RHYS Jones was the hero as his late drop-goal snatched victory for Ebbw Vale and ended Cardiff’s nine-game winning run in the process, writes Jay Bayford.

The Steelmen controlled the majority of the first half and would have been disappointed to only hold a slender 7-3 advantage at the break.

They saw almost all of the the ball in the opening minutes of the game but it took them a quarter of an hour to break the deadlock when Rhys Clarke set up number eight Lewis Young for the opening score.

Jones was accurate with the resulting conversion to give Ebbw a deserved 7-0 lead.

The hosts continued to dictate play and almost added to their tally but a last-gasp tackle on Paul King stopped him from running to the try line.

Cardiff were given a lifeline when Gareth Thompson’s penalty handed them their first points of the afternoon and that saw them enjoy a rare spell of possession, but they couldn’t add to their lead despite a yellow card to Ebbw flanker Lloyd Evans.

The absence made little difference as Ebbw continued to attack and were unfortunate that Jones’ penalty from the halfway line fell short.

They were made to rue that miss minutes after the restart when Cardiff prop Thomas Davies dived over the whitewash to put the visitors ahead for the first time. Thompson converted.

Will Rees-Hole picked up a bad injury and limped off the pitch but full-back Ed Howley darted over the try line once action resumed to keep Cardiff in control. Thompson continued his form from the tee with the conversion.

The visitors opened up a 13-point gap with another Thompson penalty but the Steelmen set-up a thrilling finale when Evans redeemed himself for his earlier yellow card with a try. Jones added the conversion to move to within five points of Steve Law’s men.

Evans was at it again moments later for Ebbw but Jones missed the target with the conversion, which kept Cardiff ahead.

But with seconds left on the clock, Jones went for glory with a drop goal that broke Cardiff hearts.

Ebbw Vale: D Haymond; P King (S Thomas 60), C Meyer, J Botica, T Fricker; R Jones, D Jones (M Flanagan 60); L Garrett (R Jones 76), R Francis (J Franchi 60), R Sevenoaks (K Parker 56), R Clarke, A Sweet (capt), C Regan, L Evans, L Young.

Scorers: Tries: L Young, L Evans (2); Cons: R Jones (2); Drop Goal: R Jones.

Cardiff: E Howley; T James (M Powell 41), A Jones, W Rees-Hole (S Jones 50), J Gatt; G Thompson, M Roberts; T Davies, J Tomlinson (capt, P Lloyd (I Jenkins 71), B Murphy (S Pailor 68), K Martin, S Lewis-Hughes, Z O’Driscoll, T Daley (M Allen 50).

Scorers: Tries: T Davies, E Howley; Cons: G Thompson (2); Pens: G Thompson (2).

Star man: Rhys Jones