EBBW Vale did not play like Premiership title challengers in squeezing a narrow win over a plucky and determined Bedwas at Eugene Cross Park on Saturday, but coach Patrick Horgan believes his side have the potential to be just that.

Numerous dropped passes by both sides and some poor decision-making by Vale meant an uninspiring stop-start encounter with Bedwas again just failing to win on their hosts' patch.

Last season they might justifiably claim they were robbed of victory when they felt they should have been awarded a last-minute penalty- try match-winner.

This season they could not complain because the home pack mostly dominated, particularly through their driving lineout, while Vale had a couple of clear-cut try-scoring chances.

They were also once held up over the line, but it was not a performance to match that in winning at Neath the previous week.

Vale coach Patrick Horgan commented: "I was disappointed with our performance but happy with the win because it had been a bit of a rollercoaster week.

"Because of injuries we only had about 16 or 17 guys training, a couple of guys have gone back to college and a couple couldn't play for personal reasons, so it had been a disjointed week and I had to scramble around for prop forwards and second-row cover.

"Bedwas could have won here last year and have some quality players, and overall we have to be pleased with the way things are going and our position in the table.

"The top four or five teams have a bit of a buffer now and fortunately that includes us. I'm not counting any chickens, but I do feel we have a stronger squad than last season and have the potential to be title challengers.

"Last season we were a bit one-dimensional but I believe this season we have already shown we can play a bit."

Bedwas coach Steve Law said: "I don't think there was anything between the sides. It was our inability to react to their driving lineout that cost us the game.

"We played with lots of heart and spirit but not with our heads in that set-piece area, but on the whole I was very, very happy with our players' attitude."

Dragons prop Hugh Gustafson scored both Vale's tries following driven lineouts, scrum-half Bryan Shelbourne converting the second early in the second half to add to an opening 29th-minute penalty.

This meant Vale led 15-3 after 52 minutes, their eight first-half points coming with Bedwas centre and skipper John Welch off the field after a yellow card for a dangerous high-arm tackle which fortunately missed lock Will Thomas, forced to leave the field soon after suffering from tonsillitis.

But instead of going on to a convincing win, Vale missed bonus try-scoring opportunities and Bedwas full back Stuart Thomas added three second-half penalties to his first-half effort, two when Vale had skipper John Bowd yellow-carded for killing the ball, to give the home side another anxious finish.

Ebbw Vale: A McLaughlan, S Hunt, K Owen (R Lewis 63), R Watts (A Bramwell 63), A Bevan, G McCarthy, B Shelbourne, H Gustafson, M Williams (R Wilkes 63), A Lott, W Thomas (D Lydiate 33), N Edwards, J Bowd, G Donaldson, R Williams.

Scorers: Tries - Gustafson (2); conversion - Shelbourne; penalty - Shelbourne.

Bedwas: S Thomas, M Pizey, P Dolman, J Welch, G Dare, J Tovey, J Pizey (S Jones 53), J Tilley (G Leonard 70), P Harrison (B Edwards 58), A Williams (C Jenkins 20), C Powell (R Edwards 58), A Brown, P Sargent, R Downes (N Lewis 63), A Tibbatts.

Scorers: Penalties - Thomas (4).