With both teams out of contention in the Celtic League they were able to play free of any pressure and Bridgend stormed into an 18-point half-time lead only for Ebbw Vale to come back with 17 points in the second half.

Bridgend did most of the early attacking and more careful passing would have brought them better rewards than just the third-minute penalty with which they opened the score through Adrian Durston.

They looked to have a clear overlap down the left wing but somehow Paul Ringer and new wing Richard Mustoe managed to make a mess of a two-on-one situation.

Although weakened by injuries, the visitors continued to have the best of matters and a simple but well-worked move brought them their first try.

Dafydd James and then Gareth Thomas worked the ball out to the wing for Gareth Jones to race over for a try that Durston could not convert.

Two penalties from Durston, the second from 55 metres, kept Bridgend comfortable and then on the stroke of half-time came the try that had their supporters standing and cheering.

Wales international Thomas made a fine break from well inside his own half and carried on to complete a run of more than 60 metres with a try under the posts for Durston to convert.

There was little or no shape to the Ebbw Vale attack until their forwards gradually got on top up front.

Gareth Cull, on loan from Bridgend to Ebbw Vale for the whole season, missed three reasonable penalties for the struggling Vale team.

Then suddenly everything came good for them. They got on the scoresheet for the first time through replacement Neil McKim, who went over for an unconverted try in the corner.

Fired by the success their forwards put it all together and made the opportunity for David Weatherley to score and Cull to convert.

When Kati Tuipuloto crashed over for a third Vale score, it was left to Ringer to perform heroics by charging down Cull's conversion kick to retain the one-point lead that Bridgend hung onto for the rest of the match.

Vale made a last-minute attempt to win the game but the penalty attempt from Cull from well inside his own half was metres short.