Ebbw Vale threw down the gauntlet to the three other Indigo Premiership semi-finalists – Newport, Llandovery and Cardiff - as they ended their regular league campaign on a high with a 16-10 win over Pontypool.

Pooler arrived at Eugene Cross Park as the one team Jason Strange’s men hadn’t beaten this season and the Steelmen somehow found a way to bet the team that had pipped them 25-20 in November.

Tries from Harry Weldon-Rees and Ethan Phillips, with two penalties from Evan Lloyd, did the trick for Ebbw.

This time it was Lloyd who earned the bragging rights over his younger brother, Morgan, who scored Pooler’s only try to add to a conversion and penalty from the boot of Matthew Jarvis.

“We found a way to win in a frustrating game. There wasn’t much flow or speed to the game, but we found a way to win,” said Strange.

“Our set piece dominance was clear throughout, although we didn’t get as much reward from that area as we felt we deserved.

“We couldn’t get much speed around the ruck area either, and we will need to get better for the semi-final.

“We need to improve on our consistency around our basics. We turned over too much ball in the first half and our standards at the ruck were poor and that meant there was no speed to the game.

“This game was never going to be easy, but what this team has achieved in getting into the top four with limited resources is something they need to feel proud of.”

Wales U20 hooker Sam Scarfe picked up the man of the match award for another high-energy performance in the Pontypool front row and Scott Matthews side stayed in contention throughout to ensure they at least left with a losing bonus-point.

With games to come against Merthyr and RGC next week, they could finish as high as fifth with a strong finish.

South Wales Argus: NCR PhotographyNCR Photography (Image: NCR Photography)

“It was a huge shift from an effort point of view but our discipline let us down. Ebbw Vale come with a strict game plan and what they do, they do very well,” said Matthews.

Evan Lloyd gave The Steelmen an 11th minute lead with a penalty following a collapsed scrum, midway through the opening half Jarvis levelled. Just before the break a thrust from Ebbw outside half Kieran Meek paved the way for Rees-Weldon to score a vital try that lifted his side into an 8-3 interval lead.

But proud Pooler were neither down, nor out, and seven minutes into the second half Matthews made the run from which Morgan Lloyd was able to score. Jarvis’ conversion edged the visitors ahead 10-8.

Evan Lloyd restored the Steelmen’s advantage with another successful shot at goal in the 54th minute. The same player then made the running to take his side into the Pooler 22 and for once quickly recycled ball enabled Phillips to dive over in the right corner to extend the lead to six points.

Pontypool host Merthyr on Wednesday and then end their season in Colwyn Bay against RGC next Saturday.

Ebbw, meanwhile, will watch Llandovery’s results with interest to see if they are to travel to Church Bank or Newport’s Spytty Park in the semi-finals.

The Drovers host Swansea this afternoon and Bridgend on Thursday with two wins, one with a bonus, enough to secure top spot.

That would lead to the champions hosting fourth-placed Cardiff and a Gwent derby in Newport.

Fixtures: Aberavon v Carmarthen Quins, Bridgend v Merthyr, Llandovery v Swansea, Neath v RGC.