Rugby: Llandudno take positives from cup defeat

Dec 24 2008 By Tim Channon

LLANDUDNO player-coach Jason Roberts was able to take some positives from his side's second half performance, despite a 12-try 74-3 mauling by Welsh Premiership opponents Ebbw Vale in the Swalec Cup last Saturday.

The South Walians, with eight full time professionals in their ranks, showed the gulf in class with their fitness, pace and strength repeatedly sweeping through Llandudno's defence in the first half.

Llandudno, who lost experienced prop Mike Hughes very early in the game, couldn't get near their opponents when they ran the ball with quick, accurate passing to score seven tries before half-time and lead 43-3 at the break. But the home side regrouped at half-time and were a more competitive unit in the second half.

"Ebbw Vale showed they are superbly fit and every error we made in the first half was punished. But in the second half we at last started to play a bit and I was very proud of the players for the commitment they put in," reflected Jason. "If we can take that into our league games then we can have a good second half to the season."

Ebbw Vale were 22-0 up inside the first 19 minutes with four tries and a conversion before Llandudno got their only points of the game with a penalty by Rhodri Carlton-Jones, and the home side did have a brief spell of pressure towards the end of the half.

They had their best chance of a try after a good break by Carlton-Jones, taken on by Steve Lester, but the ball was knocked on just metres from the line.

Llandudno were more competitive in the second half and threatened on a couple of occasions, yet Ebbw Vale still broke through to add another five tries.

Full-back Andy McLaughlin and centres Shaun Powell and Aaron Bramwell scored two tries each, with wings Kristian Owen and Andy Bevan, No 8 James Thomas, prop Anthony Lott, lock Jon Griffiths and replacement Richard Wilkes, who is just coming back from a broken shoulder, getting the others. Bramwell also added seven conversions.

Bethesda put up a good show to only lose 55-17 to Cardiff in their Swalec Cup tie, while Bala were slaughtered 104-3 at Swansea.

COLWYN BAY had to concede their Swalec Plate tie to Brecon with too many players unavailable for them to make up a competitive side for the long journey to South Wales.