Ebbw Vale’s chances of making the end of season play offs had a huge boost at Church Bank where they ran out impressive three tries to two winners against the in-form Drovers.

The Steelmen have just two games left – away at Llanelli and Cardiff – and look to have a favourite’s chance of securing one of the two remaining play off places, behind runaway leaders Pontypridd.

In their first game back in the Premiership, back in early September, Ebbw had pipped Llandovery 30-29 and they completed a noteworthy double with this excellent win against a side that had beaten Carmarthen Quins 46-10 the week before.

Victory was down to a terrific first half performance in which the Ebbw pack were dominant in all areas and particularly the loose where the back of Rhys Clarke, Harrison Keddie and Ronny Kynes reigned supreme.

“A great win for us” said coach Jason Strange “thanks to the best 40 minutes play in the first half we have put in all season.”

“That will give the boys a big boost for the remaining two games which we know will be hard at Llanelli and Cardiff.”

Llandovery had the advantage of the wind and took the lead with a straight penalty from young fly half Steffan Marshall and although they did most of the attacking early on found the Ebbw defence solid and well organised.

Marshall then had a pass intercepted by the alert Tom James and the wing sprinted away from half way for a try conveted by fly half Ian Smerdon.

The Ebbw pack had the advantage at the scrum but were particularly strong at the breakdown where skipper Damian Hudd and the back row of Clarke, Keddie and Kines were omnipresent.

A break from centre Carl Meyer carved out another converted try for James and with the home pack on the back foot in almost all areas, a third try for the visitors was on the cards.

Llandovery were penalised at a scrum, Ebbw opted for the line out and a surging maul drove Kynes over for an inevitable try.

Even a yellow card for No 8 Harrison Keddie failed to stop away momentum and the 19-3 interval lead was a fair reflection of play.

Llandovery did come back in the second half, inspired by their bobby dazzling scrum half Lee Rees who got a well taken try before a Smerdon penalty made it 22-8.

But the Steelmen had command of the loose and although Rees got a brilliant solo try near the end, there was little danger to the men from Gwent.

Llandovery: M Evans; Rhys Williams, M Jacobs, R Jones, Aaron Warren; S Marshall (S Marshall 64), L Rees; D Howells (D Williams 55), L Lewis (T Ball 74), G Cunniffe (A Jones 64), B Griffiths (S Miles 74), M Harbut, P Day (capt), R Brooks (R Morgans 80), R Rees (A Green 79) Tries: L Rees (2) Pen: S Marshall Ebbw Vale: D Haymond; O Williams, J Howells, C Meyer, T James (T Watkins 80); I Smerdon, C Thomas (R Downes 55); R Jones (J Lavender 60), M Williams (R Francis 79), R Sevenoaks, D Hudd (capt), A Sweet, R Clarke (C Regan60), H Keddie, R Kynes Tries: T James (2), R Kynes Cons: I Smerdon (2) Pen: I Smerdon Referee: N Hennessy (Cardiff) Man of the Match: R Kynes (Ebbw Vale)