Streetwise Steelmen are scourge of Scots as Reds prove dire in the

EBBW VALE tries: L Phillips. Shomey conversions: Connor, Strange 14-10

GLASGOW CALEYS try: McLaren conversion: Hayes penalty: Hayes:

Graham Ellis at Eugene Cross Park

THE streetwise Steelmen of Ebbw Vale lived up to their reputation as the scourge of Scotland's superteams yesterday when they dealt a severe blow to the Celtic League title aspirations of Glasgow Caledonians.

Richie Dixon's Reds had travelled south with confidence in the wake of their recent successes against Cross Keys and Llanelli, but their hopes were dashed by a late try from wing Rhys Shorney.

It was clear from the outset that fast and flowing rugby would be impossible because of the wretched conditions. The Reds had the stiff breeze at their backs in the first-half, but the main handicap was the constant driving and freezing rain, which threatened to turn the surface into a paddy-field.

With Gordon Bulloch leading a powerful and dominant pack, Glasgow enjoyed plenty of possession and territory in the opening exchanges, but often chose wrong options and rarely looked like converting their pressure into points.

The Steelmen seldom looked threatening in attack, but stand-off Shaun Connor provided a hint of what was to come when he broke clear to launch a chip-and-chase move. The ball trundled into the Reds' 22, but without support, Connor failed to capitalise on the promising position.

Glasgow weathered the immediate storm, but found themselves adrift in the 20th minute against the run of play. Again the alert Connor was in the thick of things as he made a dart for the line, only to be blocked a couple of paces short of the target. Hooker Leighton Phillips was, however, perfectly stationed on his shoulder to accept the pop-pass and flop across for the try. Connor ignored the elements to land the conversion.

The Reds responded positively, mounting another series of raids at the other end. All too often, however, good lead-up work was ruined by basic handling errors. They were also continually frustrated as Connor's superb positional kicking pinned them in their own half.

Glasgow finally got off the mark in the 31st minute with a simple Tommy Hayes penalty after the home forwards piled over the top at a ruck underneath their own posts.

The Reds maintained the initiative as the interval loomed, but failed to reduce the leeway further before the turnaround. Although it was Vale who made most of the running in the initial stages of the second half, it was Glasgow who seized the advantage with a simple try from James McLaren.

It was basic route-one rugby as the ball was shipped out to the powerful centre from a ruck and he brushed aside a handful of would- be challengers to reach the line. Hayes confidently added the extra points to set up a Caley platform.

Vale's determination in defence was still making it hard for a full-strength Glasgow side, and it was that doggedness from the Welshmen which paved the way for the score which turned the game.

Substitute Jason Strange sent a grubber kick into the Reds 22, forcing Hayes to run the ball into touch. Vale's first attempt to barge through was repulsed, but they remained patient and strung together several phases before wing Rhys Shorney found the gap. Strange converted to set up a tense finale, but the Reds once again failed to turn pressure into points and paid the price.

Copyright 2001
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