EBBW Vale travel to Pau for Saturday's second-leg with a 26-point advantage after they beat the Frenchmen 29-3 at Rodney Parade last night.

With captain Leyton Phillips out with a calf strain, last season's skipper Chay Billen took over the reigns as the European Shield quarter-final first-leg was finally played after attempts to hold the game at five different venues were all frozen off.

The original referee Italian Giulio de Santis had flown home on Sunday night and the French will have wished they joined him as tries by hooker Jon Evans and number eight Kati Tuipulotu saw Vale home as scrum-half Bryan Shelbourne landed five penalties.

But whether the 26-point advantage is enough remains to be seen - the French will have Damien Traille and Imanol Harinordoquy back from training with the national squad and the crowd at Pau are particularly fierce.

One thing is for sure, Saturday's match has all the ingredients for an explosive affair with the French leaving themselves plenty to do and Vale's pack will not take a step backwards.

Tuipulotu's late try was particularly pleasing for the Steelmen as their pack shunted the French eight out of the way as the Tongan bulldozed his way over.

Vale had worked the French over up front and they can expect the compliment returned at Pau's home in the foothills of the French Pyrenees.

Pau had made a bright start before Shelbourne landed two penalties to put Vale 6-0 up, but the French side were starting to run the ball and showed glimpses of what they can do. Vale had their first real try-scoring chance of the game when Billen was driven over from a line-out, but somehow the French stole possession back.

The Steelmen came again with Scott Mitchell's interception but he was caught and although Bevan went for the line, the referee brought them back.

Again Vale were turned over as the try line loomed large, but they converted their possession and Shelbourne's third penalty made it 9-0 at half-time.

Ebbw made the worst possible start to the second half when ex-Wales rugby league star Martin Pearson was handed a penalty attempt right in front of the posts which he duly slotted over, but it was only a temporary glitch.

Vale pulled away on the scoreboard after Shelbourne's fourth penalty made it 12-3 before Scott Mitchell fed hooker Jon Evans who ran in the try which Shelbourne converted.

A spot of fighting broke out which resulted in Vale's Martin Jones being sent to the sin bin but although they were down to fourteen men, Vale kept up the pressure and it wasn't long before the Frenchmen lost a man as Soanne Toevalu was also cautioned.

In his absence, French desperation led to them conceding a penalty in front of the posts. Billen opted for the scrum and his pack crushed Pau as Tuipulotu was given an easy ride to the line.

Shelbourne slotted over the conversion and a penalty for a final score of 29-3 to send Vale fans scurrying to find their passports.

Ebbw Vale: R Davies, A Takarangi, R Shorney, E Binham, A Bevan, S Mitchell, B Shelbourne, A Black, J Evans, M Jones (rep D Penisini 75 mins), P Sidoli, N Edwards (rep O Booyse 26 mins), C Billen (c), P Williams (rep T Morris 52 mins), K Tuipulotu (rep W Thomas 76 mins). Yellow card: M Jones 58 mins Scorers: tries: Evans, Tuipulotu, conversions: Shelbourne (2), penalties: Shelbourne (5)

Pau: S Jonnet (rep D Aucagne 40 mins), M Pearson, E Artiguste, J-C Cistacq (blood rep D Aucagne 29 mins), N Sestaret, D Arrieta, P Carbonneau (rep Nicolas Duffard 59 mins), F Guatierti (M Larrouy 47 mins), M Tincu, (rep J Houcarde 69 mins), O Sourgens (D Laperna 40), T Cleda, M Jolly (rep M Gady 78 mins), S Taoevalu, P Som, J Carre.Yellow card: Taovalu Scorer: penalty: Pearson