EBBW Vale forwards coach Will Thomas was left to rue a lack of concentration as the Steelmen let two points slip from their grasp at a sodden Eugene Cross Park in a 13-13 draw.

When Rob Lewis scampered over on 66 minutes to put Vale up 13-10 it seemed as though the hosts had worked themselves into a lead that would strengthen their push for a place in the top three.

In boggy conditions, with the short grass demanded by the pitch-sharing footballers not helping matters, and a strong wind blowing in their faces, it looked unlikely that the Wanderers would be able to get the field position necessary to grab a lifeline.

But Vale made a mess of the restart, allowed the visitors to play in their half for the first time since the break and conceded two penalties.

Rhys Jones, son of Vale favourite Kingsley, was just short with his first effort, but made no mistake second time.

"We were in total control second half but I was really disappointed with how we played once we got into the lead," said Thomas, a member of the Vale pack that dominated after the break.

"Half of the team thought we had won it and made two mistakes, they missed the first shot at goal and I could just see the second coming. We switched off and that's the difference between teams that win trophies and those that don't - I'm devastated."

The wind, rain and mud ensured that it wasn't a pretty game and meant that watching Neath assistant coach Gruff Rees wasn't able to see the Wanderers, their Konica Minolta Cup semi-final opponents, at their free-flowing best.

But what would have impressed him was the visitors' defence, for they spent almost all of the second period on the back foot.

Vale would have been pleased at the break after turning around only four points down following an even first 40 minutes.

The hosts started well, and after penalties had been traded it took a tremendous tackle from scrum-half Harry Trelawny to prevent Vale winger James Lewis crossing in the corner on eight minutes after good work from Andrew Bevan coming off the other flank.

Fly-half Bryan Shelbourne booted his second penalty for Vale and James Thomas did likewise for the Wanderers, who then took control of the second quarter.

Mark Roper put them on the front foot with some intelligent kicking from fly-half and the reward came when prop Nathan Trevett bundled over from close range. Thomas converted well, and it took some frantic defence to prevent a second score in the closing stages of the half.

Vale flew into the Wanderers from the start of the second period with a superb line-out the cornerstone of their attack.

Hooker Mathew Williams produced a fantastic display given the conditions, with locks Will Jones and Thomas showing that while they were caked in mud they still possessed clean handling.

But the visitors defended stoutly with Wales Under-20s skipper Sam Warburton to the fore, repelling the Vale catch and drives and scrambling for their lives close to their line, only to be hit by Lewis' sharp try approaching the last quarter of an hour.

The ball slipped from the Wanderers' grasp in their 22 and the scrum-half picked up and dashed under the sticks to give Shelbourne a simple conversion.

But then came the sloppy few moments that angered Thomas so much, and when a Shelbourne shot at goal on 80 minutes fell short, the Wanderers were able to leave with a share of the spoils and Vale were left to reflect on two points gone begging.

Ebbw Vale: S Hunt, J Lewis, K Owen, G Roberts, A Bevan, B Shelbourne, R Lewis, A Lott, M Williams, M Jones, W Jones (M Griffin 64), W Thomas (captain), R Dicks, J McPhail, J Thomas (J Bowd 72).

Scorers: Try - R Lewis; conversion - B Shelbourne; penalties - Shelbourne (2).

Wanderers: R Jones, J Jones, S Rosser (J Loxton 27), J Thomas, G Morris, M Roper, H Trelawny (L Williams 51), N Trevett (M Bolton 40), H Dowden (R Emms 61), S Andrews (N Trevett 74), K Stewart, A Luff (G Knight 51), N Kelly (captain, C Morris 40), S Warburton, R Thomas (B Rose 40).

Scorers: Try - N Trevett; conversion - J Thomas; penalties - J Thomas, R Jones.

Referee: D Williams (Caldicot).