Ebbw Vale made the first advances, powering into the home twenty-two before the Ponty defence poached a turnover to clear. The first 10 minutes of the game were scrappy with Ponty striving hard to build up momentum, working off a strong scrum platform. Home pressure was eventually rewarded as outside half Ceri Sweeney kicked a penalty with 14 minutes gone.
The contest was close fought, with a series of turnovers and counter turnovers and neither side dominant. Sweeney saw another penalty attempt rebound off a post before hooker Huw Dowden rampaged into the visitors’ defence, the ball whipped out for winger Alex Webber to cross for a try in the corner, expertly converted by Sweeney.
Ebbw Vale responded with a series of concerted drives upfield, allowing outside half Dai Langdon to hoist over a penalty on the half hour mark. The game as a whole was picking up momentum, mostly provided by the visitors who pressed hard to send flanker Luke Crocker over for a corner flag try. The Steelmen scavenged a turnover and countered at pace, the Ponty defence just holding out for an interval advantage of 10-8.
Both teams went at each other as the second half ensued, the contest being unrefined but uncompromising, a real dogfight for supremacy. There were many errors committed, not all picked up by the officials, making for a thrilling encounter.
Ponty took line-out ball to launch a series of concerted drives into opposition territory, the ball popped out for Sweeney to slice through for a try which he converted from in front of the posts. Ebbw again launched a big counter, pounding a beleaguered home defence and eventually awarded a penalty try by referee Ian Davies, with Ponty hooker Ashleigh James yellow carded in the process.
The game was poised on a knife edge going into its final quarter with the visitors getting the better in terms of possession and territory, launching a wide attack which winger David Williams rounded off with a try which Langdon converted.
Flanker Rhys Shellard led a Ponty charge in response, a series of re-set scrums and line-out drives keeping his team on the front foot, awarded numerous penalties but unable to fashion a breakthrough. Having been camped in the Ebbw twenty-two and chasing a crucial match winning score, Ponty conceded turnovers and allowed their opponents to counter from deep. Into injury time a period of sustained Ebbw Vale pressure culminated in a penalty award which replacement Iain Smerdon converted to seal victory.
