awaymatch report

Saturday March 1st. 2003

Premier League

Swansea 21 v. Ebbw Vale 17

Ebbw Vale will be very disappointed by this result. After outscoring the Swansea side by three tries to two, taking lineout after lineout from the home team and possessing by far the better scrum, they succumbed finally to their failure to clear the ball effectively. The final twenty minutes called for simple rugby, nothing fancy yet unforced errors kept the Swansea attack in the Ebbw Vale twenty-five for far too long.
Kati Tuipulotu scored Ebbw Vale's first try following a pick up from the back of a scrum. Upper body strength and sheer determination forced Kati through for the try. Bryan Shelbourne converted the try to put Ebbw Vale seven points to nil up after six minutes of play.
The try was quickly followed by two successive penalties awarded against Swansea. The penalties put Ebbw Vale on a good footing, moving play into the Swansea twenty-five.
Thirteen minutes into the game and an Ebbw Vale lineout saw Scott Mitchell and Andrew Bevan making good progress towards the Swansea line. Unfortunately Bevan was tackled and the move was stifled.
The counterattack from Swansea was swift and within three minutes they were on the scoreboard following a try from Steve Winn.
Eight minutes later and a scrum collapse on the half way line gave Bryan Shelbourne a chance to add three more points to Ebbw Vale's score, as they elected for the penalty kick. Unfortunately the kick was well wide of the Mark. Excellent lineout jumping from Peter Sidoli and Chay Billen ensured that the majority of Swansea's throws were turned into Ebbw Vale possession. Following one such lineout turnover ten yards out from the Swansea line, it looked as if another try was in the making as the driving maul surged towards touchdown. It was not to be however as the ball was turned over once more as it reached the line and Swansea cleared to their twenty-five yard line.
Four minutes before the end of the first half however, Ebbw Vale scored the second of their three tries. Excellent attacking work by the forwards took play deep into the Swansea twenty-five and following some long line passes the ball reached Rhys Shorney who raced through two defenders to touch down. Shorney made the try with one player firmly attached to his neck, trying in vain to bring him down. The conversion was missed but Ebbw Vale entered the second half of the game 12 points to 5 in the lead.
Liam Roberts replaced Nick Wakely shortly after the start of the second half, just before Ebbw Vale scored their third try of the match. The honours went to Scott Mitchell following a blistering forty-yard dash to touch down. The move was a credit to Ebbw's teamwork taking the ball from well inside their own half and finding space all the way to the try line. The conversion was missed but Ebbw Vale now led by 17 points to 5 just three minutes into the second half.
Four minutes later and Swansea were awarded a penalty after Ebbw Vale was deemed guilty of pulling down in the lineout. Gavin Henson converted adding three points to his side's score taking the scores up to 17 - 8 in Ebbw Vale's favour.
Five minutes later and Henson was once more kicking for another three points. This time Ebbw Vale had been caught offside and the extra three points took Swansea up to 11 points.
Fifteen minutes into the half and indecisive play from Ebbw Vale helped Swansea along the road to touch down. A good kick back down field was called for not panic passing fifteen yards out from your own line. A rolling maul aided Swansea's next try after Richard Francis used it as cover before breaking free to touch down. Henson converted the try and Swansea went into the lead 18 -17 after twenty-one minutes of second half play.
Gareth Betts and Ockert Booyse replaced Bryan Shelbourne and Chay Billen at the re-start. There was always the prospect of unpredictability as soon as it was announced that Neil Ballard was going to referee, his decisions are frequently inconsistent. So it was with his decision to penalise Ebbw Vale following a lineout just inside the Swansea half. Frustration at his decision cost Ebbw Vale another ten yards and could have cost a further three points as Henson was now within kicking distance of goal. However the sun shines on the righteous and his kick went well wide of the mark.
Ten minutes from the end of normal time however and another penalty was awarded to Swansea. This time it was from the Ebbw Vale twenty-five yard line and there was no way that Henson could miss. His kick moved Swansea up to 21 points to Ebbw Vale's 17.
Ebbw Vale were not down and out quite yet though as five minutes later they were back at the Swansea line as Betts, Booyse and Shorney led the attack and forced a five yard scrum. The scrum wheeled through ninety degrees and Ballard awarded the put in to Swansea. The second scrum wheeled through ninety degrees but Ballard consistent as ever decided that Swansea should keep the ball. The third scrum wheeled and Ebbw Vale were penalise, their excellent position and prospect of the winning try lost.
The game ended shortly afterwards.

Dai's Man of the Match Award goes to Rhys Shorney

Referee: Mr Neil Ballard