Ebbw Vale head coach Jason Strange says it will be mission accomplished if The Steelmen take the final step and win the Super Rygbi Cymru crown this weekend.
His side produced a stunning second half comeback to win their semi-final against Llandovery 29-28 at Eugene Cross Park to set up an all-Gwent final at the same venue on Sunday 18 May at the same venue.
Having lost out in Premiership league and cup semi-finals last year, including one at the hands of Llandovery, Ebbw were staring down the barrel of another loss as they trailed the Drovers 21-5 at the break.
But in what was the proverbial game of two halves, the second half belonged to Ebbw as they overturned that 16-point deficit to maintain their 100 per cent home record this season
Strange returned to his hometown club in December 2021 and, after assessing what was required in the second half of the 2021/22 season, oversaw major surgery at the club, both on and off the field, in the summer of 2022.
They’ve gone from strength to strength ever since. Two semi-finals, a first cup final appearance since 1998 in this season’s SRC Cup – which they lost at Llandovery – and now they find themselves just 80 minutes away from a first title triumph since their Premiership win nine years ago.
“It’s probably the last part of the plan,” said Strange, who left the game immediately on Saturday to head to St Helens to get ready for Warrington’s rugby league Challenge Cup semi-final against Leigh.
The Wire won that one 21-14 to reach the Wembley showpiece final for the second year in a row. Strange is part of Sam Burgess’ back room coaching team at the club having previously been at St Helens.
“It was a rebuilding project here when I returned. Year one was about rebuilding and getting the right characters involved with the club again, especially the players,” added Strange.
“Year two was about competing in the top four and getting good experience and this season was about winning trophies – nothing else.”
But at half time of their latest semi-final, winning the SRC appeared a long way off after a dominant Drovers first half performance. Already up against it, Ebbw played for half of the first period with 14 men with right wing Ieuan Evans and then back-rower Jack Pope both spending 10 minutes in the sin bin.
Llandovery were 14-0 up after 12 minutes with centre Rhodri Jones and skipper Lee Rees scoring and converted by Ioan Hughes. Full-back Jac Davies brilliantly set up Rees’ try and then scored one himself before the break.
But the second half was all Ebbw. Full-back Morgan Richards and centre Ethan Phillips both scored, adding to left wing Ryan Gardner’s first half try, and were converted by Evan Lloyd, who also kicked a penalty, as Ebbw hit the front.
Replacement hooker Ieuan Morris’ try on 73 minutes, again converted by Lloyd, sealed the deal despite a yellow card for Gardner and a late Harri Doel try for Llandovery.
“It was a great day for everyone involved with the club. To be 21-5 down at half time, with the circumstances we conceded, three yellow cards and to still beat a very good Llandovery team – we’re delighted,” said Strange.
“At half time, we just spoke around all the problems which we conceded tries off were fixable. They were through our own errors, individual errors really, so we just had to go back to defending well and build a bit of pressure through our set piece and field position.
“What was pleasing from our point of view was even when we didn’t have momentum, we didn’t go away from our plan, and we still tried to be disciplined and stick to what’s worked for us all season – and it paid off in the end.”
This was Ebbw’s 13th win from as many home games this season and their third win over Llandovery of the campaign, although the Drovers had won comfortably 39-7 when the sides had last met in the SRC Cup final at Church Bank in March.
Scorers: Ebbw Vale: Tries: R Gardner, M Richards, E Phillips, I Morris; Cons: E Lloyd 3; Pen: E Lloyd. Llandovery: Tries: R Jones, L Rees, J Davies, H Doel; Cons: I Hughes 3, J Maynard