Newport v Ebbw Vale SRC Cup Semi-Final.
Sunday 1st March 2026 Played at Rodney Parade.
Steve Bennett.
Both clubs went into this eagerly awaited contest with an unbeaten record in the pool stages. Ebbw Vale finished runner-up to Llandovery in their pool. Llandovery defeated Pontypool the previous day in their semi-final so both of Sunday’s opponents knew who awaited them in the final at Cardiff.
Typical of a St. David’s Day the weather was cloudy, windy with the threat of drizzle. Newport started with seven changes from the team that started in their previous match against RGC. Carwyn Penny, Jac Lloyd, Tom Devine, Garin Harris, Carrig Smith, Hunter Ward and Josh Reid all returning to the starting Line-up.
Jac Lloyd kicked off facing the old clubhouse end. The first line out of the game was stolen by Ebbw Vale, this was one facet that the visitors profited all game. The opening encounters were frantic with tackles thudding in. On 4 minutes came the first score of the game Carwyn Penny caught a long pass near halfway which quite easily could have been intercepted, thankfully for Newport it wasn’t and with seemingly acres of open pitch in front of him he raced up field without a hand being placed on him. Penny handed it on to Dafydd Buckland who scored near to the posts.
Jac Lloyd converted.
Newport 7-0 Ebbw Vale
Withing minutes the visitors got into Newport’s half and put the home side under pressure, and they nearly put a man in near the corner.
11 minutes Ebbw’s raid into Newport’s 22 started a spell of pressure which saw driving mauls being thrown at the Newport line but, the home side defended well and kept their line intact for now. Ebbw Vale were using Dom Franchi as a crash ball runner looking to break the Newport midfield. Newport brought some relief for themselves when Dafydd Buckland kicked and chased a ball well into the visitors half, this sparked a period of pressure where Newport were awarded a penalty and Jac Lloyd kicked into the visitor’s corner, but the subsequent line out was lost. 18 minutes constant Newport pressure paid off as Ebbw ran out of defenders and Josh Skinner crashed over the line for a try which was converted by Jac Lloyd.
Newport 14-0 Ebbw Vale
After 21 minutes it took the visitors only three minutes to get back into the game Dylan Edwards scored a neat try in the changing rooms end of the field, import Tom Price converted.
Newport 14-7 Ebbw Vale
This signalled the start of the comeback; ex Newport scrum half Jon Evans was showing all his experience in control with his tactical awareness. Another penalty against the home side in front of Newport’s posts. After 31 minutes Ebbw opted for the scrum and Jon Evans scrambled over for a try which Tom Price converted.
Newport 14 – 14
Tempers flared in front of the Bisley Stand on 37 minutes and the referee spoke to both captains. Newport held on in the tackle and were penalised after 38 mins. Tom Price kicked the penalty goal to put Ebbw Vale into the lead for the first time in the game.
Half Time
All the momentum in the game was now going with Ebbw Vale their pack were playing a storming game. The physicality of their back row was causing Newport all sorts of problems. Newport would have to replicate the aggression of the visitors if they wanted to win this tie.
Tom Price started the second half for the visitors and in the first line out of the half the visitors stole Newport ball. After 44 minutes against the run of play Newport took the lead back after another fine break out by Carwyn Penny and Finn Baker the ball was kicked by Jac Lloyd behind the retreating Ebbw defenders for Morgan Williams to gather and go over in the corner. Lloyd missed the conversion.
Newport 21-17 Ebbw Vale
With the scoring of this try the game was turned around and now Newport were pressuring Ebbw and dominating the game and on 52 minutes Jac Lloyd kicked a penalty goal.
Newport 24-17 Ebbw Vale
After 58 minutes of play Newport carried on where they left off and on and replacement Harry Fry reaches out to dab the ball over Ebbw Vale’s line.
Newport 29-17 Ebbw Vale
To most observers it was looking like the winners were wearing black & amber, but Ebbw Vale had other ideas. Only three minutes later they almost scored in the corner but dropped the ball with the line begging.
The visitors scored after 63 minutes from a try by Ethan Phillips, Tom Price converted.
Newport 29-24 Ebbw Vale
Within only one minute Harrison James scored a lovely try when he scythed through a gap in the Ebbw defensive line and went all the way himself. The try was unconverted.
Newport 34-24 Ebbw Vale
On 74 minutes and with time running out on the clock Ebbw Vale opted to convert a penalty goal, outside half Price dually obliged.
Newport 34-27 Ebbw Vale
With a goal to aim for Ebbw Vale laid siege to Newport’s line with a series of scrums which either collapsed or reset. This was the most frantic period of the game. Newport had replacement Wade Langley and Ollied Drake both sin binned and this left Newport down to 13 men. No penalty try was awarded but the dam had to break eventually, and Ethan Phillips scored the vital try which Price converted on 80+12 minutes. Full time was time was called.
Newport 34 – 34 Ebbw Vale
The game now entered a period of 10 minutes each way. With the start of the first half of extra time Ebbw Vale were clear favourites to carry on where they finished the 80 minutes. But it was the home side who took control of the game. Ollie Drake and Wade Langley returned to field but within minutes Langley collected another yellow card to go with his first and earn a red card. Also Ebbw’s prop Luke Garrett who was involved in the same incident as Langley received his second yellow card which was converted to a red.
Newport scored two tries in the first half of extra time, on 5 minutes Harri Ackerman scored near the posts.
Newport 41-34 Ebbw Vale
On 8 minutes Jac Lloyd danced through the visitor’s line near the posts to put Newport into a 14-point lead.
Newport 48 – 34 Ebbw Vale
Half Extra Time
It seemed that after Ebbw Vale had thrown everything plus the kitchen sink at Newport in that chaotic finish to the match that with the goal of levelling the match being reached, they had nothing left in the tank and were incapable of raising their game. There were no further scores.
Man Of the Match
Jac Lloyd
Newport will be next in action when the face Llandovery in the final of the SRC Cup at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday 7th March 2026, kick off 17:30