EBBW Vale continued their impressive start to the season with a resounding win over Swansea at a chilly Eugene Cross Park, writes Paul Hopkins.

Ebbw Vale started brightly and Cameron Regan charged into the twenty-two, before the backs got quick ball out wide for Paul King to score. Rhys Jones converted.

Rhys Jones had a chance to extend the lead with a penalty goal after offside in the Swansea midfield, but his effort drifted wide of the posts.

The Ebbw onslaught up front continued and Greg Woods’ men would have scored a try, but Carl Meyer dropped a pass in midfield, as the home side failed to exploit a three man overlap out wide.

But there was no stopping Ronny Kynes, who squeezed over for a try against the base of the post. Rhys Jones converted.

Tom Sloane made good yards in midfield and Andrew Claypole looked set to score out wide, but he was tackled into touch. The visitors stole the lineout, but the move came to nothing as Sloane was penalised for holding on after the tackle.

Tom Ham made a rare dart forward for the Whites and Duane Eager provided support, before Claypole spotted a gap in midfield to race over for a try. Luke Griffiths converted.

Ebbw Vale responded immediately to the setback when Meyer collected a pass in midfield, before weaving his way past three defenders to score. Rhys Jones converted.

A powerful rolling maul by the Ebbw pack forced the Whites’ defence offside. Rhys Jones found touch on the twenty-two and the home side inched towards the line with Dai Jones held up a metre short.

From the resulting scrum five the ball spilled loose, but a professional foul by Duane Eager earned him a yellow card. Rhys Jones chipped to the corner and from the lineout deliberate offside by Sion Jones saw him serve 10 minutes in the sin bin.

From the second lineout, Joel Harris crashed over for Ebbw’s bonus point try, which Rhys Jones converted.

Ill-discipline at the scrum by Rob Sevenoaks saw the home side reduced to 14 men, but the visitors were turned over at the maul.

The card signalled a change in momentum as Swansea gained the upper hand in the forward exchanges.  The visitors were inches from scoring, but Eager was held up over the line.

Finally Swansea’s dominance paid off as Ben Davies powered over from close range, but it was merely a consolation try.

Scorers:
Ebbw Vale: Tries: P King, R Kynes, C Meyer, J Harries. Cons: R Jones (4).
Swansea: Tries: A Claypole, B Davies. Cons: L Griffiths (2).

Ebbw Vale: D Haymond, P King (S Thomas 76), C Meyer, D Franchi (J Lewis 60), T Fricker; R Jones, D Jones (S Ireland 80+12); J Harries (R Jones 72), R Francis (J Franchi 60), R Sevenoaks, L Randall (L Young 75), A Sweet (K Parker 60), R Clarke, R Kynes, C Regan

Swansea: L Griffiths, J Jenkins, G Rees (P John 57-63) (J Evans 63), J R Williams, A Claypole; D Manley (G Parks 63), T Ham (J Guy 37); T Sloane (J Powell 63), S Jones, T Harper (M Walsh 10), A Green, T Hughes, J Vaughan (C Bowden 49), B Davies, D Eager (G John 72)

Argus star man: Joel Harries