BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Celtic | Shorney sparks Ebbw comeback

Celtic League - Pool A
Ebbw Vale 45-25 Caerphilly

A hat-trick of tries by Rhys Shorney completed a remarkable comeback for 14-man Ebbw Vale in this Celtic League thriller.

Stand-off Mark Meenan contributed 20 points with the boot following the dismissal of Tyrone Morris for illegal use of the boot after just eight minutes.

Scoring details:

Ebbw Vale (18) 45:
Tries: Shorney 3, Wakeley, J Evans.
Cons: Meenan 4.
Pens: Meenan 4.

Caerphilly (18) 25:
Tries: Ashman, Tuipulotu, Williams.
Cons: Richards 2.
Pen: Richards.
DG: Richards.

Att: 1,000

The visitors sparkled in the sunshine, building an 18-3 lead before Ebbw Vale launched their fightback.

A superb midfield break by Jarrod Murphy put Owain Ashman on a clear run to the corner.

Another brilliant move, featuring backs and forwards, gave Andrew Williams a try for the visitors.

The kicking of Luke Richards added to the Steelmen's woe before Meenan launched the fightback with a penalty.

Then the powerful Shorney squeezed in at the corner before a splendid reverse pass from Meenan sent Nick Wakely over near the posts.

Caerphilly's Sione Tuipolotu is tackled by Ebbw's Ockert Booyse
Sione Tuipolotu is tackled by Ebbw's Ockert Booyse

Meenan added a penalty to tie the scores at 18-18 on the stroke of half-time.

Ebbw Vale grew in confidence with hooker Jonathan Evans crossing for a converted score.

A Meenan penalty made it 25 unanswered points before Caerphilly scrum-half Sione Tuipolotu went over for a converted try.

Shorney climaxed a wonder show by completing his try treble.

Ebbw Vale: Richard Davies; Rhys Shorney, Martin Ridley, Paul Matthews, Nick Wakely; Mark Meenan, Bryan Shelbourne; Adam Black (capt), Jon Evans, Christian Gay, Ockert Booyse, Neil Edwards, Kati Tuipolotu, Will Thomas, Tyrone Morris.
Reps: Paul Jones, Kieran Crawford, Peter Sidoli, Rhys Williams, Andy Bevan, Scott Mitchell, Matt Rowlands.

Caerphilly: Owain Ashman; Ryan Howells, Sam Cox, Jarrod Murphy, Geraint Lewis; Luke Richards, Sione Tuipolotu; Lee Manning, Chris Ferris (capt), Richard Skuse, Mark Workman, Paul Jones, Simon Grainger, Gareth Jones, Andrew Williams.
Reps: Robert Bilton, Darren Sweet, Feao Vunipola, Roddy Boobyer, Joe El-Abd, Nick Rouse, Allan Chiltern.

Referee: Gareth Simmonds (Cardiff).


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