A FANTASTIC team performance means Ebbw Vale have the opportunity of settling last season’s score and defeat by Pontypridd after they beat Llandovery to make the Premiership Grand Final for the second year running.

The wily and gutsy Steelmen thoroughly deserved their victory over the Drovers in a play-off thriller at Church Bank, just seven days after the West Walians won the Swalec Cup at the Millennium Stadium against Carmarthen Quins.

Vale’s Grand Final showdown with Pontypridd on Sunday at Sardis Road is a carbon copy of the 2015 final as the Gwent seek their first ever Premiership crown against their opponents looking for a fifth successive title.

A frantic and scrappy opening quarter saw both sides sparring for supremacy with referee Craig Evans’ whistle the feature following a number of penalties conceded by the two for almost constant offences committed in the contact area.

It was the visitors who took the lead when openside flanker Ronny Kynes crossed for a try after 23 minutes from a driving lineout to give his team a 6-0 advantage.

Fly-half Dai Langdon came close to adding the extras, but his conversion hit the posts.

Vale soon extended their lead with a superb try created by Dan Haymond, the full-back running back a loose kick from over halfway, tearing through the Llandovery defence before passing to wing Jared Rosser, who finished in style.

Langdon superbly converted from wide out to make it 14-0 after 27 minutes.

But back came the Drovers on the half hour mark through No 7 Shaun Miles who powered over from a driving lineout for try, finely converted by outside-half Jack Maynard.

With just under five minutes before half-time, Langdon gave Ebbw a 16-8 lead after he slotted over a penalty.

Vale lost tighthead prop Gethin Robinson to the sin bin just before the interval for side entry at the breakdown and scrum-half Chris Thomas pulled off a wonderful last-ditch tackle to deny centre Craig Woodall a try as the first half ended with the visitors eight point ahead.

Despite being down to 14 men, it was the Steelmen who started the second half the stronger and started dominating the scrum, a second penalty by Langdon making it 18-8.

Vale’s excellent defence and hard-working pack gave the No 10 the chance to extend their lead to 12 points with just over 15 minutes to go.

Number eight Richard Brooks got the Drovers back into it with a converted try from a driving lineout to set up a grandstand finish, Ebbw digging deep to take the spoils.

Llandovery scorers: Tries – S Miles 30, R Brooks 67, Conversions – J Maynard 30, 67.

Ebbw Vale scorers: Tries – R Kynes 23, J Rosser 27, Conversion – D Langdon 27, Penalties – Langdon 36, 49, 63.

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)