A BRAVE defensive display by Ebbw Vale kept them in touch with Ulster until the dying minutes before the Irish Province sneaked a late try for a 19-0 win.

Tough tackling and a determined display from Vales forwards kept the former European Champions to just 12-0 win time running out, before full-back Paddy Wallace was put in for a converted try under the posts which wrapped up the win.

It was cruel luck for the North Gwent side, who had wanted to stay within seven points and earn themselves a bonus point in the Celtic League competition.

The game had a certain poignancy even before kick-off.

Having made himself redundant after Ebbws summer cash crisis, this was chief executive Tony Dilloways last day at the office before leaving Vale after saving the club from being wound up as a business.

As well as Dilloway,Wales coach Steve Hansen and Irish coach Eddie OSullivan joined a handful of spectators that had braved the persistent North Gwent drizzle to watch the match as Ebbw Vale made a positive start.

The Steelmens forwards drove deep into the Ulster half before scrum-half Bryan Shelbourne, a summer arrival from Irish province Connacht, sliced his penalty attempt wide in the first few minutes.

Vale could have done with a few early points on the board as Ulsters Irish international fly half David Humphreys started pushing his side further into the home sides half.

A deep kick from Ulster wing Sheldon Coulter gave the visitors a line-out deep in Vales 22 and even though Ebbw cleared the danger, Humphreys put them right next to Vales line again.

By this point, only dogged defence, especially from full-back Richard Davies, was keeping the Irish side out as Vale valiantly defended their line.

Number eight Will Thomas was shown the yellow card for what referee David Pearson judged was a deliberate foul on Sheldon Coulter as he went to pounce on a mistake by Nick Wakely, even though it looked like Wakely had fouled the man.

Humphreys slotted over the penalty as the rain grew heavier and added another with just half an hour gone.

The one-way traffic was temporarily halted by Mitchell when he made a good break to feed a charge by Martin Ridley to storm into Irish territory and the fly half was on hand to chip for the corner, but Wakelys grasp just missed the touch down and it ended 6-0 at half-time as Vale weathered the Irish storm even without Thomas for ten minutes.

A rare missed penalty by Humphreys at the start of the second half seemed to spur Ebbw Vale into life as they stepped up their game after the interval trailiing only 9-0.

Vales Davies briefly lit up a fairly dull match with a blistering run after breaking through the Ulster defence and as Vale tried to recycle the ball flanker Warren Brofnihan was judged to have stolen possesion illegally and was shown the yellow card.

But the lack of numbers made little difference as Humphrieys landed his fourth penalty for a 12-0 lead.

With Irish lock Jeremy Davidson limping off with a leg injury, Ulsters forwards were not a sdominant in the second half and with other lock Gary Longwell limping in places, they may have problomens in their sec0ond row in their next Celtic League match against Edinburgh.

With time running out Ulsters full back Paddy Wallace who crossed under the posts for his sides try.

Humphreys added the conversion to make it 19-0 at the death .

PICTURE: Vale's Nick Wakley takes time out out the 19-0 defeat to Ulster last night