EBBW Vale coach Mike Ruddock insisted there were plenty of positives to come out of last night's 49-31 defeat by form-team Edinburgh at Meadowbank Stadium.

The Steelmen were in the hunt until the closing stages and it was certainly an improvement from the performance against Neath.

Ruddock declared: "Edinburgh obviously deserved their victory but I am pleased we made them work hard throughout.

"Most of our first up tackling was pretty good, but in the end sustained pressure and good driving line-outs in our 22 helped them create tries.

"The worrying aspect for us was the penalty count.Our indiscipline probably made a big difference, but overall it was a very good game and I was pleased we showed a lot of character and kept coming back.

"Edinburgh were stacked with internationals while we tried out quite a number of our youngsters.

"Gareth Green was playing his first game of the season so I am pleasantly surprised we were that competitive."

Edinburgh looked on course for a more clear-cut triumph until replacement Aaron Takarangi rocked them with two tries.

Edinburgh had surged ahead after seven minutes, putting together a string of phases before wing Craig Joiner cruised to the line.

Gordon Ross then landed a 35m penalty before Vale clicked into gear with a try by outside half Paul Matthews, goaled by Gareth Cull.

There was controversy as Edinburgh restored their advantage. They were awarded three penalties in quick succession close to the line before Vale were deemed to have killed the ball a fourth time, referee Chuck Muir ruling a penalty try, easily converted by Ross. Vale narrowed the gap to a single point when Martin Ridley scored, Cull converting, but Edinburgh regained the initiative before the break as giant lock Richard Metcalfe hurtled through, Ross again converting.

Former All Blacks skipper Todd Blackadder scored Edinburgh's fourth touchdown and Ross, who converted, then swapped penalties with Cull as Vale kept within range. Takarangi then set up a dramatic finale with his two scores, but after an exchange of penalties Ross converted the clinching tries from Matt Jolly and Mike Blair.

The Welsh Rugby Union have agreed to Llanelli's request and ordered their Welsh/Scottish League game against Caerphilly to be played on Tuesday, May 7. This means the Ebbw Vale v Caerphilly game, originally scheduled for May 8, will now be played on Saturday, May 10.

The play-offs between the Premier Division bottom club and the Second Division champions for a place in the Welsh/Scottish League next season will be held on the weekends of May 17-19 and May 24-26.

Edinburgh: B Laney, C Joiner, M Di Rollo, K Utterson, C Murray, G Ross, G Burns, G Whittingham, S Scott, J Brannigan, R Metcalfe, M Jolly, A Dall, T Blackadder, S Taylor. Subs: C Di Ciacca for Scott 74, C Smith for Whittingham 58, A Davidson for Metcalfe 40, M Blair for Burns 74, D Officer for Laney 58, C Paterson for Murray 65. Ebbw Vale: G Cull, R Shorney, M Ridley, D Wetherley, D Rogers, P Matthews, A Bevan, I Thomas, J Evans, D Penisini, D Hudd, G Evans, R Williams, T Morris, G Green. Subs: Clatworthy for Thomas 57, Bevan for Evans 62, Booyse for Hudd 57, Takarangi for Wetherley 50.

*PICTURED: Ebbw Vale's Aaron Takarangi