Ebbw Vale v Caerphilly

Half-time: Caerphilly 18 - Ebbw Vale 18
Celtic league fixture played away at Eugene Cross Park on Saturday 14th September 2002
Attendance 1,500
Referee: Gareth Simmonds (Cardiff), Touch Judges: Mike O'Connor, Richard Williams, Fred Phillips

Caerphilly were looking for their first Celtic League win at Eugene Cross Park, and add a few more points to their single earned from a glistening performance a week earlier against Llanelli.
Everything looked to be going to plan as the Castletown men raced into an 18 - 3 lead on 30 minutes.

Only 8 minutes of the game played when Ebbw Vale flanker, Tyron Morris was dismissed from the field, with referee, Gareth Simmonds awarding a red card for stamping.

Ex Aussie rugby league player, Jarrod Murphy at centre, created the first try for Caerphilly cutting through the Vale defence with a simple pop pass in the tackle to full-back, Owain Ashman to sprint in on 22 minutes.

A difficult conversion for outside-half, Luke Richards from the touchline was made to look easy to split the uprights.
Caerphilly added their second try only 3 minutes later with number 8, Andrew Williams sitting in the back line to charge over.

Outside-half's, Luke Richards and Mark Meenan exchanged penalties in the following minutes, and a wind assisted drop-goal from 40 metres from Richards to give the visitors an 18 - 3 lead.
The Steelmen clawed their way back into the game, and with great resolute levelled the scores at the interval to 18 - 18.
Vale winger, Rhys Shorney scoring at 33 minutes and opposite winger, Nick Wakely on 37 minutes.

Meenan successful with a conversion, and a penalty 5 minutes into injury time.
Two changes for Caerphilly at the re-start with ex Bath lock on for Paul Jones and ex Bath flanker, Joe El-Abd making his debut on for Andrew Williams.

Vale rattled up an early second half lead with hooker, Jonathon Evans crashing over.
A Meenan conversion and a penalty to follow for an 8 point buffer.
A series of attacks made on the Steel men's line paid dividends in the third quarter, when Caerphilly scrum-half, Sione Tuipolotu raced through at short range with a Richards conversion.

Ebbw Vale stuck rigidly to their game plan and played the game in the Caerphilly half with some excellent kicking to touch.
Vale increased their lead from 28 - 25 with Rhys Shorney scoring 2 more tries for his hat-trick.
Meenan bagged the respective conversions, plus a penalty for a 20 point boot tally on the day.
Caerphilly will entertain Edinburgh in their fourth Celtic League fixture on Saturday 21st September at Virginia Park, 2.30 pm kick-off.

Match report by Phil Whitfield, pictures by Mark Tamplin