WHILE three Welsh/Scottish league defeats in three matches may not look much of a return for their efforts, Ebbw Vale coach Mike Ruddock is far from pessimistic.

Defeats against Swansea, Neath and Bridgend in recent weeks leave the Steelmen in mid-table, but with struggling Pontypridd up next in the league tomorrow (2:30pm), Vale have a good chance of adding to their 18-13 win over Ponty at Eugene Cross Park last August.

Late summer may have turned into a biting winter, but Vale have gelled into a well-organised unit and although missing a superstar match-winner, they are a well drilled side as they have shown in impressive first-half displays in their last three games.

Although Ruddock wants to see his side produce more consistency for 80 minutes, he admitted the team performance occasionally got him down last season - but this year he is only positive.

Ruddock said the attitude of his squad is first-class, but says perhaps they are being caught out for not being street-wise.

He said: "There have been games we could and should have won, which we probably lost through a bit of inexperience and not being fully street-wise," said Ruddock. "I am certainly not down-hearted, far from it.

"In fact I am quite pleased with the way the squad is progressing, as far as the players go, the commitment is brilliant, the attitude superb and the spirit is tremendous. "When we lost at Bridgend late in the game last week I really felt for the players - and Bridgend admitted they felt they had got out of jail."

Funny that because so did Richard Moriarty when two late tries from Scott Gibbs saw Swansea cash in their 'get-out-of-jail' card to squeeze home against the Valleys side. The Whites were beaten 12-3 by Pontypridd last Friday and Ponty's big, physical pack will be a stern test for Vale.

Captain Chay Billen is set to move in from the flank to lock-forward while Tongan Kati Tuipulotu is set to start at blind-side flanker.

Former Newport fly-half Scott Mitchell is set to make a return to the Ebbw Vale side, hopefully putting his long-term groin injury behind him.

Although Mitchell has been named on the bench, Ruddock is keen to give Mitchell some game time, with the 22-year-old set to make an appearance some time in the second half.

Ebbw Vale: M James, R Shorney, P Matthews, D Weatherley, A Takarangi, G Cull, K Ellis, M Jones, L Phillips, D Penisini, C Billen, N Edwards, K Tuipulotu, P Williams, W Thomas. Subs: R Mills, J Evans, O Booyse, A Wagstaff, R Williams, A Bevan, R Watts, S Mitchell.