Ebbw talisman Williams: Hard work paid off with the Premiership title... and now we want more!

The Steelmen's remarkable rise back from their 2010 relegation was completed at Sardis Road on Sunday when they not only beat champions Pontypridd on their own patch but hammered them 38-12.

There was nothing but unadulterated joy at the 'House of Pain' for the large Ebbw contingent and few of those who celebrated the title wildly on the pitch deserved it more than Williams.

The 34-year-old from Oakdale has stuck by the club through thick and thin since playing for the youth section and under-21s. His 13th campaign at Eugene Cross Park will be one that he never forgets.

"This means everything," he said. "We've worked so hard over the years for this moment and it means the world.

"Moments like these are why we play the game. Rugby makes us happy and I suppose it is our release from life, because it can be awful at times.

"We worked so hard in the four years we were out of the Premiership – everybody at the club stuck together and the core of the team is still here.

"It shows the team spirit here and Ebbw Vale is a family, even the boys who have left in recent years stay in contact because it is such a good club to play for.

"The fans on the bank were outsinging the Ponty fans on Sunday. Games like that are why they come and why we play."

The work ethic of the Steelmen was shown in a remarkable first half in which Ponty dominated possession and territory only to come up against a purple wall, Ebbw repelling their hosts' attacks and then striking through flanker Ronny Kynes and wing David Williams for a half-time lead of 14-0.

The duo repeated the trick in the second half before full-back Dan Haymond sealed the deal with a breakaway score.

"Ponty had a lot of possession in the first half but we dug deep and defended strongly. We stayed tight as a team and then when we got opportunities we scored points," said Williams.

"All the hard work paid off. There would have been some sore bodies on Monday and sore heads but it's all worth it."

And Williams isn't content to simply have a Premiership title to go along with the two Division One East and two Swalec Championship triumphs.

"I've signed for next year and we want more," said the hooker, who works for a door manufacturer in Cwmbran.

"We were disappointed not to make it further in the Swalec Cup after losing to Llandovery at home in the quarter-finals. We want to win the Premiership against next year and then the year after.

"When I finish playing hopefully the team will continue to challenge. We want bigger and better things."