Vale focused on finishing second

Apr 14 2008 by Staff Reporter, Western Mail

Llanelli 13 - 28 Ebbw Vale

EBBW VALE are targeting the runners-up spot in the Welsh Premiership following this convincing bonus point victory.

Having bounced back effectively from their Konica Minolta Cup exit at the hands of Aberavon the previous weekend, coach Patrick Horgan believes second spot behind Neath is not unrealistic.

The current standings see the Steelmen nestled in sixth place – 11 points behind Cardiff in second, but the Eugene Cross Park club do have two games in hand over the Blue and Blacks with three of their remaining four matches at home.

“Hopefully we can win our remaining three homes games and maybe take a win down at Swansea. That would be a good season and hopefully we can end up third or even second in the table,” said Horgan.

“That would be pretty good considering the position we have been in since Christmas with regards injuries and the availability of players.”

Vale went into the contest minus the likes of skipper John Bowd and this victory did come at a price – double try-scorer Aaron Bramwell left the field with a serious-looking shoulder injury.

“Aaron was excellent during the first 20 minutes cutting some lovely lines, but unfortunately it looks like we have lost him for the final four games,” added Horgan, who was delighted with the rugby his side served up during the four-try effort.

“There was some good rugby played and I was pleased with the boys. The same guys are playing for us week in, week out and they are responding.

“The first 20 minutes was excellent and we might have secured the bonus point a bit earlier than we did.”

In fact Ebbw led 14-0 within 16 minutes courtesy of Bramwell’s two fine efforts.

The first try arrived thanks to a fine offload from wing Andrew Bevan which sent the full-back over. And after more pressure, notably from three lineouts, Bramwell crossed again six minutes later courtesy of a pass from centre Kristian Owen.

At that stage and for much of the rest of the encounter Llanelli, having chosen to pick three 17-year-olds in their line-up, were just not at the races.

Llanelli did grab the first of their two tries on the half hour mark to see them trail 14-5 at the interval, but the most significant moment of the match came five minutes after the interval when Will Jones went in for the Steelmen’s third try.

It was more to do with Llanelli errors – they lost a lineout and then missed two tackles – than about Jones’ outrageous dummy which opened the way for him to cross.

And though Llanelli did rally before the end – helped by Vale hooker Matthew Williams’ sin-binning – with George’s second try from close range, the visitors deservedly had the last laugh when flanker Nio Aiono crashed over for the bonus point on the stroke of normal time.

The result left Llanelli coach John Davies thoroughly disgruntled.

“We didn’t stay within our structure and certain players were playing to their own agendas and we paid the price,” he said.