A PENALTY in the dying seconds saw Ebbw Vale overcome RGC in a thrilling encounter at Eugene Cross Park – after late controversy nearly cost them a hard-earned victory, writes Chris Smart.

The visitors started with plenty of purpose and opened the scoring inside 60 seconds through captain Evan Yardley, after poor positioning from the Ebbw Vale defence allowed him a clear run between the posts.

Jacob Botica added the extras and it looked for all the world that an RGC rout would follow when Tom Hughes scrambled over the line four minutes later to make it 12-0.

The men from north Wales continued to boss the opening quarter of an hour without adding to their lead, but Steelmen winger Toby Fricker took full advantage following the hosts’ first spell of pressure to score their opening try.

Dai Langdon’s conversion was superb, and, following a Botica penalty for the visitors, what had seemed an unlikely fightback from the hosts began.

Langdon’s penalty brought the deficit back to a single score, before captain Ronny Kynes’ try levelled the scores on 34 minutes.

An easy conversion for Landon followed to put Ebbw Vale in front for the first time, and the hosts continued in a similar vein after the break.

Two further penalties from the faultless boot of Langdon followed to stretch the lead to eight points, before RGC’s afternoon went from bad worse to worse when Botica missed a straightforward penalty and lock Robin Williams was sin-binned.

But just as it seemed Ebbw Vale had done enough to seal the tie, huge controversy gifted the visitors a route back into the game.

As RGC broke forward, fly-half Langdon moved forward to make the challenge just inside his own half, only for the RGC attacker to appear to slip as Langdon came in.

The number 10 caught his opponent firmly in the head, and after much deliberation, referee Aled Evans produced a red card for the Ebbw Vale man.

RGC were boosted and Botica kicked over the resultant penalty, with Dion Jones’ try levelling the scores moments later.

Botica added the extras to give RGC a lead they looked unlikely to surrender, only for the Steelmen to show immense character as they drove towards the line and winning the penalty with barely a minute to spare.

Makeshift kicker Dan Haymond slotted over, earning the hosts a thrilling and well-deserved victory.

Ebbw Vale: D Haymond, T Fricker, J Lewis, D Franchi, S Thomas, D Langdon, S Ireland; R Jones, R Francis, R Sevenoaks, K Parker, J Davies (L Randall 44), C Reagan, L Young (L Dennett 80), R Kynes (capt) (D Jones 80).

Scorers – Tries: T Fricker, R Kynes; Cons: D Langdon (2); Pens: D Langdon (3), D Haymond.

RGC: D Jones, A Bagshaw (S Jones 47), T Hughes, T Loots, R Williams, J Botica, E Jones (A Schwarz 47); J Simpson (C Reynolds 52), E Yardley (capt), S Wainwright (J Scott 58), B Jones, R Williams, A Williams, W Bryan (A Taylor 47), T Grey.

Scorers – Tries: E Yardley, T Hughes, D Jones; Cons: J Botica (2); Pens: J Botica (2) Ebbw Star man: Dai Langdon