VALE HAVE VICTORY SNATCHED AWAY
CARDIFF returned to winning ways in the Principality Premiership but had to come from behind in a hard-fought victory over Ebbw Vale at Eugene Cross Park.
The Steelmen led 2120 heading into the final five minutes but fly-half Ben Thomas kept his cool to kick a late penalty and secure the victory for the Blue and Blacks.
The opening exchanges saw both teams cancel each other out before a Thomas penalty edged Cardiff into the lead.
The hosts reacted positively and managed to go in front when Dan Haymond went over in the corner and Callum Hall added the conversion.
But the lead only lasted 10 minutes with Ian Jenkins forcing the ball over the tryline for the capitalbased visitors.
Thomas was on target with the conversion.
Cardiff remained on the front foot and eventually extended their lead through a second Thomas penalty.
However, Ebbw Vale got themselves back into the game after a superb run from Srdan Majkic.
Although the winger was tackled before he could go over, the attack rejuvenated the crowd and the players responded with Hall kicking two late first-half penalties to level the score.
Ebbw’s revival continued after the break with a third Hall penalty putting them ahead but Cardiff made it difficult for themselves as Ben Thomas and Ben White were both shown yellow cards within four minutes of each other.
Ebbw then used their numerical advantage to edge further ahead through a second Haymond try.
But the game wasn’t over as Cardiff winger Corey Howells pulled a try back on the hour mark and Thomas returned from the sin-bin to boot the conversion to reduce the deficit to just one point.
With both teams sensing victory the game became very open in the last quarter but it was Cardiff who took their opportunity when Thomas glided a penalty right between the posts with just three minutes to play.
And despite late efforts from Ebbw, Cardiff saw out the victory.