NOBODY attending a Gwent derby would ever expect it to be an end-of-season wind- down, but those at Eugene Cross Park on Saturday must have seen more drama unfold than they had predicted.

Vale ran in four tries to secure a 29-12 bonus-point victory that keeps alive their bid for third place in the table, while Keys played some great rugby of their own and head to Bridgend tomorrow looking to finish an encouraging season on a high.

But while there was plenty to admire from the encounter the supporters must have been tempted to ask for some money back from referee Simon Harris when he blew the final whistle, for he robbed them of 30 minutes of rugby.

The game had been nicely poised with Keys pressing hard to get back into a clash that had been entertaining and easily the most enjoyable Gwent derby of the season.

Then came cards of both colours, enforced substitutions, questionable calls at the breakdown and a messy offside line - all contibuting to the points drying up and play becoming scratchy.

This is not to suggest that the players were saints but they were not kept in check by the man in the middle.

While it must be stressed that the decisions did not change the outcome, and the Keys coaching staff admitted afterwards that Vale deserved the points, it did ensure a farcical end.

But while many will have been able to brush off the decisions slightly more easily than they would have been able to in October, young Keys lock Ashley Sweet is set for a nervous few weeks.

Sweet was part of the Wales Under-20s squad for the Six Nations and has been playing well ahead of the selection for June's Junior World Championship.

But he was shown a red card on 59 minutes for stamping, but Keys protest that it was a case of mistaken identity. If that is true then one can only hope the DVD footage helps to clear his name, or that his club name the culprit.

That moment summed up a bonkers afternoon. Though Ebbw Vale is certainly no Jamaica, the conditions were Caribbean compared to the previous week.

That ensured the first half was a free-flowing affair with five tries and some tremendous running rugby.

Keys full-back Leon Andrews, who once again shone for his side along with hooker Lloyd Burns, opened the scoring with a terrific 40-yard run on five minutes when he burst through a weak tackle by Nio Aiono and wrong-footed Andrew Bevan.

Scott Sneddon converted but the visitors were then forced to soak up the pressure with former Pandy Park man Will Thomas keen to lead the charge for the Steelmen.

Vale got their reward on 15 minutes while Keys were down to 14 men with flanker Geraint Gladwyn in the sin bin after dragging down a maul that was rumbling towards the line, an offence that really should have resulted in a penalty try.

Instead Mr Harris simply awarded a penalty that Vale kicked to the corner and hooker Richard Wilkes barged over after hitting his man at the line-out.

The conversion was missed by Bryan Shelbourne but Vale soon had the lead when the fly-half patiently made the most of an overlap to find Andrew Bevan, who came off his left wing to go over on the opposite flank.

Shelbourne converted and took his personal tally to nine points on the half-hour when he intercepted his opposite number Sneddon to scuttle over from 40 yards and add the extras.

But with Andrews and Burns threatening with ball in hand, Keys got back into the game with a tremdous score just three minutes later.

A patient attack saw the ball eventually come out to left-winger Marcus Johnstone down the right channel, and he drew in two defenders before producing a cracking offload to fellow wideman James Leadbetter.

Vale led 19-12 at the break but it was Keys who came out the stronger and it was their inability to make the most of their chances and Vale's stout defence that ultimately decided who took the spoils.

The visitors piled on the pressure with Johnstone, Sweet and Dan Preece all going close but they were unable to cross the whitewash. Nor did they help their own cause with over-complication at an attacking line-out that saw them attempt to send a runner down a hole in the middle, which promptly went wrong, rather than just securing possession and chipping away.

And the Keys coaching staff must have been turning the air blue when back rower Rhys Peebles wasted a man advantage courtesy of a yellow for Vale prop Marc Jones by himself heading for the sin bin after a late hit on Shelbourne.

On 50 minutes Vale eased their nerves with their bonus-point try when James Lewis and Shelbourne combined to send Simon Hunt over before the cards and changes came thick and fast.

Sweet saw red, Ryan James unluckily saw yellow for an offence at the breakdown and the game turned sloppy. Vale remained on the front foot but couldn't kill off the visitors, who themselves blew a couple of clear chances.

Shelbourne sealed the win with a 76-minute penalty but it seemed like both sides were happy to hear the whistle after a strange derby.

Ebbw Vale: A McLaughlan, S Hunt, J Lewis, K Owen (G Roberts 76), A Bevan, B Shelbourne, R Lewis (G Williams 68), A Lott, R Wilkes (M Williams 40), M Jones (D Watchurst 76), M Griffin, W Thomas, N Aiono (D Watchurst 47-56, J Thomas 56), J McPhail, J Bowd (captain, R Jenkins 71).

Scorers: Tries - R Wilkes, A Bevan, B Shelbourne, S Hunt; conversions - B Shelbourne (3); penalty - B Shelbourne.

Yellow card: M Jones.

Cross Keys: L Andrews, J Leadbetter, C Pocock, D Price (D Dark 51), M Johnstone, S Sneddon, R James (M Pewtner 76), D Preece, L Burns, N Buck (C Gould 44), A Sweet, B Watkins (captain), T Lampard, G Gladwyn, R Peebles.

Scorers: Tries - L Andrews, J Leadbetter; conversion - S Sneddon.

Yellow cards: G Gladwyn, R Peebles, R James; red card: A Sweet.

Referee: Simon Harris (WRU).