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South Wales Argus
09-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Joe Franchi: Ebbw Vale need best game to beat Llandovery
The Steelmen host Premiership champions Llandovery in the semi-finals on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 12.15pm, S4C) with the prize of either facing Cardiff at the Arms Park or hosting Newport a week on Sunday. Ebbw, SRC Challenger Shield holders, crucially earned home advantage for the play-offs by finishing second in the regular season behind the Blue and Blacks. Jason Strange's men were given a tough time by Carmarthen Quins in the quarters last weekend but got the job done 45-35. Courtesy of a draw bracket that strangely puts first against third and second versus fourth, they now face a Drovers side who are hunting a third title on the spin and who beat them 39-7 in March's SRC Cup final. Crucially, this time it's on Ebbw soil and that gives Franchi & Co a real shot avoiding the same fate as last season, when overpowered by Newport at Spytty Park in the last four. THROW: Ebbw Vale captain Joe Franchi at the lineout (Image: NCR Photography) 'We had a good regular season when finishing second and want to go a bit better than last year by getting into the final, and then hopefully get some silverware,' said hooker Franchi, a Premiership title winner with the Steelmen in 2016. 'We have kicked on and are in a better place than last year after some good additions to give us an extra edge. 'We've played Llandovery three times already this season and are 2-1 up but we are under no illusions about what it will take. 'They are probably the best attacking side in the league so we will have to be on our mettle defensively. 'We back ourselves at home and our unbeaten run gives us confidence but I'd say it will take our best performance of the season to get the victory and move on to the final.' It's fair to assume that Franchi will be at the heart of the effort against the Drovers after a remarkable try-scoring season. The hooker has so far chalked up 25 scores – perhaps the 'Catch 'n' Kynes' that helped Ebbw to the title nine years ago will be renamed. ANOTHER: Joe Franchi went over for a hat-trick for Ebbw against Carmarthen Quins (Image: NCR Photography) 'There's only one Ronnie Kynes! I'm driving the bus this year and we work so hard on our maul,' said Franchi. 'It's not just a case of sticking our heads in and seeing what happens, there is a lot in the process and the work has shown with the tries scored by me and Ieuan [Morris, his fellow hooker who is on 10]. 'It's a great weapon and one that we will try to use on Saturday but you can't be one-dimensional at this stage of the season. We have other tricks up our sleeve but always have the lineout drive to go back to.' Franchi's twin Dom returns to the XV at inside centre while full-back Morgan Richards and wing Ieuan Evans also start, with no changes up front. Ebbw Vale: Morgan Richards; Ieuan Evans, Ethan Phillips, Dom Franchi, Ryan Gardner; Evan Lloyd, Gruff Tough; Luke Garrett, Joe Franchi (captain), Adam Williams, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Jack Pope, Sion Parry, Ryan Jenkins. Replacements: Ieuan Morris, Morgan Williams, Adam Court, Cam Regan, Lewis Young, Rory Harries, Cameron Davies, Ewan Bowden. Llandovery: To come
South Wales Argus
02-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Ebbw Vale hope home advantage is key in Super Rygbi Cymru
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.
