Newport RFC v Ebbw Vale RFC – 13th April 2025 by John Evans
Last weekend proved to be quite a contrast. Following a stirring 6-point away win at RGC, a feat unmatched by any team in the Top 5 of Super Rygbi Cymru this season, we were greeted by the sad news on Sunday that Newport RFC President Brian ‘BJ’ Jones has passed away.
It would be remiss to go any further without paying tribute to Brian. Newport RFC have lost their spiritual leader. It’s North Star has been extinguished. New leaders will emerge, of course but, for now, the club is in mourning. There’s no point trawling through Brian’s record within the game of rugby, that’s easy to Google. What a search engine won’t tell you is Brian’s attachment to our club. He was the physical link between the club’s glory days and the present, a man equally comfortable talking about Ken Jones or Matt O’Brien. And talk? Blimey, Brian was never happy using one word when ten would do! Brian’s record within the game would have caused some folk to act above their station. Not BJ. His humility was a lesson to all of us. He held every job within our club, short of washing-up, and he probably did that, too, at some point. Why Brian was loved was because he was engaged, approachable, and had a deep passion for Black & Amber rugby. Indeed, during what remaining hours he had left, he was texting Team Manager Mark Workman asking for the score from Colwyn Bay. He was a supporter. He was one of us.
But life goes on, and Ebbw Vale RFC would not be turning at Rodney Parade to let Newport have their day, if anything they would want to spoil the party. Ebbw Vale have proved too strong for Newport twice this season already. Nobody from Newport wanted to let them make it three from three.
A breezy, overcast afternoon was the backdrop to the Rodney Parade stage, and everybody hoped that the rain that was forecast held off until at least 4.30pm.
Ben Roach, Newport’s captain, led the Black & Ambers out in a slow, deliberate procession, single file to the point of lining up for the minutes applause. He laid a wreath from the club onto the Rodney Parade turf, alongside a symbolic Newport RFC jersey, numbered ‘12’, Brian’s position, placed by Matt O’Brien.
With the ceremonial proceedings dealt with, it was down to business. Jac Lloyd kicked off and, immediately, Newport were on the front foot. Ebbw second row Dylan Bartlett, brother of former Newport player Joe, fumbled his catch and knocked on. Newport won the scrum prompting Lloyd Lewis to join the line from the wing and puncture the green and red defence. Josh Skinner and George Young interpassed, but the final pass to Young was spilled. Ebbw kicked the ball away, but Newport maintained the momentum. Tom Workman and Josh Skinner presented themselves as willing carriers, but an improvised pass from Carwyn Penny to Iestyn Galton proved too high for the winger to hold.
Ebbw Vale were penalised on 5 minutes for not rolling away in the tackle. Ben Roach instructed Jac Lloyd to put the pack in the corner of the field. Josh Skinner claimed the lineout, the Newport pack rallied around him before Ben Roach took it further. Jac Lloyd went close to scoring, but Ben Roach continued his supporting run to dive over under pressure and open the scoring for Newport. Jac Lloyd converted to make it Newport 7 Ebbw Vale 0 with 6 minutes played.
Lloyd Lewis caught Evan Lloyd’s restart, jinked around a few Ebbw tacklers before passing to Jac Lloyd. Carwyn Penny kicked long, encouraging Iestyn Galton to chase the ball. Ryan Jenkins, the Ebbw number 8, dithered slightly before being caught, then penalised for not releasing the ball. Newport went to the corner again, but the rolling maul was wrapped up and Ebbw claimed possession. However, their clearing kick wasn’t great, and the follow-up line out was worse, sailing over the top of the jumper in Tyler Olding’s grasp. Che Hope scanned for runners before picking out Ben Roach, striding at pace at a disorganised defensive line, crossing easily for his second try. Jac Lloyd added the two-pointer to make it Newport 14 Ebbw Vale 0.
Jac Lloyd was dictating play as he kicked ahead. Ebbw full-back Matt Jones claimed the ball, but his support let him down, yielding a penalty. Newport went to the corner again, this time using a ‘funny’ at the lineout, Barney Langton-Cryer being the pivot. However, Ebbw Vale were all over it, but illegally. The referee, Mr Craig Evans, had no hesitation awarding a penalty try to Newport, running under the crossbar with his arm extended, before waving a yellow card at the visiting captain, hooker Joe Franchi, and inviting him to the naughty step for ten minutes. This made the score Newport 21 Ebbw Vale 0 on 26 minutes.
The Steelmen were slightly disorganised, a shadow of the team they’ve been this season. They knocked on the restart again on 28 minutes but, before long, the real Ebbw Vale RFC would arrive. They exerted pressure on the Black & Amber defence, but it stayed firm but was distinctly creaking. Josh Skinner earned himself the ire of Mr Evans as he attempted to rip the ball clear. Ebbw went to the corner again, patiently going through their phases. Prop Morgan Davies was over the line but held up. However, Mr Evans was becoming impatient; he summoned Ben Roach and Tyler Olding, in order to send the hooker to the bin.
The Ebbw Vale try was inevitable, really. Replacement Ieuan Morris, on for his yellow-carded captain, was the beneficiary. Their rolling maul rocked and rolled, backs joining the fray, classic Neath-style, before the big man burst from the left of the maul to barge over. Evan Lloyd added the conversion to make it Newport 21 Ebbw Vale 7 on 36 minutes.
Ebbw scrum half Rory Harries spilled the ball conspicuously on 40 minutes, under no pressure. The Ebbw front row folded in, prompting Che Hope to tap quickly. Carwyn Penny and Iestyn Galton combined to get close, but Ebbw openside Sion Parry did tremendously well to get hands on the ball and halt the attack.
Jac Lloyd exerted pressure, chasing a kick towards visiting wing Ewan Bowden. Bowden failed to release the ball, conceding a penalty, which was then compounded by some unnecessary Ebbw chopsing. Newport tapped the ball for a move, but an excellent defensive set by the Steelmen shut Newport out as halftime arrived.
Half Time: Newport RFC 21 Ebbw Vale RFC 7
Evan Lloyd restarted but Newport made hard work of dealing with the ball at the restart. Ebbw helped them out by knocking on, but a ferocious scrum drive by the Steelmen soon won the ball back for the visitors. Ebbw Vale drove hard at the hosts, but Newport were able to just do enough to hold on, but it was touch and go at times.
A powerful 45th minute rolling maul had the Black & Ambers desperately trying to stem the tide. Josh Skinner was an obvious target for Mr Evans as he emerged onto the Ebbw side of a maul with his arms wrapped around the ball. It was an easy penalty to give, and an equally easy yellow card to deliver. The try that followed was as predictable as night following day. Joe Franchi was the scorer following a series of drives, Evan Lloyd adding the two to make it Newport 21 Ebbw Vale 14 on 46 minutes.
Tyler Olding was replaced by James Benjamin, while Ollie Drake made way for Garin Harris on 47 minutes.
Ebbw were a team transformed from the first half hour, blazing up in defence, getting into Newport’s faces. The vocal travelling support were getting louder, especially when flanker Cameron Regan charged down Che Hope’s clearing kick. Luckily, he managed to knock the ball on in his attempt to collect it, otherwise and equalising try was a certainty.
Ebbw Vale went close again on 52 minutes, but were held up over the line once more, this time Joe Franchi was left hanging. The Black & Ambers were distinctly on the ropes. It was going to be a long 28 minutes until full-time, it seemed.
Tom Devine replaced Tom Workman, while Rhys Jenkins came on for Josh Skinner on 57 minutes.
Newport caught a break when the ran from deep out of defence. Iestyn Galton sprinted 30-metres, while Che Hope ran in support. The ball spilled as Che Hope was tackled, but Ebbw managed to infringe as they tried to secure the ball.
The key seemed to be to keep the ball moving, stretch the play and not let the Steelmen’s mighty pack get into their stride.
Another stroke of luck came on 63 minutes, when a penalty to Ebbw was aimed at the corner, right where the pack wanted to operate, but the ball was kicked dead instead, affording Newport an attacking scrum back in the visitor’s half. With the scrum won, Carwyn Penny combined with Lloyd Lewis to attack along the right, in front of the Bisley stand. Lloyd Lewis chipped ahead but managed to drag the Ebbw defender across the line to dot down and award Newport an attacking scrum 5. Garin Harris got the better of his opposite number, Morgan Davies, as the Black & Amber pack regained parity. With a penalty, Newport opted to reset the scrum. Che Hope darted quickly, Garin Harris drove on, James Benjamin went close, but it was George Young that had the Newport supporters raise the roof on the stand as he burrowed across the line for a try. Jac Lloyd’s unorthodox kick was good enough to score two points, so it was Newport 28 Ebbw Vale 14, and at least one bonus point was in the bag.
Matt O’Brien replaced Chay Foster-Smith, while Dai Richards replaced Jonny Morris on 71 minutes.
Newport seemed to up the tempo a notch as the backs ran at the Ebbw defence. A high tackle on Iestyn Galton brought a penalty which was kicked to the corner. Newport threw to the front and the peel to the left was irresistible, and Barney Langton-Cryer was rewarded with a try. This made the score Newport 33 Ebbw Vale 14 with 77 minutes played. The vociferous Ebbw Vale supporters were quieter now.
Dafydd Buckland replaced Che Hope, Josh Reid coming on for Kyle Tayler.
The Black & Ambers now had the elusive 6th point in their metaphorical back pocket, and Ebbw Vale were desperate to deny them that. They tried to play out of defence before Evan Lloyd kicked delicately into an unguarded area. What they hadn’t bargained for was Iestyn Galton gathering the ball, dancing around would-be tacklers before passing to Tom Devine. With the greatest of respect, the big prop was never going to outstrip the regrouping defence. Ben Roach could though, and he took the pass, striding towards the posts, claiming his hat-trick of tries, securing the 6th point and condemning Ebbw Vale to their heaviest defeat of the season so far. Jac Lloyd sealed the deal, making it Newport 40 Ebbw Vale 14.
The Steelmen didn’t give up, but their accuracy had gone. A kick by Morgan Richards, trying to create something, simply rolled dead, and that seemed symptomatic of all but 25 minutes of their game.
Credit to Ebbw Vale, they played their part in, what was at times, a nail-biting game of rugby that could have gone either way at one point. It was the saddest of occasions with the best possible outcome for Newport RFC. And the rain held off.
BJ would have bloody loved it.
Full Time: Newport RFC 40 Ebbw Vale RFC 14
Newport RFC conclude their regular Super Rygbi Cymru fixtures next Saturday when they visit Carmarthen Quins RFC, kick off at 2.30pm. Following that will be the special celebration game against Crawshays RFC at Rodney Parade on Friday 25th April, kick-off at 7.30pm. Beyond that is the SRC play-offs. Pencil in the weekend of May 3rd for those, but it can’t be told who we play, or where yet, until the final standing of the league is settled.
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Newport RFC Man of the Match; Kyle Tayler
Final Score – Newport RFC 40 Ebbw Vale RFC 14