EBBW Vale were victorious over Cardiff in their penultimate Principality Premiership match of the campaign, writes Ross Dawson.

The Steelmen opened the scoring early on in the match as Cardiff crumbled under the pressure, conceding a penalty for side-entry into the ruck.

Dai Langdon slotted the ball between the posts with ease, giving the visitors the lead.

Ebbw looked the better side during the opening passages, only letting Cardiff leave their own half after forcing them to concede several penalties from the scrum. Another kick from Langdon doubled Ebbw’s lead

In the 22nd minute, Ebbw’s Toby Fricker burst through the Cardiff defence, offloading the ball to Lewis Young who was stopped on the five-metre line.

Fricker was re-united with the ball in the middle of the Cardiff 22, slithering through and under the posts for the first try of the day.

In the 37th minute, after Ebbw cleared the ball out of their own half, James Lewis slotted a lovely grubber kick through the Cardiff defence.

A remarkable try-saving tackle from Corey Howells saved the hosts from conceding another try.

However, Lewis went down after the hit and remained motionless. The winger rose to his feet but was subbed off for Srdan Majkic in the 37th minute.

Ebbw finished the half on top with a 13-0 lead.

Cardiff finally put points on the board two minutes after the restart as No10 Gareth Thompson comfortably converted a penalty right in front of the posts.

However, Ebbw increased their lead in the 50th minute as Luke Shore finished off a nicely-worked passage of play started by Langdon.

Langdon then converted to give the visitors a 3-20 lead.

In the 62nd minute, Cardiff managed to score their first try after mounting pressure on the Ebbw defence as replacement front-rower Ian Jenkins crashed over the line.

Outside half Thompson then successfully kicked the conversion, reducing Ebbw’s lead to 20-10.

With seven minutes left, Llywarch Ap Myrddin scored a second try for Cardiff. Another conversion from Thompson narrowed Ebbw’s lead to just three points.

In the dying moments, Cardiff hammered away at Ebbw’s backline, but an impressive defensive display secured a win for the visitors.

Cardiff: K Brown (C Young 17), N Huish (I Jenkins 50) , P Lloyd (A Court 71), J Miles, B White, T Oliver (J Little 50), L Crocker (capt) ( T Wilson 50), T Daley, G Watkin (N Griffiths 40), G Thompson, C Howells, W Rees-Hole, J Phillips (L Bowden 26), A Jiwa-Waji, (J Haven 65) L Ap Myrddin.

Scorers: Tries: I Jenkins, L Ap Myrddin; Cons: G Thompson (3)

Ebbw Vale: J Harries (R Francis 45), J Franchi (R Jones 45), C Hicks (R Sevenoaks 45), K Parker, L Randall, C Regan, R Kynes (capt), L Young, S Ireland, D Langdon, T Fricker, D Franchi, P King, J Lewis (S Majkic 37), L Shore.

Scorers: Tries: T Fricker, L Shore; Cons: D Langdon (4)

Ebbw Star man: Dai Langdon