Cross Keys were defeated by Ebbw Vale in the Fosters Challenge Cup on a bitterly cold evening at the Centre of Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach on Wednesday, January 20.
Both sides started well and Keys could and perhaps should have crossed for the opening try straight from their own Kick Off when openside, Jon Howard found himself in space to claim the precise kick of Lewys Montague but Howard couldn’t quite hold on to the ball as he charged through from the kick off.
Keys looked sharp behind in the opening minutes but Ebbw perhaps looked a little more streetwise up front meaning a tight opening ten minutes or so. It was the Steelmen who opened the scoring when centre Nathan Preece crossed for a try with a little under 15 minutes played as Keys ran out of numbers in defence. The try was converted by Simon Veall as Vale took the lead.
With Keys not playing for almost seven weeks due to seemingly endless postponements, the rustiness was plain to see as several loose passes and poor decision making saw a few chances to close the gap go begging. Vale furthered their lead after almost half an hour when they benefitted from a defensive mixup by Keys deep inside their own 22 and flanker David Rubasniak pounced on the loose ball to cross for his side’s second try. The conversion was wide but the Steelmen were now firmly in the driving seat.
Keys responded well as the half drew to a close and after a short period camped on the Vale line they eventually crossed for their opening try when scrum half, James Leadbeater exploited a gap in the Vale defence to cross the whitewash. Lewys Montague added the extras with the last kick of the half.
Half Time Score Ebbw Vale 14 Cross Keys 8
Keys carried on where they left off in the opening stages of the second half and Keys allowed their pack to take control when a series of driving mauls led to Adam Powell crossing for Keys second try five minutes in to the second half. The conversion attempt from Montague was wide but Keys had pulled level.
Minutes later Keys led for the first time when some slick movements across the back line, which started in their own half eventually saw pressure build and lead to Phil Williams opening up the Vale defence to score Keys’ third try.
Montague failed with his first conversion attempt but was allowed a retake due to an Ebbw official deciding to take a stroll straight through Montague’s kicking line as he lined up and took the kick. It didn’t make a difference as Montague’s second attempt was also sent wide.
Keys failed to make further pressure tell and eventually the Steelmen started to create good field position and with the game entering the final 15 minutes Ebbw were awarded a penalty try when according to referee Rhys Thomas the powerful defensive Keys scrum had offended one to many times for his liking so the penalty try (with automatic conversion) was awarded for Ebbw to reclaim the lead.
The victory for Vale was all but wrapped up in the closing 5 minutes when Jarred Rosser crossed for a try out wide that had been created following a close range lineout. The conversion was missed. Keys did battle hard to try and get the draw in the final moments but the chances came to nothing and Ebbw took the honours and perhaps end Keys’ chances of progressing further in the competition.
Three players called up for international duty
Cross Keys will be well represented internationally over the coming weeks.
Tighthead prop Leon Brown has deservedly been named in the Wales Under 20s squad for the upcoming Six Nations Championships. Brown has been a key player in Keys’ excellent campaign in the Principality Premiership so far this season, claiming the Principality Premiership player of the month award in October and this could easily be just the latest step to full international honours in years to come given Leon’s attitude and potential.
Meanwhile Ethan Davies has once again been called up by Wales 7s for the latest legs in the World Sevens Series in Wellington and Sydney. He will be joined down under by Keys winger Lloyd Lewis who has also earned himself a call up to Wales 7s by coach Gareth Williams.
Report by David Glastonbury of Cross Keys RFC