EBBW Vale made the perfect to start to what will be a crucial Principality Premiership season as they scored six tries at Parc y Scarlets to beat Llanelli, writes Ian Golden.

It was a fine win for the Steelmen as they did the damage in the first 42 minutes, which is the minute where the bonus point try was claimed. Only a sin-binning slowed up the scoring a little, but they soon managed a fifth try on 55 minutes to cement the victory.

Ebbw took an early lead after Rhys Jones, a summer signing from the Scarlets, kicked a long range penalty goal.

They increased their lead on six minutes when centre Dominic Franchi found space to score in the corner. Jones converted.

Their second try came on 15 minutes; centre Carl Meyer, back with Ebbw after his summer release by the Dragons, made the initial run and Stefan Thomas stormed home with Jones adding the extras.

Llanelli looked for a try back. Liam Smith tried to run onto his own chip kick but was fooled by the bounce on the field and the chance was lost.

However, they did get on the board in the 21st minute when Ashley Sutton kicked a penalty.

Ebbw got their third try six minutes before the break, Ronny Kynes going over from a line-out and Jones converting.

Llanelli addressed the balance from kick-off, Kalum Evans intercepting and making a 40-metre clean break to the line. Sutton converted.

Jones missed a penalty going into half-time but he converted Ebbw’s early second-half try after Toby Fricker broke away and placed the ball under the sticks, giving them the bonus point.

Dom Franchi’s 45th-minute yellow card gave Llanelli a chance to get some much needed points back but in the one chance they had during that 10 minute period, the Ebbw defence held out.

And just before they were back to a full side, Ebbw got their fifth try, Kynes going over from a maul with Jones missing the kick.

As both sides made their multiple replacements, the scoring dried up for while until the final play of the game when Fricker raced away for his second and Ebbw’s sixth that Jones duly converted.

Llanelli: L Randell (B Atkins 71); K Evans, O Reyland, J Lewis, L Smith; A Sutton (L Williams 59), G George (J Weeds 59), D Lawley (C Williams 65), L Roberts (E Lewis 53), T James (A Thomas 13); M Davies, A Hyndman (E Rees 65), C Long, L Pike, N Hart.

Try: K Evans; Con: A Sutton; Pen: A Sutton

Ebbw Vale: D Haymond; S Thomas (P King 70), C Meyer, D Franchi, T Fricker; Rhys Jones, M Flanagan (D Jones 61), J Harries (Ross Jones 64), R Francis (L Kinsella 76), R Sevenoaks (C Hicks 60); K Parker, A Sweet (L Randall 64), R Kynes, O Young (G Price 66), L Young (C Regan 57).

Tries: D Franchi, S Thomas, R Kynes (2), T Fricker (2). Cons: Rhys Jones (5), Pen: Rhys Jones

Argus star man: Ronnie Kynes