CENTRE Nathan Preece led the charge by scoring a hat-trick of tries as the Steelmen put Skewen to the sword in this one-sided WRU National Cup tie, writes Geoff Champion.

Ebbw scored nine tries in a confident showing that saw the Neath side struggling to keep the scoreline respectable.

Number-eight Jack Goodey also enjoyed his day with a brace of second half touchdowns, while centre Gareth Maule, outside-half Dai Langdon, wing James Lewis and replacement forward Dawid Rubasniak also crossed.

Langdon also had his kicking boots on, adding six conversions to end with 17 points.

Skewen’s troublesome afternoon was only relieved by wing Mathew Billet’s try towards the end of the first half following a fine solo run by James Ball who added the conversion.

Ebbw were hoping to use this tie as a springboard for stepping up their performances in the league.

However, the Steelmen were not underestimating the challenge of Skewen, who were sitting sixth in the Championship table.

The teams observed a minute’s silence before kick-off in memory of stalwart supporter Howard Thomas and Albert Jackson, an accomplished hooker at Eugene Cross Park in the 1950s and 60s.

Ebbw started strongly and led 12-0 after just 13 minutes.

Preece snapped up the ball inside the visitors’ 22 and darted over for a try which Langdon converted. Then a smart attack down the left ended with Maule charging over for an unconverted touchdown.

Skewen were struggling to gain any territorial advantage but Ball had a chance to open his side’s account in the 16th minute, only to make a hash of his penalty attempt.

The hosts continued to dominate and emphasised their class when Langdon stormed over for a 24th-minute try which he converted, before Preece grabbed his second, quickly followed by a try for Lewis, which was also converted by Langdon.

Skewen finally managed to get on the scoreboard when a fine break by Ball saw Billet cross under the posts. Ball converted.

But there was no stopping Ebbw’s strong-running Preece, and he completed his hat-trick in first-half injury time with Langdon again adding the conversion to make the interval score 38-7.

Goodey grabbed a brace of tries in the second half and Rubasniak also crossed with Langdon kicking another two conversions to push the hosts’ total past the half-century mark.

Scorers: Ebbw Vale: Tries – N Preece (3), G Maule, D Langdon, J Lewis, J Goodey (2), D Rubasniak, Cons – D Langdon (6)

Skewen: Try – M Billet, Con – J Ball

Ebbw Vale: D Haymond; J Lewis, G Maule (S Kajkic 61), N Preece (D Franchi 40), W Talbot-Davies; D Langdon, D Jones (R Lewis 40); I George (R Jones 40), J Franchi (J Bowen 40), G Robinson (R Sevenoaks 40), J Bartlett, D Hudd (capt) (L Randall 52), R Clarke (D Rubasniak 52), R Kynes, J Goodey.

Skewen: A Rowlands (A Buselli 63); M Billet, T Kingdom, K James, J Adderley; J Kirkhouse, J Ball; J Reeves, S Bond (R Hughes 45), J Gethin (M Jones 40), E Price (capt) (O Thompson 45), A Mogford (R Jenkins 40), R Davies, L Dunsford (L Edwards 68), J Lewis.

Referee: Aled Evans (WRU)

Man of the match: Nathan Preece (Ebbw Vale)