PONTYPRIDD reinforced their position at the top of the Welsh Premiership with an exciting victory over Ebbw Vale but the Steelmen put up a great fight.

The turning point of the match came midway through the second half when Vale lost wing Owen Williams to the sin bin apparently for a high tackle but the decision looked to be harsh. Vale were leading 14-13 at that point but the visitors quickly took advantage with wing Lewis I Williams rounding off a fine solo run with a try and then lock Dan Godfrey crossing for a try in the corner.

Pontypridd had also been awarded a penalty try midway through the first half. Debutant outside half James Whittingham converted all three tries and kicked two penalty goals.

Vale’s points came from tries by No. 8 Harrison Keddie and wing Tom James while fly half Iain Smerdon kicked three penalties.

Vale also had a star forward in flanker Cameron Reagan.

Current league leaders and champions Pontypridd started the game unbeaten in six matches while newly-promoted Ebbw Vale underlined their strength by winning five out of seven to be just two points behind their opponents in third place. The Steelmen’s only setbacks were narrow defeats at home against Newport in September and last week away against second-placed Carmarthen Quins.

Smerdon put Vale in front after just two minutes when he kicked a 24 metres penalty goal. Both packs refused to give any ground in the battle of attrition up front and it took the visitors another 22 minutes before they got back on level terms thanks to a Whittingham penalty from a similar distance.

Vale then suffered a major blow when they conceded a penalty try shortly after. Pontypridd No.8 Rhys Shellard burst up the left flank and slipped a pass to wing Dale Stuckey who kicked the ball on to the home line but, after consultation with his assistant, referee Mr. Ben Whitehouse

decided Stuckey had been tackled illegally as he went for the touchdown and he awarded the penalty try. Whittingham kicked the conversion from in front of the posts.

Both sides had to play a man short when Vale’s Ronny Kynes and Ponty’s Chris Phillips were sin-binned in separate incidents.. The half ended with Smerdon stroking over another short range penalty for Vale to cut Ponty’s lead to 10-6.

Ebbw Vale: Tries: H. Keddie, T. James; Pens: I. Smerdon (3)

Pontypridd: Tries: penalty try, L.I.Williams and D. Godfrey; Pens: J. Whittingham (2); Cons: J. Whittingham