Match Report: Aberavon 24 – 45 Ebbw Vale
On a bitterly cold Thursday evening at the Talbot Athletic Ground, Aberavon hosted Ebbw Vale in a Super Rygbi Cymru clash. Conditions were dry with no wind, ideal for running rugby.
The Wizards made the perfect start, striking after just two minutes. From a tap-and-go penalty, outside-half Keillen Cullen darted into the left-hand corner for the opening try. His conversion attempt drifted wide, but Aberavon led 5–0. The Steelmen responded swiftly. After sustained pressure inside Aberavon’s 22, centre Ethan Phillips crossed for Ebbw Vale’s first try, and Evan Lloyd added the extras to make it 5–7 after six minutes.
Ebbw Vale continued to build momentum. On 19 minutes, a clever chip through by Lloyd bounced kindly for wing Dafydd Thomas, who finished for their second try (5–12). Ten minutes later, the visitors were awarded a penalty try following a powerful lineout drive, extending their lead to 5–19. Aberavon’s Ross Fox was shown a yellow card in the same incident. Despite being down to 14 men, the Wizards hit back on 31 minutes. From a lineout near halfway, scrum-half Scott Whitlock made a superb break before feeding centre Bradley Roderick, who scored under the posts. Cullen converted to close the gap to 12–19. However, Ebbw Vale struck again before the break. After winning a scrum against the head, Gruff Tough picked up and sprinted clear for the bonus-point try, converted by Lloyd, giving the Steelmen a 12–26 lead at half-time.
Fox returned as the second half began, and Aberavon showed resilience. When Ebbw Vale’s captain Joe Franchi was sin-binned on 57 minutes, the Wizards capitalised immediately. From another tap penalty, number eight Ashton Evans powered over, and Cullen’s conversion made it 19–26. Moments later, Ebbw Vale lost Tough to the bin, and Aberavon seized their two-man advantage. Replacement Connor Moyse scored the bonus-point try on 62 minutes, narrowing the deficit to just two points at 24–26. At that stage, the game was in the balance.
But the Steelmen responded emphatically in the final quarter. On 65 minutes, Ewan Bowden broke from a ruck near halfway, kicked ahead, and won the race to score (24–31). With their full complement restored, Ebbw Vale pulled clear. Dafydd Thomas grabbed his second try on 72 minutes after a sweeping move down the left, Lloyd converting for 24–38. Four minutes from time, flanker Jack Pope crashed over from close range, Lloyd again adding the extras to seal a convincing 24–45 victory.
Date:
Thursday December 4th, 2025
Score:
Aberavon 24 – 45 Ebbw Vale
Aberavon Team:
Scott Delnevo; Felix Gilbert (rep Cori Lewis-Jenkins 60 min), Bradley Roderick, Joe Gage (capt) (rep Connor Moyse 45 min), Frankie Jones; Keillen Cullen, Scott Whitlock (rep Jayden Grey 73 min); Jordan Walters (rep Freddie Chapman 73 min), Saul Hurley (rep Owen Griffiths 75 min), Geraint James (rep Morgan James 67 min), Ross Fox (rep Cameron Loveys 64 min), Shay Smallman (rep Lewis Marsh 49 min), James Clegg, Ashton Evans, Charlie Herdman.
Notes:
Jayden Grey appeared from Gowerton RFC; Connor Moyse appeared from the Ospreys; Cameron Loveys appeared from Baglan RFC; Owen Griffiths appeared from Llandeilo RFC.
Aberavon Scorers:
T – Keillen Cullen, Bradley Roderick, Ashton Evans, Connor Moyse
C – Keillen Cullen (2)
Ebbw Vale Scorers:
T – Dafydd Thomas (2), Ethan Phillips, Penalty Try, Gruff Tough, Ewan Bowden, Jack Pope
C – Evan Lloyd (4)
Referee:
Keith David
Man Of The Match:
1 – Scott Whitlock
2 – Ashton Evans
3 – Jordan Walters
Time Line:
02 min: Aberavon – T – Keillen Cullen (5 – 0)
06 min: Ebbw Vale – T – Ethan Phillips & C – Evan Lloyd (5 – 7)
19 min: Ebbw Vale – T – Dafydd Thomas (5 – 12)
29 min: Ebbw Vale – T – Penalty Try (5 – 19)
29 min: Aberavon – Yellow Card – Ross Fox
31 min: Aberavon – T – Bradley Roderick & C – Keillen Cullen (12 – 19)
36 min: Ebbw Vale – T – Gruff Tough & C – Evan Lloyd (12 – 26)
40 min: Half Time
40 min: Aberavon – End Yellow Card – Ross Fox
57 min: Ebbw Vale – Yellow Card – Joe Franchi
58 min: Aberavon – T – Ashton Evans & C – Keillen Cullen (19 – 26)
58 min: Ebbw Vale – Yellow Card – Gruff Tough
62 min: Aberavon – T – Connor Moyse (24 – 26)
65 min: Ebbw Vale – T – Ewan Bowden (24 – 31)
67 min: Ebbw Vale – End Yellow Card – Joe Franchi
69 min: Ebbw Vale – End Yellow Card – Gruff Tough
72 min: Ebbw Vale – T – Dafydd Thomas & C – Evan Lloyd (24 – 38)
78 min: Ebbw Vale – T – Jack Pope & C – Evan Lloyd (24 – 45)
80+3 min: Full Time
