EBBW Vale returned to the scene of their famous Principality Premiership triumph to enjoy another stunning victory against Pontypridd that they hope will kick-start the defence of their title.

The Steelmen romped to a five-try, 41-25 victory at Pontypridd with scores by flanker Ronny Kynes (2), wing Jared Rosser, number eight Ethan Doyle and fly-half Josh Lewis.

The nuts and bolts of the game are as vital on artificial surface as they are in the mud and Ebbw bullied their hosts in the scrum and the lineout while in Lewis they had the classiest player on the plastic paddock.

When the teams met at Sardis Road in May it was for the Premiership trophy but this time the prize was points to ease fears of missing out on the top half when the controversial January split takes place.

At 7.15pm Ponty sat sixth while the champions were eighth, both teams yet to hit their straps after unconvincing starts by their high standards.

The game had been delayed from week two because the new plastic surface at Sardis was not ready but Ebbw’s start in the rearranged fixture was pitch perfect.

They piled the pressure on at a scrum to earn a penalty that could have yielded three simple points but instead captain Damien Hudd ordered a kick to the corner that earned seven, Kynes barging over and Lewis adding the extras.

The fly-half promptly banged over a penalty and it was 10-0 to the Steelmen with eight minutes on the clock but after their hard work they gifted their hosts a settler when full-back Chris Levesley made a hash of trying to trap an up and under with his boot, the ball bouncing into the grateful arms of wing Dale Stuckey.

Ceri Sweeney converted and his 25th minute penalty, levelled the scores, Ebbw having lost their way and playing a bit too loose.

But the visitors were back in front in the 29th minute with a remarkable score when Ponty overthrew an attacking lineout five metres out, Kynes hacked on, right wing Ryan Gardner gathered and flung a wide pass (home fans yelling “forward”, visiting ones “flat”) to put Rosser over.

Lewis had his kicking boots on and converted superbly before adding a booming penalty for a 20-10 half-time lead.

Ponty came out firing in the second half and Sweeney rewarded their efforts with a penalty only for the Steelmen to swiftly stretch their advantage thanks to their super scrum – Doyle’s name went on the scoresheet but his seven pals share the credit.

Lewis made no mistake to make it 27-13 and then, after a peach of a touchfinder from a penalty, added the extras against from a driving lineout try for Kynes.

The fly-half then finished off a super move, Gardner and flanker Rhys Clarke prominent, to make it 41-13 with quarter of an hour left.

The normally boisterous Sardis faithful were subdued but Sweeney gave them something to cheer with a neat solo score and the lively Stuckey’s second put them a try away from a bonus but Ebbw rallied to leave them pointless, leapfrogging Ponty to sixth in the process.

Ponty scorers: tries – D Stuckey (2), C Sweeney; conversions – C Sweeney (2); penalties – C Sweeney (2)

Ebbw scorers: tries – J Franchi, J Rosser. E Doyle, R Kynes, J Lewis; conversions – J Lewis (5); penalties – J Lewis (2)

Argus star man: Josh Lewis