EBBW Vale pulled off a stunning and rare win over Pontypridd at Sardis Road to end their run of three consecutive defeats in the Principality Premiership.

A superb display by the visitors’ pack – despite the absence of skipper and lock Damien Hudd through injury – rocked Ponty who looked to be completely out of sorts in their handling game. In contrast, Vale made the most of their opportunities and were well worth the victory.

Hudd’s replacement Rhys Clarke had a fine match along with fellow forwards Ross Jones and Gethin Robinson The Steelmen’s points came from a first half try by former Ponty flanker Luke Crocker, a penalty try in the 58th minute and a touchdown by wing David Williams five minutes later when they made the most of their numerical superiority after home replacement prop Ashleigh James had been sin-binned .

Outside half David Langdon kicked a penalty goal and a conversion while his replacement Iain Smerdon popped over another penalty deep in injury time.

Ponty’s points came from tries by wing Alex Webber and outside half Ceri Sweeney while Sweeney kicked two conversions and a penalty goal.

Ebbw Vale head coach Nigel Davies said after the match: “ We definitely deserved the win because we came close to scoring a couple of other tries. Yes, we have suffered three defeats recently but they were all by narrow margins and we could easily have turned them into victories. I thought our forwards were superb today and all the boys worked really hard. It’s a great result for us.”

Ponty had led 10-8 at the interval and added another eight points to their score 12 minutes after the restart when Sweeney broke through the stubborn Vale defence to score a try at the post which he also converted.

But the match was turned on its head when the Steelmen were awarded a 58th minute penalty try and then Williams outflanked the beleaguered Ponty defensive line five minutes later.

Last season Pontypridd beat the Steelmen four times – in a Swalec Cup tie, twice in the league and 28-14 in the Play-Off final last May when they were crowned as league champions.

Scorers: Pontypridd: Tries: A. Webber, C. Sweeney Pens: C. Sweeney Cons: C. Sweeney

Ebbw Vale: Tries: L. Crocker , penalty try , D. Williams Pens: D. Langdon , I. Smerdon Con: D. Langdon

Pontypridd: G. Williams ( Lewis I Williams 65); A. Webber, H. Millard (Lewis K Williams 60), D. Lockyer, capt., C. Clayton; C. Sweeney, L. Williams (J. Raikes 38); C. Phillips C. Domachowski 73), H. Dowden (A. Court (80), K. Jenkins (A. James 56), O. Sheppeard (H.Barnes 40), J. Sieniawski (S.O’Rourke 78), W. O’Connor, R. Shellard and D. Godfrey.

Ebbw Vale: C. Levesley; D. Williams, D. Franchi (N. Preece 22), A. Jones, R. Gardner; D. Langdon (I. Smerdon 80), C. Thomas (T. Edwards 48); R. Jones, M. Williams, capt., G. Robinson, R. Clarke, A. Sweet, L. Crocker, R. Kynes (C. Regan 60)and H. Keddie (E. Doyle 60).

Referee: Mr. Ian Davies (WRU).

Star man: Rhys Clarke (Ebbw Vale)