EBBW Vale will enjoy watching the iPlayer this weekend after a stirring second half comeback to triumph 19-17 against Aberavon in front of the BBC cameras at Eugene Cross Park.

It looked as though the Steelmen, who started the Premiership season with a six-try romp in Llanelli, were going to pay the price for a sluggish and uncharacteristically meek first half that saw them trail 17-0.

However, they rediscovered their snarl to come storming back in the second half to take the spoils thanks to tries by wing Steffan Thomas, flanker Ronny Kynes and lock Ashley Sweet.

It was drama on the BBC in the first clash to be televised live since the corporation lost the rights to the Guinness PRO14 and it was a game to provide a taster of what is to come.

There was total commitment and endeavour from players that train twice a week after a day in work, flashes of brilliance and drama in an entertaining ding-dong, albeit without the intensity, pace and quality of the professionals.

Ebbw made a sluggish start, failing to gather the kick-off, and their sloppiness continued for Aberavon to cross for the opener with two minutes gone, scrum-half David Pritchard nicely worked over down the left after fly-half Rhys Jones’ kick was charged down.

The Steelmen gradually reduced their errors and they had a chance to get on the scoreboard after 14 minutes only for Carl Meyer, back at Eugene Cross Park after being released by the Dragons, to pull a monster penalty effort wide.

It was a nip-and-tuck encounter yet the Wizards had a commanding 10-0 lead after 23 minutes when yet more nice handling saw the excellent flanker Joe Tomalin-Reeves go over down the left, albeit the final pass from centre Matthew Jenkins had more than a hint of forward about it.

Aberavon were making the most of Ebbw’s inaccuracies and they stretched even further clear in the 33rd minute by beating the hosts at their own game – centre Will Price joining his pack for a driving lineout try, hooker Luke Davies the man to dot down and fly-half James Garland finally converting for 17-0.

Ebbw were too deep and lateral in attack, failing to pose questions for the well-drilled Wizards defence.

Vale needed a fast start to the second half and they got one, hammering away at the line before the ball was worked right for Thomas to finish smartly (with the TMO giving the thumbs-up) for a try that Rhys Jones expertly converted.

However, they were unable to build the momentum that they needed and it remained 17-7 approaching the hour.

Nonetheless, the Steelmen kept their composure and they hammered away at the line entering the final quarter in a bid to make it a one-score game.

Penalties were kicked to the corner and the score came through a driving lineout, captain Kynes barrelling over to make it 17-12.

And the hosts were in front for the first time with just eight minutes remaining when another driving lineout went close, the pack battered away and ex-Dragons lock Sweet sneaked over for a try that Jones converted for 19-17.

It was tense as the Wizards attempted to regain the lead but a timely jackal by hooker Joe Franchi ensured it was an Ebbw win.

Ebbw scorers: tries – S Thomas, R Kynes, A Sweet; conversions – R Jones (2)

Aberavon scorers: tries – D Pritchard, K Tomalin-Reeves, L Davies; conversion – J Garland