EBBW Vale fell to the bottom of the Indigo Group Premiership and they are now in real relegation danger after a 26-11 defeat by Aberavon in Port Talbot.

Greg Woods’ side have now lost nine of their 11 leagye games this season and Bridgend’s win over Swansea means the Steelmen now prop up the rest of the table.

On a filthy afternoon in Port Talbot, Ebbw grabbed the game’s first try through Paul King and Dan Haymond kicked two penalties, but that was as good as it got.

Aberavon scored through Lloyd Evans and Reuben Morgan-Williams and the boot of Aled Thomas did the rest.

The Steelmen made two late changes before kick-off. Young Dragons centre Aneurin Owen replaced King who moved to the wing as Ewan Rosser stepped out.

Dafydd Thomas came on to the bench instead of David Langdon.

Haymond – who started the game with 103 points this season – opened the scoring with a simple penalty before Aled Thomas responded.

Wales Under-20 ace Owen didn’t last long as he pulled up with a hamstring injury chasing an Aberavon attack and Dafydd Thomas was soon called into action.

Aled Thomas made it 6-3, but Ebbw hit back out of nowhere. Aberavon tried to run the ball clear, but it was dropped in midfield and hacked to the line by the visitors for King to win the race.

Haymond couldn’t convert and Aled Thomas kicked his third penalty before Chay Smith broke through midfield and Evans was the man to score from close range.

Thomas converted to make it 16-8 at the break.

Driving rain arrived for the second half which didn’t help to improve the quality of a game which had been at best scrappy even in good conditions.

There was not much between the teams, but Ebbw offered little in attack and their penalty count hindered them despite the best efforts of Lewis Young.

The son of Wasps coach Dai Young led the Ebbw rearguard in defence, but his team’s attack was summed up by them winning a scrum penalty, kicking to the corner, and then turning the ball over.

At the same time the scrum was a mess with referee Craig Evans penalising both sides and in the 64th minute he did that to Aberavon and Haymond slotted the first points of the second half.

Still, Ebbw then coughed up another penalty and Aled Thomas immediately cancelled out Haymond’s effort to give his team the edge going into the final 10.

Aberavon then rubbed salt in Ebbw wounds when a neat blindside move ended with Ospreys scrum-half Morgan-Williams diving over. Aled Thomas converted and that was that.

Aberavon: Chris Banfield; Jay Baker, Chay Smith, Will Price, Stefan Andrews; Aled Thomas, Rueben Morgan-Williams; Rhys Thomas, Cameron Lewis, Chris Davies, Shay Smallman, Rhodri Hughes, Lee Purnell (captain), Lloyd Evans, Ashton Evans. Replacements: James Garland, Ieuan Davies, David Pritchard, Rheon James, Rowan Jenkins, Rhys Thomas, Ben Thomas, Geraint James

Ebbw Vale: Dan Haymond; Mike Powell, Aneurin Owen, Dom Franchi, Paul King; Ethan Phillips, Matthew Flanagan; Ross Jones, Ellis Shipp, Chris Coleman, Max Ayling, Ashley Sweet (captain), Dan Hill, Dawid Rubasniak, Lewis Young. Replacements: Dave Whiting, Mikel Blake, Rob Sevenoaks, Ben Sier, Harry Harding, Dafydd Thomas, David Jones, Ryan Evans

Referee: Craig Evans

Scorers:

Aberavon: Tries: Lloyd Evans, Reuben Morgan-Williams Cons: Aled Thomas (2) Pens: Aled Thomas (4)

Ebbw Vale: Tries: Paul King Pens: Dan Haymond (2)

Ebbw Vale Star man: Lewis Young