Strange sets his sights on champs after stunning rally

EBBW Vale staged a major second-half comeback to overcome Carmarthen Quins 45-35 and set up another showdown with Llandovery in the Super Rygbi Cymru play-off semi-finals.

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The Quins came into the quarter-final clash as big underdogs but threw down the gauntlet to the Steelmen with three first-half tries from Louis Rees, Jac Howells and Lucca Setaro to take a 10-point lead into the break.

Ifan Davies opened the scoring for the visitors with a penalty and then converted all three tries.

Ebbw hit back with a rolling maul try from skipper Joe Franchi with Evan Lloyd converting and then picked up a penalty try.

A try from Canadian international Sion Parry cut the gap to three points at the start of the second half before Davies added another penalty.

Then came two more trademark tries from Franchi to complete his hat-trick.

Scrum-half Gruff Tough then raced clear and Lloyd's goal-kicking pushed the home side into a 12-point lead.

Setaro grabbed a second for Quins, but a final Lloyd penalty sealed the deal.

Delighted Ebbw head coach Jason Strange said: “The players once again showed a real good spirit.

“Even though our accuracy was off at times, that togetherness they showed was fantastic and it sets us up for another semi-final.”