EBBW Vale went to the top of the Gwent Foster’s Challenge Cup group after beating Cross Keys 28-20 in Ystrad Mynach.

The Steelmen triumphed on a perishing night at the Dragons’ training base to overtake Bedwas at the top of Pool Three, although the Bridge Field outfit are still in the box seat for a place in the semi-finals of the development competition.

Ebbw led 14-0 approaching half-time in the game that had been moved from Eugene Cross Park to the 3G surface thanks to tries by centre Nathan Preece and Wales Under-18s back row forward Dawid Rubasniak.

However, scrum-half James Leadbeater went over for Keys with fly-half Lewys Montague converting to make it 14-8 at the break.

Tries by number eight Adam Powell and centre Phil Williams then gave the ‘visitors’ a 20-14 lead and it looked to be their game given that Ebbw hooker Joe Franchi had been shown a second yellow card.

However, a penalty try after a series of close-range scrums and a try in the corner by Dragons Academy wing Jared Rosser secured a bonus point victory for the Steelmen.

Ebbw Vale lead the way in Pool three with 12 points from five games, Bedwas are second with 11 from three, Keys have six from three while Newport didn’t emerge with anything from their solitary game at Eugene Cross Park.

Bedwas will take a giant step towards the semi-finals if they triumph in their home encounter with Newport on Saturday afternoon.