OWEN Howe put the boot into Ebbw Vale to earn Bridgend a priceless second victory of the season at Eugene Cross Park, writes Ian Golden.

The Ravens’ full back landed six penalties to steal the show and help his side close the gap on fellow strugglers Ebbw to a mere three points at the bottom as the sides get set to reach the half-way mark in the Indigo Group Premiership season next weekend.

As expected, the match was a tense, unglamorous affair with most of the action in the centre third of the field. Kicking for territory and hoping for mistakes was the primary game-plan for both sides.

Dan Haymond blew an easy chance to give Ebbw a second minute lead when his penalty kick from just left of the posts was sliced wide. However, from their next attack, Dawid Rubasniak dived over in the corner for the home side’s first try with Haymond kicking a far more difficult conversion.

Bridgend were awarded their first penalty of the game on 19 minutes but didn’t take advantage as Owen Howe’s long-range effort sailed wide. His second attempt though, this one from not far off the half-way line, was on target, and 10 minutes before half-time Bridgend were finally on the board.

Haymond addressed the balance three minutes later with a similar long-range effort, but in the final kick of the half, Howe notched his second big effort to leave Ebbw just 10-6 up.

Six minutes into the second half, the gap was reduced further as Howe kicked his third penalty, again from long-range.

The home side gained a boost when Bridgend’s Dafi Sion Davies was sent to the sin-bin for a team infringement, but Haymond failed to land the resulting penalty.

However, Howe’s kicking was exemplary. He landed his fourth penalty on 59 minutes to put the Ravens into a 12-10 lead.

But Ebbw were determined to make the extra man count and just before Davies’ time was up, Chris Coleman mauled over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Then, with 13 minutes to go, Howe kicked accurately for a fifth time to level the scores at 15-15, before getting the Ravens’ winner three minutes later with his sixth penalty.

Ebbw Vale: D Haymond, P King, D Franchi, A Owen, E Rosser, D Langdon, D Babos, R Jones, J Franchi, C Coleman, D Hill, A Sweet, C Regan, D Rubasniak, L Young

Reps: W Griffiths, L Garrett, R Sevenoaks, M Ayling, B Sier, M Flanagan, L Williams, D Thomas

Scorers: Tries: D Rubasniak, C Coleman; Con: D Haymond; Pen: D Haymond.

Bridgend: O Howe, A Evans, S Floyd Ellis, B Roderick, D Cross, J Murphy, C Williams, O Jordan, G Harvey, C Lewis, J Pope, B Jones, D Davies, R Dudley Jones, M Strong

Reps: I Merriman, R Apsee, A Court, J Little, R Hall, T Huntley, C Tantum, J Chilcott

Bridgend: Pens: O Howe 6.

Ebbw Star Man: Chris Coleman