Ebbw Vale eventually ground out a victory despite being below par for most of this encounter. Nonetheless, it kept up the pressure on the other clubs around them at the top of the Indigo Welsh Premiership.
On a cool afternoon interspersed with squally showers, quite typical of the last day of British Summer Time, it was the Steelmen who struck first with a catch and drive marshalled and executed by home skipper Rhys Francis. The try went unconverted.
The visitors from Bridgend struck back with a penalty, but Evan Lloyd responded likewise to make the score 8-3.
At that point, Bridgend started to take some control and pressure from them led to Ebbw indiscipline which yielded two more penalties for the visiting 10 Price to slot over, making the half time score 8-9 in the Ravens favour.
Bridgend started the second half as they ended the first, and struck again immediately with slick handling leading to Jordan Collier crossing the whitewash, again converted by Price.
With an eight-point deficit, Ebbw coach Jason Strange rung the changes. Pressure led to a penalty kick, ably converted by Evan Lloyd, reducing the deficit to five points.
Incessant pressure from Ebbw yielded penalty after penalty. Then a red card was awarded for a high tackle on Owen Conquer. Further yellow cards meant that the visitors ended the game with 12 men. The Ebbw onslaught eventually told on the Ravens and a penalty try was awarded at a pushover scrum, putting the Steelmen in front by 18-16.
Incredibly, the 12 men from the Brewery Field went through enough phases to win a penalty in the Ebbw half, but, to the relief of the cold and damp faithful on the bank, the kick fell short and the home defence cleared and gladly heard the final whistle.
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