THE "impossible dream" lives on for Ebbw Vale after they overcame Gwent rivals Cross Keys in a titanic play-off battle to book their place in Sunday's Principality Premiership Grand Final.

In their first season back among Welsh club rugby's elite after their promotion as runaway Swalec Championship winners, the Steelmen are just one game away from securing what would be a magical triumph.

Ebbw could be the Nottingham Forest of the Premiership, an echo of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor's side who won the 1978 old English football First Division in their inaugural campaign back in the top flight.

Pontypridd stand in Vale's way, with the reigning champions having home advantage in the Grand Final which takes place at Sardis Road on Sunday, May 17.

In front of 2,000 fans at Eugene Cross Park on Saturday night, the Steelmen were full value for their 27-17 victory in a pulsating encounter.

They led 21-9 at the interval but had to withstand a gutsy fightback by Keys who were aiming for a successive crack at the title after losing last year's Grand Final to Pontypridd.

Vale built up that 12-point half-time advantage thanks to two well-taken tries through wing Tom James and loosehead prop John Lavender and a conversion and three penalties from the boot of No 10 Iain Smerdon, cancelled out by three kicks at goal by his opposite number Ethan Davies.

Keys No 8 Adam Powell crossed for an unconverted try in the second half before a Davies penalty clawed the score back to 21-17 with 20 minutes to go.

But the Steelmen's Newport Gwent Dragons centre Carl Meyer settled their nerves with two fine long range penalties.

Vale head coach Jason Strange had spoken in the build-up to of "making the impossible possible" after their four-year exile from the Premiership by going on to win the league for the first time.

After the weekend's breathless victory, he said: "The dream lives on. It's a fantastic achievement and we are going to enjoy the moment.

"We really wanted to win this one and it was a victory that was the culmination of an outstanding effort by our players, supporters and directors over the last five years.

"Our main objective this season was get some respect back. This club means the world to me. It was the one that gave me my first opportunity as a 17-year-old player and to come back here and enjoy success as a coach is a wonderful feeling."

Cross Keys head coach Greg Woods was magnanimous in defeat and wished their Gwent neighbours all the best against Pontypridd on Sunday.

He said: "I thought we were very inaccurate, put ourselves under pressure and were unable to build any momentum really. Ebbw Vale thoroughly deserved their win.

"Good luck to them and I hope we have a Gwent winner of the Premiership this season."