STEELMEN SO CLOSE TO ENDING WAIT
EBBW Vale remain on course for a first final appearance since 1998 after knocking holders Cardiff out of the WRU Premiership Cup to reach the semi-finals.
Centre Ethan Phillips and wing Amir Jiwa-Walji scored in each half to add to a first-half penalty try at Eugene Cross Park to secure a spot in the last four for the Steelmen.
Fly-half Evan Lloyd kicked two conversions and two penalties for Ebbw, who are just one more win away from a trip to the Principality Stadium.
Head coach Jason Strange was in the Ebbw team who lost their only other cup final appearance 25 years ago, when they were beaten by Llanelli at Ashton Gate and missed out on the chance to pick up some major silverware.
“Really pleased,” Strange said. “Particularly the way our league season has gone as well, we’re unbeaten at home, second in the league and to reach a semi-final is really pleasing.
“We’re in a strong position, on and off the field as a club, but we realise there are lots of challenges to come as well on the field.
“To make a final would be brilliant, not just for the club but for north Gwent as an area which we see ourselves as a club which we represent.
“It’s a rugby-mad area and it would be a real reward for our supporters and the local area if we could manage to reach the final.
“But there’s a lot of rugby to be played before then.
“We’ve put ourselves in a really strong position as a club.”
It also meant the end of the road in this season’s competition for Cardiff, who lifted the cup after beating Newport in last season’s final and had already seen off the same opponents in the first round this season.
Second-half tries from Alun Rees and Eddie Drake had threatened a comeback, having been 20-3 down at half-time.
Jacob Lloyd converted Rees’ try while Harrison James kicked a penalty in the first half.
“I thought we were really good value for our lead at half time,” added Strange.
“We played with real variety in the first half and it was a credit to the players, they executed the game plan superbly.
“And in the second half Cardiff were always going to come back and have some sort of response after the way we dominated the first half. But full credit to our players, they stuck to the task and they managed to see the game out.
“It was a good quality game, Cardiff came back well but I thought we thoroughly deserved our win.
“There are four good teams left in there and it’ll be a good occasion for the club and hopefully we’ll represent ourselves well.”
Ebbw Vale –