EBBW Vale bounced back from the weekend’s loss to Llandovery with a bonus-point win at St Helen’s, but they were pushed hard by the Principality Premiership’s bottom club.

The Steelmen got off to an inauspicious start when centre Liam Jones was sent to the bin for a tip tackle three minutes in.

Swansea fly-half Jac Wilson made no mistake with the resulting penalty and was on target again after an intentional knock-on from opposite number Josh Lewis.

The home side belied their position at the foot of the table in the first half, while Ebbw were unable to assert any dominance in terms of possession and territory.

Home centre Jed Evans then cut a great line just outside the Ebbw 22 to sprint under the posts, although how he was allowed to score from first phase ball will concern the men from Gwent.

At 13-0 down, Lewis replied with a penalty, only for Wilson to respond in kind.

Try scoring opportunities for the Steelmen in the first period were few and far between.

Winger Chris Levesley almost crossed late on but for a superb tackle by Josh Martin, before Lewis hit the post with a penalty and Ebbw trailed 16-3 at the break.

One facet of the game where Ebbw did dominate was in the scrum, and it was from an early second half penalty earned by the pack that the Steelmen hit back.

The trusted lineout catch and drive paid dividends as Ronny Kynes crashed over. Lewis converted to make it 16-10.

Swansea’s response was immediate and only a last-ditch tackle prevented lock Tudor Hughes touching down.

An infringement at the breakdown near his line saw Swansea’s Rory Gallagher sin-binned, and soon after Ebbw number eight Ethan Doyle got the visitors’ second try from close range.

Lewis added the extras and the Steelmen were now in front at 17-16.

Ebbw then pulled eight points clear when, following a yellow for Swansea’s Paul John, flanker Rhys Clarke burrowed over for Lewis to convert.

The bonus point was secured thanks to hooker Joe Franchi’s try, but the hosts weren’t finished and John’s converted score reduced the deficit to 29-23 with seconds left.

However, Ebbw held out to move up to fifth in the table.

Ebbw Vale: D Haymond, C Levesley (C Duncan 68), N Preece (J Howells 35), L Jones, R Gardner; J Lewis, C Thomas (B Ellis 76); I George (R Sevenoaks 58), J Franchi (N Thomas 78), G Robinson (R Jones 41), J Bartlett (J Jacas 62), D Hudd (capt), R Clarke, R Kynes (D Rubasniak 76), E Doyle

Swansea: Tries – J Evans, P John; Cons – J Wilson (2); Pens – J Wilson (3)

Ebbw Vale: Tries – R Kynes, E Doyle, R Clarke, J Franchi; Cons – J Lewis (3); Pen – J Lewis

Referee: Simon Mills

Argus star man: Ronny Kynes (Ebbw Vale)