Ebbw Vale will be hoping to go one better than last season in today’s Super Rygbi Cymru final.
The Steelmen avenged last year’s final defeat to Newport in their semi-final, with a try in the final minutes to win 18-14 at the CiNER GLASS Community Stadium.
Head coach Jason Strange makes two changes to the XV which won the semi-final as Mitch Rankine comes in on the wing and Alfred Bateman-Lloyd starts at six, having been an early substitute last time out.
Dylan Burrows is named amongst the replacements in the only change on the bench.
That means another start at eight for Dragons back rower Owen Conquer who made his return following injury in the quarter-final, while there is also a place on the bench for hooker James Talamai.
The challenge for Ebbw will now be to back up last weekend’s performance after the highs of a last-minute derby day win.
“Newport have sort of been our bogey team over the last two or three years and to take it further and get to that final was massive for us,” said Conquer.
“Especially for the community and the fans and everyone that supports us.
“First 20 minutes things didn't really go to plan, but then towards the end of the first half, I thought we dominated Newport up front.
“Playing on top and then breakdown was key for us and we competed really well.”
Ebbw’s final try came curtesy of a pinpoint crossfield kick by replacement scrum-half Gruff Tough, leading to wild celebrations at the CiNER GLASS Community Stadium.
With the final back in front of the Ebbw faithful, Conquer is expecting their supporters to have a huge impact again.
“Everyone’s been calling Gruff ‘Dupont’ this week, but what a kick,” joked Conquer. “You could definitely feel that the crowd uplifted us in that game as well.
“It’s been a bit of a roller coaster for the last three years, we’ve been close, but not close enough.
‘We haven't got over that last hurdle and just to give back to everyone that has supported us, that's been with us through the tough times and the highs and the lows, I think it’s massive for us at the end of the day. The whole Conger family's going to be there pretty much, not far off.
“Just buzzing really to get on the field and get a good week's prep and I know the boys are absolutely buzzing for it so hopefully we'll do them all proud.”
Ebbw Vale Team Kick Off 16.45pm: Dylan Edwards; Mitch Rankine, Ethan Phillips, Dom Franchi (c), Dafydd Thomas; Evan Lloyd, Jon Evans; Luke Garrett, Corey Lewis, Adam Williams, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Alfred Bateman-Lloyd, Sion Parry, Owen Conquer.
Replacements: James Talamai, Adam Court, Morgan Bosanko, Dylan Burrows, Lewis Young, Gruff Tough, Cam Davies, Ryan Gardner.
