Pontypridd 12 Ebbw Vale 38: Super Steelmen win Premiership title

The Steelmen triumphed 38-12 in the grand final at Sardis Road to enjoy one of the finest achievements in the club’s history.

It is a remarkable journey that began on September 4, 2010 when Llanharan were the guests at Eugene Cross Park in Division One East following the Steelmen’s relegation from the Premiership.

They rebuilt under the stewardship of first Neil Edwards and then Jason Strange and came back better in 2014 with four titles to their name.

Ebbw were denied a perfect return by Ponty in the grand final at the ‘House of Pain’ last year but, now with Nigel Davies at the helm, they delivered on their promise to go one better in 2016.

It was a triumph built on team spirit and tenacity with the likes of Damien Hudd, Ashley Sweet, Ronny Kynes, Ross Jones and especially Mathew Williams – players who been to the fore throughout the rebuilding process – leading the charge and deserving their moment of glory.

It had taken a herculean effort to secure a play-off berth after looking condemned to a mid-table finish when beaten 34-14 by Newport at Rodney Parade in November.

Hudd and his men won 11 of 12 league fixtures to claim third spot but after stunning Llandovery on their own turf knew that their biggest display of the season would be needed to add to the four second tier trophies from 2011 to 14 that sat in their trophy cabinet.

The Steelmen may have won both regular season meetings – 26-18 at Sardis in October and an incredible 34-8 success at Eugene Cross Park in March – but they were the underdogs against a Ponty side chasing a fifth crown on the spin.

Not since Llanelli upset the odds at the ‘House of Pain’ in 2011 had the silverware been lifted by another club but rather than Dafydd Lockyer doing the honours, this time it was Hudd.

Ponty had the better of the opening exchanges, completely dominating territory only to fail to trouble the scoreboard operator.

Former Dragons fly-half Ceri Sweeney was wide with a 10th-minute shot at goal and the visitors kept the game scoreless with a tenacious approach up front.

And it was Ebbw who opened the scoring through the method that has served them so well since their relegation – the driving lineout.

Sweeney had a nightmare moment when kicking straight out after the ball had been passed into the 22 and the Steelmen struck, winning a penalty when their first effort was stopped illegally and then showing patience to barge over when skipper Hudd pointed to the corner rather than the posts.

As usual flanker Ronny Kynes was the man to ground the ball and get the glory, fly-half Dai Langdon converted majestically and it was 8-0 to the visitors after 18 minutes.

Not only did they have the lead but Ponty were making a huge number of errors with former Wales international Sweeney adding to his personal tally by kicking the ball dead going for the corner from a penalty.

The game was almost exclusively being played in Ebbw territory with the home crowd frustratedly asking for referee Dan Jones to punish Ebbw infringements with yellow, a demand that was granted in the 32nd minute when Kynes was given a rest in the sin bin.

The hosts went to the corner but couldn’t crack Ebbw through a combination of Steely defence and shocking accuracy by the champions.

It was a relief on the stroke of half-time that Vale got the opportunity to breathe by inching into Ponty territory thanks to a penalty – yet Hudd & Co weren’t content with 8-0.

Wing David Williams scorched through from lineout ball off the top and then showed a cool head to go with his fast feet, opting to hold onto possession rather than fling a miracle pass.

The forwards and influential centre Adam Jones hammered away at the line before Williams reached over for a 14-0 lead at the break.

The cool head of Davies would have been just the trick but the head coach didn’t need to tell his players that the job wasn’t even close to being half-done.

Ponty came out firing – that was inevitable – but Ebbw soaked up more pressure and then struck again through the Kynes tactic, hooker Mathew Williams hitting Rhys Clarke in the lineout before the pack (and a few backs) did their thing.

Langdon added the extras via the crossbar and at 22-0 the trophy was tantalisingly close, even more so when Williams scored a wonderful team try in the 54th minute.

The winger finished off after a wonderful combination from flanker Cam Regan, hooker Williams and flanker Kynes put Ebbw into the 22 for smart handling to create a score down the right that Langdon improved for 30-0.

And thoughts of it being over were quickly put out of Vale minds when they had a narrow escape from the restart – Ponty scrum-half Joel Raikes deemed to have grounded the ball beyond the dead ball line by the TMO – and a few nerves were jangling when replacement Bradley Coombes went over down the right with 15 minutes left

But Ebbw stayed composed and let the clock tick down and the celebrations were deservedly wild when full-back Dan Haymond raced clear from turnover ball with Langdon’s sublime conversion making it 38-6.

Ponty’s Seb Davies may have had the final say from the final play but it didn’t matter.

What had been expected to be a nip and tuck affair was a rout with Ebbw proving themselves to be Wales’ best.

Pontypridd: G Walsh, A Webber, G Williams, D Lockyer (captain), C Clayton, C Sweeney, J Raikes, C Phillips, H Dowden, K Assiratti, H Barnes, S Davies, J Thomas, R Shellard, D Godfrey. Replacements: Lloyd Williams, Lewis K Williams, B Coombes, A James, W O’Connor, J Sieniawski, M Auger, C Domachowski.

Scorers: tries – B Coombes, S Davies

Ebbw Vale: D Haymond, D Williams, N Preece (I Smerdon 52), A Jones, J Rosser, D Langdon, C Thomas (T Edwards 63), R Jones (I George 54), M Williams (J Franchi 54), G Robinson (R Sevenoaks 52), D Hudd (captain), A Sweet, R Clarke (L Crocker 47, J Jacas 64), R Kynes, C Regan (H Keddie 52).

Scorers: tries – R Kynes (2), D Williams (2), D Haymond; conversions – D Langdon (4)

Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)

Argus star man: Mathew Williams