THE two sides of Ebbw Vale were apparent as the Steelmen had to dig deep to overcome a spirited Bridgend outfit to record their first win of the Premiership season.

Head coach Pat Horgan has pledged to make Vale more attractive to watch this season, and when they were 14-0 up with a quarter of an hour gone it looked as though they would be able to get the party tricks out.

But a fightback by the Ravens meant that the hosts were forced to revert to the style that their success in 2006-7 was built on - a powerful set of forwards.

The pack put the squeeze on with the score at 14-13 and took the game away from the visitors.

Horgan said: "It was job done because we got the win and the bonus point but there is plenty to work on because we let them back into the game, just like we did at Maesteg.

"If we really want to compete at the top level then we have got to pile on the pressure and take the game away from the opposition."

Horgan would have been pleased with the start that his charges made and all looked good when they crossed for a pair of early tries.

Aaron Bramwell may have missed the chance to settle his nerves from the kicking tee when he hooked the ball to the left of the posts from a third-minute penalty, but he didn't linger on the wasted opportunity and soon demonstrated that he is a pivot from the mould of Jaco van der Westhuyzen rather than Joel Stransky.

Simon Hunt made a forceful return from the resulting drop-out and the outside-half made use of quick ball to weave through the Ravens' defence on halfway before wrongfooting the last man in defence. His try was converted by scrum-half Bryan Shelbourne on his 100th game for the Steelmen.

The lead was further extended on 13 minutes when the Ravens attempted an ambitious move from just outside their own 22 from quick line-out ball, a poor pass was palmed up in the air and poacher Hunt snatched the ball for a simple run-in.

The backs were enjoying themselves but that was nothing compared to the front row, where Messrs Lyon, Williams and Lott made it hell for their opposite numbers at the scrum.

But the visitors grew into the game and after a warning to Gavin Donaldson for killing the ball it took some frantic defending to prevent them crossing.

It was a short-lived reprieve and minutes later winger Richard Radford crossed after a quick tap penalty from impressive scrum- half Lee Ronan on halfway. Gareth David, who sported a bleached stripe in his hair that looked like he had been spear tackled onto the whitewash, added the extras.

Bridgend were thriving on a fast tempo and David reduced the deficit further before the break when the Vale backs were caught offside in midfield.

The Steelmen started the second half on the front foot but missed the chance to regain their seven-point lead when Shelbourne shanked a penalty effort from just right of the sticks. David wasn't so lax when he bashed over a 45-metre effort on 48 minutes.

The Steelmen realised the importance of stopping the rot and went straight on the attack.

After prop Alistair Lyon was held just short they put the Ravens through the wringer on a series of scrums.

Bridgend were down to 14 men after Mathew Tidball was sin-binned for killing the ball and the pack couldn't cope with the pressure.

Referee Gary Davies was given little option but to award the penalty try after the scrum popped up with Vale set to cross.

Hooker Darryl Harvey also found himself yellow-carded in the aftermath.

It got better for Vale when Lyon sealed the bonus point when he crashed over from short range, Shelbourne once again adding the extras.

Ebbw Vale: A McLaughlan, S Hunt (K Owen 40), J Williams, R Watts, J Lewis, A Bramwell (J Howells 80), B Shelbourne (R Lewis 66), A Lyon, M Williams, A Lott (M Jones 62), W Thomas (C Thomas 80), W Jones, G Donaldson (D Lydiate 44), J McPhail, J Bowd (captain, R Dicks 76).

Scorers: Tries - Bramwell, Hunt, penalty try, Lyon; conversions - Shelbourne (4).

Bridgend: J Hooper (G John 68), C Weightman, P Smith, G Howells, R Radford (D Newell 56), G David, L Ronan, L Davies, D Harvey (D Connolly 65), L Elliot, I Cunningham (N White 68), T Evans, J Jones, M Tidball (I Dobbs 60-72, D Harvey 72), G Williams.

Scorers: Tries - Radford; conversion - G David; penalties - G David (2).

Referee: Gary Davies (WRU).