Barney’s late score rescues draw

A LAST-GASP try from Barney Maddison ensured the spoils were shared between London Welsh and Ebbw Vale at imber Court yesterday.

The Steelmen started the game well and they had a 7-0 lead to show for their efforts seven minutes in as Jordan Howells went over and Josh Lewis converted.

Ten minutes later the scoreboard read 14-0 as Joe Carlisle was charged down to see Chris Levesley touch down.

But the Exiles hit back just before the half-hour with hooker Adam Kwasnicki on hand from the back of a dominant catch and drive following a penalty for a high tackle on Heath Stevens.

Josh Lewis stretched for Ebbw Vale’s third try but they only led 19-12 at the break as James Lewis managed to go over on the last play for London Welsh.

The second half took a while to get going but a brilliant counter attack, started by the insatiable Josh Lewis, put the visitors 24-12 up.

The fly-half claimed Martyn Thomas' high kick down field and beat several Welsh players before drawing the last man and sends his full-back Levesley away.

With the game slipping away, Welsh had to react and they did so six minutes later through new signing Kristian Phillips.

It looked like Ebbw Vale were to hang on but Maddison late effort from a driving maul salvaged the draw for the Exiles.