EBBW Vale were crowned SWALEC Championship winners following a convincing 66-17 win over The Wanderers at Eugene Cross Park last night.

Needing just a point to secure the title, the result was never in doubt as the Steelmen ran in a total of 10 tries, their free-flowing style of play proving too much for the opposition.

The Wanderers played their part and refused to give up, but at the final whistle, the home side were clear winners.

There were five home tries in the first half, Polu Uhi opening the scoring with Dan Haymond, Adam Jones and Gareth Williams also crossing. Fly half Josh Lewis converted three of the scores and added the extra two to a try of his own in an entertaining first half.

With the game won and the title secured, there was more of the same in the second half though both sides contributed to the overall outcome.

It was open stuff, Ebbw looking to score at every opportunity while with nothing to lose, Wanderers were hardly content to settle for kicks at goal.

And there were plenty of tries on show, wing Dan Ajuwa running in a second half hat-trick with Haymond adding a second of his own.

Wes Cunliffe was also on the score sheet while Mike Stephens and Josh Hurley were scorers for the Wanderers.

Matthew Williams led the Steelmen out on his 200th appearance for the club but his side had actually fallen behind early on, Ed Doe kicking the Wanderers into a 3-0 lead with just seconds on the clock.

From then on though, the home side were dominant, Uhi soon replying with the first try of the night.

The centre broke through a couple of tacklers and made his way to the line to cross under the posts.

Lewis converted as the home side made a quick response.

The Wanderers were up against it, and although they initially withstood an attacking barrage, they could only do it for so long as Ebbw dominated territory. The second score soon arrived, a huge scrum laying the platform for Haymond to make the most of an overlap and cross in the corner.

Lewis missed the conversion but Jason Strange's side were now full of confidence, securing a bonus point well before half time.

Jones added a third try following an Ajuwa break before Williams crossed for the score which took Ebbw past 1,000 points for the season.

More importantly, with Lewis converting both tries, the score was now a decisive 26-3 after half an hour. And by the time the interval had arrived, it was 33-3, Lewis converting a score of his own for the fifth of the half.

The momentum continued at the start of the second period, Cunliffe burrowing over and Ajuwa racing clear to make it seven different try scorers on the evening. Haymond converted the second of those scores before the Wanderers hit back with a breakaway try for full back Stephens.

Doe converted but it didn't last long, Haymond then adding a superb score, his second of the day.

Picking up a loose kick inside his own half, the Ebbw full back raced into the opposition half, exchanged passes with Lewis, and went over with ease to bring up the half century.

Ajuwa then added his second and with the ever dangerous Haymond kicking two conversions, the title was being secured in style.

There was still time for Ajuwa to complete a hat-trick and Josh Hurley to reply for the Wanderers but there was no doubting the winners on the night and of the Championship overall.

Ebbw Vale team: Dan Haymond, Wes Cunliffe, Polu Uhi, Adam Jones, Dan Ajuwa; Josh Lewis, Dai Jones; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Robert Sevenoaks; Damien Hudd (capt) Ashley Sweet; Cameron Regan, Ronny Kynes, Gareth WIlliams.

Replacements: John Lavender, Jonny Bowen, Joe Bartlett, Will Owen, Chris Thomas.