EBBW VALE left it late after being given an almighty scare at the Brewery Field, but a brace from flanker Ronny Kynes edged the Steelmen past Bridgend.

Outside half James Dixon missed a chance to boot the hosts in front after they were awarded a penalty on six minutes following a scrum. But it was the visitors who got the scoreboard ticking on 11 minutes, working the ball through the hands from right to left, with lock Josh Jacas going over.

Iain Smerdon missed the conversion but the visitors’ outside half had an easy penalty in front of the posts to make it 8-0 five minutes later, after the hosts were penalised for repeat infringements.

However, despite looking out of sorts for much of the first half, a slip 40 metres out let Bridgend in seven minutes before the break - with wing Tom O’Flaherty seizing the opportunity, picking the ball up and showing a clean pair of heels to speed towards the line.

Dixon added the extras to pull Bridgend back to within a point, before his penalty – after the visitors drifted offside at a scrum – gave them a 10-8 half time lead.

But the visitors re-took the lead on 55 minutes with Kynes going over for their second try, converted by Smerdon to make it 15-10.

But Bridgend hit back again through O’Flaherty on 65 minutes, converted by Dixon, to edge the hosts back in front 17-15 but, despite another Dixon penalty, the Steelmen were not to be denied as further tries from skipper Damien Hudd and Kynes saw them home – one of which was converted - and also earn a bonus point.

Bridgend: Tries: T O’Flaherty (2); Cons: J Dixon (2); Pens: J Dixon (2)

Ebbw Vale: Tries: J Jacas, R Kynes (2), D Hudd; Cons I Smerdon (2): ; Pens: I Smerdon