Ebbw’s fighting spirit brings them back from the brink

EBBW Vale came from 17-0 down to edge out Aberavon in the proverbial game of contrasting halves at Eugene Cross Park.

It took only two minutes for the visitors to grab the lead as an excellent backs move sent scrum-half David Pritchard through.

They extended their lead on 23 minutes with a neat try from flanker Joe Tomalin-Reeves, a key figure at the breakdown and around the park in their first-half performance.

The third try came eight minutes before half-time, courtesy of Luke Davies and a driving maul.

The conversion was added by Chris Banfield after the first two had gone unconverted.

Ebbw Vale came out for the second half knowing they had to score first – and took only three minutes to do so following a narrow finish in the corner by Stefan Thomas.

A brilliant touchline conversion was to follow by Rhys Jones.

Ronny Kynes was next on the scoreboard in stereotypical fashion after two previous driving mauls had been scuppered by the stern Avon defence.

The winning points came on 72 minutes and it was a true team try.

Ebbw came from the halfway line to score following a period of heavy forward pressure. Ashley Sweet powered over before Jones booted them into the lead for the first time.

They then held off one final Aberavon final attack in the dying moments.

Star man

Lewis Young – Ebbw Vale