicked.
Roberts failed to take a pass and an offside offence compounded his misery, with Lloyd chipping into the corner. Pope took the lineout and it was a carbon copy of the first try with Morris crashing over at the corner from a rolling maul. Lloyd converted.
Pope rose high to collect the restart and Lewis Edwards took a clearance kick upfield, finding flanker Geraint Powell in support. The visitors were penalised for offside so Phillips found touch inside the Ebbw 22.
Roberts took the lineout and a rolling maul formed, before the ball was spread out to the backs with Lewis Edwards spinning past a tackle, only for the visitors to steal the ball at the breakdown.
The home pack were penalised at the scrum and Lloyd chipped deep into the corner with his touch finder. A powerful rolling maul by the visitors’ pack was pulled down illegally by number eight Dan Gemine, who was yellow carded.
Ebbw Vale opted for a close range scrum and the pack drove forwards with Jenkins pouncing on the ball to score a third visitors try. Lloyd converted.
A clever crossfield kick by Lloyd was taken by Bowden, but his side lost possession in the tackle. Instead, the home side were able to work upfield through Lewis Edwards and Joe Thomas, and play was brought back for a Swansea penalty.
Phillips chipped deep into the corner with his touch finder and Dodd rose high to collect the lineout, with hooker Jamie Cox driven over for a try from a well worked maul. Phillips converted.
Lloyd chipped across field for Rees-Weldon to chase, but winger Ieuan Cornelius defused the kick, although play was brought back for offside, and Lloyd kicked to the corner.
From the lineout Pope collected the ball and a powerful rolling maul was stopped just short of the line. The visitors remained patient and Roberts was yellow carded for an offside offence, with Ebbw sensing blood and opting for a scrum five under the posts.
The decision paid off as an advancing scrum saw Jenkins touch down for a simple bonus point try. Lloyd converted.
Half-time:- Swansea 10-26 Ebbw Vale
A superb run by Lewis Edwards sparked a Whites attack after the interval, but support was too slow to arrive, so he was forced to hold on at the tackle.
Pope failed to take the lineout and the home side regathered possession just shy of their own 22, and to their credit, the Whites’ pack showed good muscle to gain a turnover.
Swansea were awarded a penalty near the 22 after the Ebbw Vale defence crept offside at the ruck. Phillips chipped to the corner and Dodd took the lineout, with a patient build up earning another offside penalty.
This time the home side took a quick tap and go to keep the ball tight. Swansea finally got the ball out wide but Lewis Edwards was unable to take the pass, and the visitors gained a turnover soon after.
Pope took a lineout on half way and Roberts gave away a penalty at the ruck, which Lloyd chipped up to the Swansea 22. A powerful rolling maul was well controlled by the visitors, but the Swansea pack managed to stop the release so gained a turnover.
The home side gave away a penalty at the scrum and S6 was shown a yellow card for his part in the matter. Lloyd chipped to the corner and although the Whites managed to repel the first drive, the ball was recycled for Pope to score. Lloyd converted.
Jones made a break after a visitors scrum drove forward at the rate of knots, but play was brought back for a penalty. Lloyd chipped to the corner with his touch finder.
Pope collected the lineout and the Steelmen looked set to score, but replacement prop Ellis Fackrell and lock Dylan Bartlett were both yellow carded for fighting. Play was restarted with an Ebbw Vale scrum, which advanced, before the ball was fed out to centre Cameron Davies, who dived over to score. Lloyd converted.
Swansea took a quick lineout on the Ebbw Vale 22 and managed to get the ball out wide, but centre Callum Dodd threw a poor pass over Cornelius’ head.
The visitors gave away a penalty and Phillips chipped deep inside the 22, before the ball was swept out wide for Tom Edwards to score. Phillips missed the conversion.
Following a period of kicking ping pong, the home side were awarded a penalty after the Ebbw Vale defenders failed to retreat the required metres. Phillips found touch just over the 22 and a further penalty was awarded moments later, with replacement number eight Lewis Young shown a yellow card.
With the final play of the match, Phillips dinked the ball into the corner and Roberts took the lineout, before a strong drive by the home side resulted in Cornelius touching down in the corner. Phillips missed the conversion.
Next up for Swansea is a home match against Carmarthen Quins, while Ebbw Vale travel to Aberavon.
Full-time:- Swansea 20-40 Ebbw Vale
Swansea:
Tries:- Jamie Cox (40), Tom Edwards (75), Ieuan Cornelius (80+1)
Cons:- Josh Phillips (40+1)
Pens:- Josh Phillips (17)
Yellow cards:- Dan Gemine (33), Ben Roberts (40+7), Geraint Powell (55), Ellis Fackrell (64)
Ebbw Vale:
Tries:- Ieuan Morris (11, 19), Ryan Jenkins (35, 40+9), Jack Pope (58), Cameron Davies (67)
Cons:- Evan Lloyd (20, 36, 40+10, 59, 68)
Yellow cards:- Dylan Bartlett (64), Lewis Young (80+1)
Match facts:
Venue:- St Helen’s, Swansea
Weather:- Drizzle, 14C
Referee:- Aaron Parry
Man of the match:- Jack Pope
Attendance:- 500
Swansea team:
15 Lewis Edwards (rep: Harri Williams 73)
14 Ieuan Cornelius
13 Callum Dodd
12 Joe Thomas
11 Brandon Wood (rep: Tom Edwards 7 (rep: Chris Davies 65-74))
10 Josh Phillips
9 Matthew Aubrey (rep: Iwan Temblett 54)
1 Freddie Chapman (rep: Ed Thompson 41)
2 Jamie Cox (rep: Will Austin 60)
3 Chris Davies (rep: Ellis Fackrell 41)
4 Matt Dodd
5 Ben Roberts
6 Geraint Powell
7 Callum Bowden ©
8 Dan Gemine (rep: Owen Thomas 50)
Replacements:
16 Will Austin
17 Ed Thompson
18 Ellis Fackrell
19 Chris Thompson
20 Owen Thomas
21 Iwan Temblett
22 Harri Williams
23 Tom Edwards
Ebbw Vale team:
15 Matt Jones
14 Harry Rees-Weldon
13 Cameron Davies (rep: Ieuan Evans 68)
12 Dom Franchi ©
11 Ewan Bowden
10 Evan Lloyd (rep: Morgan Richards 68)
9 Rory Harries (rep: Dan Buffney 62)
1 Luke Garrett (rep: Morgan Davies 50)
2 Ieuan Morris
3 Adam Court (rep: Adam Williams 50)
4 Dylan Bartlett
5 Jack Pope
6 Cameron Regan (rep: Curtis Gregory 50)
7 Ben Main
8 Ryan Jenkins (rep: Lewis Young 58)
Replacements:
16 Joe Franchi
17 Morgan Davies
18 Adam Williams
19 Curtis Gregory
20 Lewis Young
21 Dan Buffney
22 Ieuan Evans
23 Morgan Richards