INDIGO PREMIERSHIP REVIEW
EBBW Vale are now certain of joining Newport and Llandovery in the Indigo Premiership play-offs after beating Aberavon 41-8 at Eugene Cross Park to cement third spot.
The Steelmen went into the game only needing a point to make sure of a place in the top four that will give them a shot of winning a second Premiership title to add to the one they lifted in 2016.
Evan Lloyd, playing at full-back, scored all of Ebbw’s points in the first half to put his side 26-0 to the good at half time.
He kicked two early penalties and, after Ebbw were awarded a penalty try, then added the extras to his own try, which he scored after good work from wing Ryan Gardner and centre Ethan Phillips to break.
Lloyd slotted two further penalties before the break and then landed his fifth successful kick after the re-start after James Davies had kicked the visitors’ first points of the match.
Chris Banfield pulled a try back for Aberavon, which went unconverted, before further Ebbw tries scored by Lewis Young and Ethan Phillips to make sure of the bonus point, with Lloyd converting the latter.
MEANWHILE, Cardiff moved a step closer to securing fourth spot after they dismantled Carmarthen Quins, running in 11 tries in a heavy 77-7 win at the Arms Park – with outside centre Luke Pollock grabbing a hat-trick.
It now means four points is that Cardiff require to make sure of the final play-off spot, regardless of what Pontypool and Merthyr do.
The Blue and Blacks’ final regular league game is at home against Merthyr
next Saturday.
Against the Quins, Cardiff had the bonus point in the bag by the 25th minute and were 49-0 up by the break as they ran riot with seven first half tries.
Right wing Dewi Cross seized on a loose pass to open the scoring before Pollock broke through for try number two.
Hooker Alun Rees then scored a third try following a driving maul before skipper Morgan Allen went over to bag the bonus point.
Pollock was over for his second on half-hour after a break from Cross who ran from his own 22. Cross was then over himself again with outside half Harrison James over for a seventh Cardiff try right on half time.
His successful conversion made it seven from seven.
Four more Cardiff tries followed in the second half; Replacement Harri Wilde broke away from the ruck to score his first try of the season, which he converted himself, before another brilliant break from Cross put scrumhalf Joe Williams in for a try which Wilde again improved to make it 63-0.
With an hour gone, the Quins finally got themselves on the scoresheet with lock Iestyn Wood grabbing a try which Elis Price converted.
But it was ultimately scant consolation for the west Walians and Cardiff finished with two more tries, scored by Tom Rice off the bench and Pollock again to complete his treble. Wilde added the extras to both to round off a crushing win.
LEADERS Newport came from behind to win 31-24 at Neath to make it 13 victories on the bounce and move on to 99 points for the season.
Hooker Chris Morris’ try on six minutes for Neath, converted by Steff Williams, put them ahead and they were also 17-12 ahead in the first half after wing Jon Baylis’ try, converted by Williams who also kicked a penalty.
Wing Lloyd Lewis scored twice for Newport in the first half while captain Ben Roach also went over, converted by Jacob Lloyd, as the sides went in level 17-17 at the break.
Matt O’Brien came off the bench for Newport and added the extras to their second half tries scored by scrum-half Luke Crane and wing Iwan Pyrs Jones as they moved nine points clear of Llandovery.
Ryan Griffiths scored a third try for Neath, converted by Williams, to secure them a losing bonus point.