EBBW Vale flanker Ronny Kynes was the hero snapping up both his team’s tries in this impressive but “ugly” win over Principality Premiership league leaders Llandovery at Eugene Cross Park, writes Geoff Champion.

Both touchdowns came from surging forward drives by the accomplished home pack in the 33rd and 73rd minutes. Outside half David Langdon eased home nerves by kicking a wide-angled conversion of the second touchdown.

Llandovery put up a great fight and were rewarded when they levelled the scores at 6-6 in the 55th minute after right wing Mike Evans stormed over for an unconverted corner try but that rolling Vale power play up front proved to be their downfall.

Skipper Damien Hudd and Ashley Sweet in the home second row also won some crucial ball at defensive lineout.

Referee Wayne Davies had his work cut out calming the red-hot atmosphere as tempers boiled over on a couple of occasions. Two players were sin-binned, visitors’ prop Greg Cunniffe (26 mins) and Sweet seven minutes after the restart.

Ebbw Vale had a big score to settle in every sense of the word when Principality Premiership leaders Llandovery arrived at Eugene Cross Park. The adventurous Drovers had thrashed the visiting Steelmen 50-0, scoring no fewer than seven tries, when the teams last met on 26 September. That was one of Ebbw’s worst results in several seasons.

But Damien Hudd and his men had put themselves back in contention for a playoff place by recording four consecutive league wins over Aberavon, Bridgend, Bedwas and Neath. With just seven points separating the top six sides before the game, Vale were just three points off a place in the top three.

Llandovery, on the other hand, were hoping to stretch their three points lead over Aberavon and Pontypridd at the head of the table having won 10 of their previous 14 league matches.

Despite a brief flurry of snow before the kick-off, both teams were greeted by bright sunshine as they took the field although conditions underfoot were heavy. Llandovery did most of the early attacking although they were hard pressed to keep their line intact in the 24th minute when the Vale pack set up a strong driving maul. Two minutes later Cunniffe was shown a yellow card and it was not long before Kynes snapped up his first try after another strong surge by the home pack.

Good work at defensive lineouts by Sweet and then Hudd enabled Vale to retain their 6-0 lead at the interval. It was an all-action second period but Kynes’ second try in the closing stages proved to be decisive.

Ebbw Vale: D Haymond ( C Levesley 63); D Williams, I Smerdon, N Preece, J Rosser; D Langdon, C Thomas; R Jones (I George 58), M Wiliams (J Franchi 58), G Robinson, D Hudd, capt. ( C Regan 58) A Sweet, R Clarke, R Kynes and E Doyle.

Tries: Ronny Kynes (2) Con: D Langdon Llandovery: W Thomas; M Evans, M Jacobs , C Woodall, S Soul ( J Cowley 66); J Maynard (J Davies 78), L Rees ( R Davies 66); D Howells ( J Kaijaks 79), L Lewis ( T Ball 70), G Cunniffe (B Watkins 70), B Griffiths (J Baker 70), M Harbut, S Worrall, R Rees ( S Miles 64) and R Brooks.

Try: M Evans Referee: Mr. Wayne Davies (WRU) Man of the match: Ronny Kynes (Ebbw Vale)