It will be four weeks on Saturday since the last meeting between the two sides. On that day at the beginning of December, The Steelmen ended The Blue and Black’s title reign in the Welsh Premiership Cup.
There was a penalty try, Amir Jiwa-Waliji scored, and flyhalf Evan Lloyd kept Cardiff at a safe distance from the tee as Ebbw Vale recorded a 27-15 win.
Despite losing, Alun Rees crossed the Ebbw Vale line twice from two driving mauls.
The Steelmen come into this game on a three-match winning streak against Carmarthen Quins, Merthyr and Pontypridd.
Ebbw Vale are second in the Indigo Premiership and sit on 54 points. Jason Strange’s side have not lost at home all season and has only lost to Aberavon, Pontypool, and Merthyr.
The last time The Blue and Blacks were victorious at The Ciner Glass Community Stadium was in late April last year, this saw Dan Fish and Cameron Winnett among the try scorers as Cardiff recorded an 18-13 win.
Ethan Phillips Interview:
After scoring his first try for Cardiff RFC against Pontypridd before Christmas, Ethan Phillips has successfully taken to life in the Indigo Premiership.
The Cardiff University product moved to The Arms Park after completing his University studies. Within this period, he also played for Crawshays Welsh XV.
In what was a disappointing evening up in North Wales last time, Phillips has now reached the milestone of 20 games for The Blue and Blacks.
He said: “ We were disappointed after the loss against RGC.
“We felt like we let ourselves down by not doing the basics well enough to allow us to put our game plan into place”, he added.
When talking about the return to Eugene Cross Park after 28 days, Phillips said: “The boys are excited to get stuck back into Ebbw Vale.
“After a poor performance against them the first time around, and in the first half of the last game, we found our feet and are hoping to continue down that vein.
“Ebbw Vale always brings a powerful pack who know their strengths and play to them very well.
“Their scrum and kicking game is an area we need to work on from last time to be in contention”, he added.
Phillips said: “It would be great to get off to a win, especially against a top-four side.
“This is a place we aspire to be after the rocky start to the season, with Ebbw Vale and Llandovery back-to-back.
“Getting some points out of these two games is a hard task but a task we are welcoming as a squad”, he concluded.
Team News:
Tom Rice will start his first game for The Blue and Blacks at eight as Steve Law makes a number of changes to his side that lost to RGC 1404.
Within the front row, Joey Tomlinson on his 120th appearance for The Blue and Blacks moves back to hooker after a spell at blindside flanker to replace Evan Lloyd. Will Davies-King returns and replaces Adam Williams at tighthead.
Sean Moore will make his 65th appearance and joins Ethan Phillips in the second row as he replaces Craig Hudd, who drops to blindside. He will join his twin brother Nathan Hudd in the back row.
Tom Habberfield keeps the Captain’s armband and is joined at half-back by Harrison James.
After missing last week’s game, Luke Pollock returns to outside centre and will be joined by Jason Harries, who replaces Arron Pinches at inside centre.
Matty Young is the last change to the starting 15 as he replaces Jacob Lloyd at fullback.
Cardiff RFC Starting XV:
15 Matty Young
14 Joe Goodchild
13 Luke Pollock
12 Jason Harries
11 Dewi Cross
10 Harrison James
9 Tom Habberfield (C)
1 Rhys Barratt
2 Joey Tomlinson
3 Will Davies-King
4 Sean Moore
5 Ethan Phillips
6 Craig Hudd
7 Nathan Hudd
8 Tom Rice
16 Alun Rees
17 Brynley Toms
18 Christian Brooke
19 Shaun O’Rourke
20 Ioan Pascoe
21 Jamie Hill
22 Jacob Lloyd
23 Kodie Stone
Words By Harry Tovey
HTSPORTSNEWS 