Errors cost Vale dear

A COUPLE of key errors cost Ebbw Vale dear as they succumbed to a 34-17 Principality Cup semi-final defeat by Llanelli.

The Steelmen took the game to their opponents at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, harassing and spoiling to put Llanelli off their game to hold a slim 11-10 lead at half time.

But a missed tackle on the Scarlets' replacement scrum half Guy Easterby saw the Irish international dart over for a converted try with only his second touch of the ball early in the second half which put Llanelli 17-11 up.

Vale wing Gareth Cull then kicked two huge penalties as his side levelled the game at 17-all with less than fifteen minutes to play, until a bad mistake in defence handed the European Cup semi-finalists the initiative.

Salesi Finau was held up over the line by Vale's Llyr Lane and Paul Matthews, but from a scrum, Lane's pass was fumbled by lock Ockert Booyse and fell into the arms of Llanelli's Ian Boobyer who had to do no more than fall over to claim his try.

It was cruel luck on the South African Booyse, his first half try boosted his team's confidence and he worked hard in the set-pieces and line-outs, but Llanelli did not look back and opened up a flattering 17-point advantage.

On the evidence of this performance, Leicester, Llanelli's European Cup semi-final opponents in a fortnight, won't lose too much sleep worrying about the West Walians.

They were poor at the set-pieces, especially in the scrums during the first half and coach Gareth Jenkins uttered a few stern words at half time as his forwards stepped up a gear.

24-17 would have been a much fairer reflection of the game, but Ebbw Vale can take plenty of heart from this performance. They tackled everything.

Coaches Mike Ruddock and Kevin Hopkins had selected Rhys Shorney on the wing, but he partnered big Australian Martin Ridley in the centre in several defensive situations to halt the twin threat of Llanelli centres Finau and Leigh Davies.

But for all their fire and spirit in the first half, Ebbw Vale had no answer to Llanelli's talented backs.

Vale had to battle for all their points and it was a poor pass which actually gave them their try. Cull and Llanelli's Stephen Jones had swapped penalties and Vernon Cooper had powered over for a try, after a determined drive from Easterby before Ebbw got the try which gave their fans plenty of hope.

A long pass went loose and was gathered by flanker Tyron Morris, but the mishap caught Llanelli unawares and the ball was slipped to Booyse who charged over.

Cull missed the conversion, but added a second penalty just before half time. The early introduction of Guy Easterby on 46 minutes proved decisive.

Having put the ball into a scrum with his first touch, he took a pass from Llanelli number eight Dave Hodges, spotted a half chance and dummied his way through to score.

It was a sucker punch, but Vale responded by keeping up the pressure and won two penalties which put them level.

Llanelli's Jones even hit the post with a penalty attempt, it looked like Vale had luck on their side.

It was not as though Ebbw panicked at this point, but the players later admitted they blew it.

Having worked hard to repel several drives at their line, Vale then shot themselves in the foot by running the ball out of defence rather than kicking for position which let in Boobyer for a soft score.

Then adding insult just before injury time, former Wales wing Mark Jones went over for a try after Jones added a penalty.

Despite all the political shenanigans of recent weeks, on the rugby field Ebbw Vale will learn from this experience and having also reached the European Shield quarter finals in their first season together, Vale will gel into a tougher unit next season.

Llanelli: G Evans, M Jones (rep G Bowen), S Finau, L Davies, W Proctor (rep T Selley), S Jones, D Peel (rep G Easterby), M Madden (rep P Booth), R McBryde (rep M Thomas), J Davies, V Cooper, L Gross (rep C Wyatt), S Easterby, D Hodges (rep D Jones), I Boobyer.

Scorers - tries: Cooper, G Easterby, Boobyer, M Jones; conversions: Jones (4), penalties: Jones (2).

Ebbw Vale: G Cull, R Shorney, M Ridley (rep A Takarangi), P Matthews, A Wagstaff, M James, L Lane (rep K Ellis), I Thomas, L Phillips (rep J Evans), M Jones (rep D Penisini), N Edwards, O Booyse, K Tuipulotu, W Thomas (rep R Williams), T Morris.

Scorers - try: Booyse; penalties: Cull (4).

Referee: Nigel Whitehouse.

* In the picture: Vales Matthew Jones holds off Stephen Jones.