Ebbw Vale hope home advantage is key in Super Rygbi Cymru

South Wales Argus

02-05-2025

The Steelmen host Carmarthen Quins in the quarter-finals of the play-offs on Saturday night (kick-off 7.30pm).
Ebbw Vale Cricket Club's second XI encounter with Usk thirds means that it's a late start, but Jason Strange's men will aim to deal with any Quins doosras.
They will head into next season with the SRC Challenger Shield that they won at Llandovery and defended on home soil.
That stretched their Eugene Cross Park unbeaten run back to the last-gasp March, 2024 loss to Newport.
Ebbw finished second behind Cardiff to ensure that they are guaranteed a home semi-final if they avoid an upset this weekend.
Then they would either head to Cardiff Arms Park or host another rival in the final.
TIGHT: The Ebbw Vale squad (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)
'Our goals for the season were to get to the cup final and finish in the top two for a home quarter-final and possible semi, so it's been a fantastic season so far,' said Strange.
'I've learnt from my rugby league experience [with St Helens and Warrington in Super League] that home advantage is so important.
'That's particularly the case for us because we haven't lost at Eugene Cross Park in 14 months so that gives us a great chance to reach the final, but we still need to be good on the day.
'We've put ourselves in this position through hard work by a lot of people, especially the players. The club is connected again, on and off the field.
'We are in a strong position because we are well supported, there is a lot going on in terms of ground development and our team is really strong.'
Ebbw have steadily grown since the return of Strange, who laid the foundations for the 2016 Premiership title triumph along with Neil Edwards.
Last season they were beaten by Llandovery in the Premiership Cup semi-final and heavily by Newport in the last four of the play-offs.
Ebbw made it through to the final of the SRC Cup in March but were overpowered by the Drovers in the second half at Church Bank.
'You have to lose one or two to win one or two,' said Strange. 'Every experience is a good one, whether you win or lose, as long as you take the learnings.'
Form suggests that this weekend is a case of avoiding a banana skin before tougher tests but the Quins showed their resilience with a win up north against RGC in the wildcard round.
'We've had tough games against them, even though we won all three,' said Strange. 'They have a strong set piece and a good kicking 9.
'They definitely have something about them and we respect them, but it's down to us doing what we do well.'
Avoid a shock and Ebbw will be able to get on with planning a semi-final, which will lead to more negotiations with the cricket club.
The second XI are pencilled in for a clash with Ponthir on Saturday, May 10.
'Hopefully they can be understanding because it would be really big for the area,' said Strange. 'It's a big rugby town and the economic benefits are massive, but first we need to focus on Saturday.'
Influential fly-half Evan Lloyd is back to pull the strings for Ebbw after missing the narrow win against Swansea to end the regular season.
That means that Ethan Phillips can return to midfield while Ryan Gardner is back on the wing in place of Harry Rees-Weldon.
The Wales Under-20s wing will be travelling to South Africa with the Dragons after a try-scoring debut against the Ospreys last weekend.
Ebbw Vale: Matt Jones; Ewan Bowden, Ethan Phillips, Cameron Davies, Ryan Gardner; Evan Lloyd, Gruff Tough; Luke Garrett, Joe Franchi (captain), Adam Williams, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Jack Pope, Sion Parry, Ryan Jenkins.
Replacements: TBC.