FOR the past four seasons Ebbw Vale maintained their lead at the top of the table by blowing teams away but against Aberavon they had to grind it out.

The Steelmen are still setting the pace in the Principality Premiership but the relegation-threatened Wizards pushed them all the way at Eugene Cross Park.

It was the first time this season that Ebbw failed to add a bonus point to a victory yet head coach Jason Strange was a happy man after seeing his charges dig deep to take the spoils 14-9.

"An ugly win is better than a pretty loss and it certainly wasn't a great spectacle," said the former fly-half.

"The character and the spirit, especially in the second half when playing into the wind, was really pleasing and full credit to the players. It was a stop-start game but overall we deserved the win."

The Steelmen, back in the top flight after a pair of Division One East titles and two Swalec Championship successes, were not at their most fluent and were frustrated by Aberavon's cunning work at the ruck that prevented them from enjoying quick ball.

But Vale got the job done and maintained their one-point lead over second-placed Pontypridd thanks to openside flanker Ronny Kynes' try from a driving lineout in the final quarter.

It was 3-3 at the break after a turgid half with Ethan Davies booting the hosts into a sixth-minute lead and opposite number Ceiron Thomas responding after 25 when full-back Craig Duncan was forced to kill the ball under his sticks, a wise decision that cost three points rather than seven but earned 10 minutes in the sin bin.

Ebbw had the advantage of a stiff wind in the first half so turned down shots at goal in injury time to try and force their way over.

However, they found the Wizards' defence to be a lot more rigid than it had been seven days earlier when they were thumped 85-0 by Yorkshire Carnegie.

The pressure led to visiting hooker Ieuan Davies being yellow-carded before the break but the man disadvantage didn't stop Aberavon from edging in front through Thomas' right boot four minutes after the restart.

No sooner had Davies returned than the Wizards were back down to 14 with centre Joe Gage punished for another breakdown offence.

Ebbw attempted to barge their way into the lead but the visitors held firm, forcing Strange's team to settle for a leveller by Davies.

But their driving lineout, a sharp weapon that had been blunted by Aberavon, finally got them the win with 15 minutes left when Kynes profited from eight-man effort.

Thomas and Davies traded penalties in the closing stages before the Steelmen nearly shot themselves in the foot at the death.

Their young 10, who kicked nicely all afternoon long, shanked a penalty to touch and Wizards centre Will Price raced through a disorganised midfield into the 22.

Ebbw conceded a pair of penalties and saw centre Adam Jones yellow-carded but showed resolve to cling on, keeping their place on top of the pile.

Ebbw Vale: C Duncan, W Cunliffe, N Preece, A Jones, O Williams, E Davies, R Downes, R Jones (J Lavender 71), M Williams, R Sevenoaks (G Robinson 59), D Hudd (captain, J Jacas 79), A Sweet, C Regan, R Kynes, H Keddie (R Clarke 71).

Scorers: try – R Kynes; penalties – E Davies (3)

Yellow cards: C Duncan, A Jones

Aberavon: M Williams, R Carter, J Gage (M Jenkins 61), W Price, S Andrews, C Thomas, D Pritchard (A Williams 64), C John (R Jenkins 40), I Davies, N Thomas (R Harford 64), I Moore (captain), S Williams (B Thomas 31), L Purnell (G Harvey46-49, J Bija 66), N Brown, R Dudley-Jones.

Scorers: penalties

Yellow cards: I Davies, J Gage

Referee: Rhys Thomas (WRU)

Argus star man: Cameron Regan