DESPITE having claimed the title of top Gwent team in the Principality Premiership this season, head coach Greg Woods says Ebbw Vale still have targets they want to hit before the end of the campaign.

The Steelmen were confirmed as Gwent’s best for the second term in succession after their 47-24 defeat of Bedwas last Saturday.

That victory over Stefan Sankala’s men at Eugene Cross Park, their 19th of the season, took Ebbw’s points tally to 90, meaning they can’t be caught by Newport.

And with two fixtures left, Woods’ troops could yet reach a century, provided they beat tomorrow’s opponents Neath (kick-off 2.30pm) and Cardiff with bonus points.

“One of our goals at the start of the season was to finish as the top Gwent team, so it’s pleasing we have done that again,” said Woods.

“We’ve still got a couple of targets we want to hit. One is to win more than 20 games, and another is to finish with the best defensive record in the league.

“I’ve been really pleased with the attitude of the boys in the past few weeks, they’ve not been on the beach as they say.

“We finished the Bedwas game strongly and I thought we played some great attacking stuff.”

Woods went on a scouting mission earlier this week to watch relegated Neath lose 43-12 to Aberavon.

Despite the result, he was impressed with what he saw from the Welsh All Blacks, who will be joined in next season’s Championship by Bargoed, Cross Keys and one other.

Woods will be without centres Aneurin Owen and Paul King tomorrow, but Dai Langdon comes back into the matchday squad.

Ebbw won last September’s reverse fixture at the Gnoll 25-17.

It was the fifth of seven straight wins for the Gwent outfit at the start of the new term.

Neath have won just once all season, against Bargoed.