EBBW Vale’s 10-match winning streak in the Principality Premiership was finally brought to an end by Cross Keys at Pandy Park.

Tries from Geraint Rhys Jones, Lloyd Lewis and Darren Hughes proved enough for Keys as they not only prevailed in the rearranged Gwent derby but gave their hopes of claiming a play-off place a huge boost.

The Steelmen did score twice through former Keys man Ashley Sweet and, while they had the edge when it came to territory and possession, Nigel Davies’ charges ended up second best.

The travelling army of Ebbw fans gave their side a big ovation as they made their way from the changing room ready for kick-off.

But the visiting supporters were stunned just three minutes in when Keys took the lead.

Flanker Josh Skinner charge down scrum-half Tom Edwards’ clearing kick and Jones had an easy run to the line.

The Keys fly-half converted his own try to make it 8-0 early on.

Undeterred, the Steelmen regrouped and put pressure on the hosts, although the Keys defence stood strong when they were under the cosh.

Despite playing most of the first quarter in their own half, Keys still held the lead, and it was about to get even better for Greg Woods’ troops.

Receiving the ball near the touchline just outside the Ebbw 22, wing Lewis set off on a jinking run that eventually saw him touch down under the posts.

Ebbw will feel they should have brought him down but Lewis’ quick feet were a joy to watch. Jones converted.

Keys knew Ebbw were not going to lie down at 16-0 behind.

And the league leaders stormed back with a try that owed a lot to hooker Matthew Williams.

He seized on an overthrow by opposite number Ellis Shipp at a Keys lineout and then went on a marauding run towards the whitewash.

His teammates duly arrived on the scene after he had been brought down and lock Sweet forced his way over for Iain Smerdon to convert.

Keys made the first meaningful imprint on the game after the interval, Jones adding to his tally with a penalty to increase the gap to 18-8.

Ebbw were the first of the two sides to make changes and one of those, Chris Thomas, was involved in Sweet’s second try.

A rumble towards the Keys line was repelled but Sweet, as he had done in the first period, snuck over from close range. Smerdon missed the conversion.

You had to hand it to Keys. Ebbw had the better of the contest in terms of territory and possession but every time Keys got into the visitors’ half they created scoring chances.

And they might have taken their lead out to 20-14 had Jones slotted another three-pointer.

With the clock ticking down, the prospect of Ebbw’s long unbeaten run finally coming to an end was becoming more real.

Maybe it was the tension but the game became fragmented in the latter stages as Keys looked to hold on and Ebbw tried to find a winning score.

But Keys didn’t just hold on, they went on to register a third try through replacement hooker Hughes to deliver a crushing blow to the visitors.

Hughes took a short lineout some 15 metres from the Ebbw line and scampered down the flank to go over in style.

Cross Keys scorers: tries – G R Jones, Lewis, Hughes; cons – G R Jones (3); pen – G R Jones

Ebbw Vale scorers: tries – Sweet (2); con – Smerdon

Referee: Leighton Hodges

Argus star man: Geraint Rhys Jones (Cross Keys)