Bridgend 28, Ebbw Vale 24

ONE little yellow card.

That was what cost Ebbw Vale the game as they were muscled out of the match by Bridgend.

With the Steelmen down to 14 men after Kevin Ellis was sin-binned midway through the second half, the Ravens stepped up a gear and Tongan Aisea Havili powered down the wing for what proved the decisive score to save Bridgend's blushes.

It was more than Bridgend deserved.

Three first-half tries from Chay Billen, Paul Matthews and Dai Weatherley gave Vale a thoroughly deserved 21-16 lead at the break.

In the second-half, Vale looked to be easing their way to their first win at the Brewery Field for four years, but Bridgend's Craig Warlow kept his side in touch with an impressive kicking display, before Ellis was dismissed for killing the ball at a ruck with the Ravens piling on the pressure.

Referee Clayton Thomas waved the card and tries from hooker Gareth Williams and Havili followed as Bridgend moved into the lead with ten minutes to spare.

The relief on the faces of players and supporters alike at the final whistle showed how much Bridgend needed their win.

Things aren't going too well at the Brewery Field.

A quick scan down the team list before kick-off showed some impressive names in Welsh rugby and on paper they should have a team well up the table.

After the game their coach Dennis John spoke of his players having played most of the match in a state of nervousness and they did not look comfortable until midway through the second half.

After defeats to Swansea, Neath and now Bridgend, Ebbw Vale are missing a bit of luck.

In all three games they have been well in contention after 40 minutes, but have lost out to some lethal finishing in the second-half.

Havili, a friend of former Ebbw Vale and current Bridgend full-back Josh Taumalolo, made an immediate impression on his debut .

He scorched round the defence on the touchline and used his considerable pace to skip over to put Bridgend 28-24 up on 70 minutes.

Bridgend weathered the Ebbw storm, but it had all started so differently.

Looking brighter and sharper, Vale took an early lead as captain Billen crashed over from a forward drive for the opening score inside five minutes, converted by Cull.

Maama Molitika pulled a try back for Bridgend after Gareth Thomas had taken on the visitors' defence, before Cull launched an inch perfect cross kick which centre Matthews touched down.

Three penalties from Warlow kept Bridgend in touch before Weatherley scored. After the break, Bridgend started upping the tempo after a lacklustre first-half and when Ellis was sin-binned having been deemed guilty by referee Thomas after punches were thrown at a ruck, it put the Ravens firmly in the driving seat.

Tries by Williams and Havili took them clear as Bridgend produced wave after wave of attacks.

For Vale, a trip to Sardis Road next Saturday should hopefully give them a much-needed win against struggling Pontypridd.

It would be no more than they deserve.