STEELMEN REMAIN IN PLAY-OFF HUNT

EVAN Lloyd was the home hero as Ebbw Vale picked up a vital bonus-point win over Aberavon to stay in the fight for an Indigo Premiership play-off place.

There was a time when it looked as though this game could decide which team made it into the top four to battle on for a semi-final berth.

But not even a bonus-point home win for The Steelmen was good enough to hoist them above Newport and into the play-off places. With only a home game to play against reigning champions Cardiff they now have to hope they can win that one and Newport fail to get anything from their final two fixtures to make the grade.

Nobody could have done more than outside-half Lloyd to keep The Steelmen in the running as he scored two tries and kicked 18 points for a marvellous match tally of 28 points.

The Wizards spent much of the season in the play-off places, yet fell away at the end.

Joe Thomas gave them a fifth-minute lead with the first of the game’s eight tries and Chris Banfield added the extras.

Banfield then swapped penalties with Lloyd before Aberavon lost Thomas to the sin bin for a high tackle. By the time he returned, the home side had crossed for two tries and plundered 15 points to turn the tide.

Lloyd got the first try and speedy winger Carrick Mcdonough the next to make it 18-12 at the break. Lloyd added a penalty and then McDonough bagged his second try, with Lloyd’s conversion extending the gap to 16 points.

But just as Thomas’ earlier yellow card had caused problems for the visitors, so a yellow for Dom Franchi for pulling down a driving maul as Luke Davies went over for a try put

Ebbw Vale under pressure.

Banfield converted that one and then Rodri Cole improved another five minutes later from Frankie Jones to cut the gap to two points. Lloyd then steadied the home ship with a try that he converted before adding a final penalty.

Bridgend and Swansea clashed for the second consecutive week, but this time revenge was on the menu for the Ravens as they tasted victory by 24-15 in a tough battle at the Dunraven Brewery Field.

The visitors grabbed the first try when James Davies dinked the ball into touch a few metres from the line with a penalty, with the backs recycling quick ball out wide for debutant Iestyn Galton to score in the corner.

The scores were soon level though when a horrendous pass by Gareth J Rees sailed behind intended target James Davies with Stuart Floyd-Ellis sneaking in to score.

Hanno Dirksen burst through a Bridgend tackle and into the 22, but the supporting Osian Knott failed to take the pass, which would have resulted in an almost certain score.

Then the home side got quick ball out of the set piece and found Edd Howley, who backed his pace and power to score a try on the stroke of half time.

After the interval a penalty was reversed with Dirksen shown a yellow card for his part in starting a small melee. Swansea got themselves back into the match when Matthew Jenkins picked up a ball in midfield and backed his pace to touch down in the corner, and Floyd-Ellis gave away a penalty for holding on in a tackle, which James Davies duly converted.

But the Ravens sealed victory when Price found touch deep inside the Swansea 22 with a penalty and an unstoppable rolling maul saw Gareth Harvey crash over for a try.