Steelmen stun Ponty

[BBC] A scrappy Scott Mitchell try helped Ebbw Vale to their first away win in the Welsh Premiership in a dreadful game at Sardis Road.

Previously unbeaten Ponty held a 6-3 lead thanks to the boot of Brett Davey, but the Steelmen punted a kickable 73rd-minute penalty into touch.

They claimed the line-out and fed Mitchell who scrambled across the line for a converted try.

The shock result came after Ebbw chairman Marcus Russell issued a statement saying that the club and Newport are close to agreement concerning a combined side for Celtic and European competition next season.

At next Wednesday's meeting between the clubs and the WRU they will be seeking reassurances from the Union regarding funding streams for the proposed development.

The players responded on the field with a gritty performance. The try-less first half saw Davey and Bryan Shelbourne exchange penalties, but the Ponty full-back also missed two crucial pots at goal.

His second successful kick just before the hour gave the home side the narrowest of leads.

The visitors had hardly threatened the Pontypridd line, but the occasion was set up for a shock result.

After Mitchell's strike, the home side mounted a series of furious assaults on the Steelmen's line.

As the Ebbw Vale defenders held on desperately, back-row man Kati Tuipulotu transgressed once too often and was sent to the sin bin.

The Steelmen's 14 players were on the ropes, but they did enough to hold on and claim a famous win.

Inept

After the game, a furious Pontypridd coach Lynn Howells said:

"The players were inept today and this is totally unacceptable. This has surely brought them all back to earth with a bang."

Ebbw Vale coach Mike Ruddock was pleased that his game plan had come off:

"We unsettled them in the front at the tight and at line outs and in loose play. All the boys put their bodies on the line to the end.

"To win at Sardis Road is a magnificent achievement."

Match details:

Pontypridd

Pens: B Davey (2)

Ebbw Vale

Try: S Mitchell

Con: B Shelbourne

Pen: Shelbourne

Pontypridd: Brett Davey; Gareth Wyatt, Sonny Parker, Jason Lewis, Emyr Lewis; Ceri Sweeney, Gareth Baber; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Duncan Bell, Dale McIntosh, Brent Cockbain, Nick Kelly, Kingsley Jones, Geraint Lewis.

Reps: Mefin Davies, Neil Hennessy, Michael Owen, Richard Parks, Paul John, Shaun James, Matthew Nuthall.

Ebbw Vale: R Davies; A Takarangi, R Shorney, E Bingham, A Bevan; S Mitchell, B Shelbourne; A Black, L Phillips, M Jones, P Sidoli, N Edwards, C Billen, K Tuipulotu, T Morris.

Reps: D Penisini, J Evans, O Booyse, W Thomas, P Williams, M Meenan, D Katfuno.

Ref: Colin Saunders (WRU)