With both sides fighting for Premiership survival, the match was destined to be a nervous, attritional occasion with the focus on avoiding mistakes rather than trying to be creative. Although Ebbw had more attacking threat, and scored both the game’s tries, their indiscipline proved costly and gave the Ravens’ Owen Howe 8 shots at goal, 6 of which he converted.

After an early Dan Haymond penalty miss, Dawid Rubasniak touched down from a textbook lineout drive. Haymond converted. Ebbw were dominant in the first quarter, not conceding a penalty until 20 minutes. Although Howe missed his first attempt, he was on target twice before half time, with Haymond’s superb long range effort giving the Steelmen a 10-6 lead.

Ebbw’s advantage was reduced to 1 point when Howe notched his third penalty, but with Bridgend down to 14, Haymond had a chance to regain the lead. His attempt drifted agonisingly wide, and Howe scored again to put the visitors 12-10 up as the final quarter beckoned. Ebbw went ahead when Chris Coleman went over from a powerful maul and Ebbw led 15-12, but, as the game never left the area between the two 22m lines, coughed up penalties that Howe nailed to secure a prize win for his team.

Lewis Young was Ebbw’s Man of the Match for a never-say-die performance in a hard working pack.

1 Ross Jones 2 Joe Franchi 3 Chris Coleman 4 Dan Hill 5 Ashley Sweet (capt)6 Cameron Regan
7 Dawid Rubasniak 8 Lewis Young 9 Dan Babos 10 Dai Langdon 11 Ewan Rosser 12 Aneurin Owen
13 Dom Franchi 14 Paul King 15 Dan Haymond
16 Will Griffiths 17 Luke Garrett 18 Rob Sevenoaks 19 Max Ayling 20 Ben Sier 21 Matthew Flanagan 22 Dafydd Thomas 23 Ethan Phillips