BRIDGEND ran out 7-6 winners over Ebbw Vale in a tight match at a windswept Eugene Cross Park in a match played in atrocious conditions.

Some wag played Rain drops keep falling on my head over the tannoy during breaks in play as the rain lashed North Gwent - the tune I can see clearly now the rain has gone was not at all appropriate in tough conditions for both spectators and players alike.

As the scoreline suggests, the conditions made this an error-strewn affair with handling difficult as the ball started to have all the adhesive qualities of a soap bar.

After beating Swansea 16-13 at home on Tuesday night, Vale were chasing their second consecutive Welsh Premier League win, but an immense effort from Bridgend meant that they were denied.

A nondescript first half ended with Vale leading 6-0 after Irish fly-half Mark Meenan somehow managed to lift the ball out of the mud for a penalty and a dropped goal, the latter right on half time to put his side ahead.

Neither side had found any rhythm in their game with referee Nigel Whitehouse coming down hard on both sets of jumpers at the line-out, which rapidly degenerated into a lottery mainly due to the conditions.

At one point Whitehouse called aside Vale jumpers Ockert Booyse and Peter Sidoli, as well as Bridgend's former Steelmen Nathan Budgett and Deiniol Jones, to have some stern words about their jumping techniques, but taking clean ball in this sort of weather was a challenge in itself.

Whitehouse is not popular on the terraces at Eugene Cross Park where the fans regard him as tough on their side, but to be fair he kept a tight control on what was a difficult game to referee.

Vale had much the better of the first 40 minutes as scrum half Bryan Shelbourne and number eight Kati Tuipulotu in particular played well to keep Vale moving forward.

Shelbourne revelled in the heavy conditions putting pressure on Bridgend scrum-half Sililo Martens and full-back Matt James when they kicked for territory.

Coach Mike Ruddock has the luxury of three quality scrum-halves to choose from with Andrew Bevan and Gareth Betts nipping at Shelbourne's heels for the number nine shirt.

But for all the good work Ebbw put in the first half, it was a different story after the break.

Bridgend got their act together and spent the vast majority of the second period camped in the home side's half, even without international lock Andy Moore and captain Gareth Thomas, away with Wales in Wrexham, they still have a decent side and they stepped up a gear.

The sight of Shawn Van Rensburg charging into the Steelmen on runs at the heart of the defence became a typical sight as the Ravens gave Vale's defence their toughest test of the season.

Both Llanelli and Neath have opened up Vale's defence this season with long-range strikes, but this was the first time that Ebbw Vale have spent long periods of time stuck deep in their own half under intense pressure.

Both prop Christian Loader and flanker Cory Harris were tackled with the line at their mercy as the Steelmen made tackle after tackle.

But the pressure had to tell and when it did it was harsh on Vale's centre Martin Ridley.

A loose ball spilled deep in the Ebbw half was gathered by Harris and the ball was worked to British Lion Dafydd James who skipped through Ridley's tackle and went over.

Having missed three penalties, wing Craig Warlow slotted over the conversion with fiftteen minutes left for a deserved 7-6 lead.

The home side responded positively and set up attacks in the Bridgend half, but the best they could do was a half-hearted drop goal attempt from Meenan which was so low it barely cleared the mud.

Having beaten Vale 18-17 on their last visit to Eugene Cross Park, Bridgend sneaked another close win, but with Nathan Budgett, Deiniol Jones and Matt Jones in their ranks, the Ravens have a habit of relieving Vale of their best players.

Teams. Ebbw Vale: R Davies, N Wakely, M Ridley (rep R Shorney 77 mins), P Matthews, A Takarangi, M Meenan, B Shelbourne, A Black, J Evans, M Jones, O Booyse (rep C Billen 65 mins), P Sidoli (W Thomas 79 mins), R Williams, K Tuipulotu Scorers: Pens: Meenan, Drop goal: Meenan

Bridgend: M James, C Warlow, Havili, D James, J Funnell, Havili, S Mannix, S Martens, C Loader (rep P Booth 69 mins), B Phillips (C Horsham 69 mins), J Thiel, D Jones, N Budgett, R Bryant, C Harris, S Van Rensburg Scorers: Try: James, con: Warlow Referee: N Whitehouse (Swansea) Attendance: 1,500