EBBW Vale had to fight hard for their win over Bargoed, only securing the points with two tries in the last 12 minutes of the game, writes Ian Golden.

Bargoed took a fourth minute lead after Josh Prosser kicked a simple penalty goal from close range.

Ebbw were quick to level the scores, Rhys Jones was just five minutes out when he simply placed his kick over the bar.

It was 6-3 on 15 minutes. Ebbw’s Ross Jones pulled down a driving maul and Prosser kicked well for his second score of the game.

But Ebbw weren’t behind long as they scored the first try of the game a minute later, Jack Dixon doing well to shrug off his markers and dive over in the corner. Rhys Jones converted well.

They soon followed that up with a second try. A high lob was nicely caught by Lewis Young who ran under the sticks, Jones easily adding the extras. 17-6 on 20 minutes.

If only the second part of the first half was as just as thrilling, but unfortunately, most of the action took part in the middle third of the field. Ebbw increased their lead three minutes before the interval when Jones kicked his second penalty.

But Bargoed pressed for a late score, the fans appealing for a penalty try as the half entered stoppage time. Finally, after countless penalties given to Bargoed, one of which resulted in Ebbw’s Dai Jones seeing yellow, Duane Dyer reached out for a try, 50 minutes after kick-off! Prosser missed the conversion and Ebbw were 20-11 up at the break.

Jones’ next penalty attempt, five minutes into the second half, was short of the crossbar, but Prosser was more accurate six minutes later to bring Bargoed even closer to Ebbw’s lead.

With neither side managing to gain much ground from the line-outs, most fans knew it was going to take something special to win the game, and Dyer’s second try, scored on 65 minutes, fitting that mark, catching a long pass to dive over in the corner. Prosser’s kick put Bargoed into a one-point lead.

That advantage lasted two minutes as Ebbw themselves showed their skills, Lloyd Evans breaking through the line from 25 metres out. Jones converted before adding a long-range penalty to secure the win.

Josh Lewis cemented the win, scoring Ebbw’s bonus point in the final move of the match.

BARGOED Carwyn Penny; D Dyer, D Humphries, C Jones (J Howells 64), B Nightingale (M Billett 77); J Prosser, J Leadbetter (I Burgwin 77); J Lavender (M Kavanagh 77), R Buckley, D Suter (A Gardner-Key 60); L Blacker (B Morgan 59), G Edmunds (J Locke 70), B Fry, G Rogers, A Powell.

Tries: D Dyer (2). Conversions: Prosser. Penalties: J Prosser (3)

EBBW VALE C Meyer; D Howells, J Lewis, J Dixon, T Fricker; Rhys Jones, D Jones; Ross Jones (L Garrett 70), R Francis, R Sevenoaks (C Coleman 55); R Clarke, A Sweet, C Regan, L Evans (J Davies 72), L Young (K Parker 57).

Tries: J Dixon, L Young, L Evans, J Lewis. Conversions: Rhys Jones (3). Penalties: Rhys Jones (3)

Ebbw Vale Star Man : Rhys Jones