Ebbw Vale successfully defend title with thrashing of Tredegar

Before regionalism, I went to most Ebbw Vale home games and a fair few away fixtures.

Indeed, some of my best sporting memories are of the Steelmen pulling off shock wins, most famously on November 7, 1998, when Ebbw beat the mighty Toulouse 19-11 in a filthy day in the valleys.

It was Ebbw’s only win in that season’s European Cup, and to come against the 1995-96 European champions was made even more remarkable by the fact Ebbw had been defeated 108-16 in France by the same opponents just seven weeks earlier.

In the team that day were Tongans Kuli Faletau (Toby’s father) and Josh Taumalolo as well as Wales internationals Dai Llewellyn, Nathan Budgett and Richie Collins.

Toulouse clearly didn’t like being humiliated by the humble Steelmen, and suffered yellow and red cards; a touch judge was manhandled, an officer from Gwent Police had his helmet knocked and the referee was barricaded in his dressing room. It was quite a scene and a hugely memorable occasion.

It would be stretching credulity slightly to claim Ebbw Vale’s 52-0 win at Tredegar yesterday, which secured a second successive Swalec Division One East title, was on a similar scale to that day 13 seasons ago. Still, it was good to see a campaign rounded off in such style (though Ebbw still have a game to play).

Wes Cunliffe (who now has 13 league tries for the season) and Dan Dearden both grabbed braces yesterday, with Dan Haymond, Gareth James and Dorian Jones also crossing the whitewash in addition to a penalty try being awarded. Jones added six conversions.

That has been the story of the season for Ebbw Vale. Having played 21 games, they have won 18 and lost three (all with a losing bonus point). They have picked up 15 try-scoring bonus points. Their points difference is +524; second-placed Bargoed’s is just +311. They have scored 98 tries (an average of 4.67 a game) and conceded just 21 (1).

They also made the semi-finals of the Swalec Cup, missing out on a place at the Millennium Stadium final by the narrowest margin possible – being knocked out by Cross Keys on tries scored after drawing 19-19 a fortnight ago against the side in sixth place in the Principality Premiership.