EBBW Vale clinched an exciting 25-26 Principality Premiership victory over Cardiff at The Arms Park after a real topsy-turvy battle that had both sets of supporters biting their nails long before the final whistle.

Centre Aaron Bramwell was the visitors’ hero, coolly stroking a touchline conversion kick between the uprights after a dramatic 72nd-minute interception try by left wing James Lewis.

The splendid kick restored Vale’s lead to just a point after they had surrendered a 16-0 interval score line in their favour and then found themselves trailing 25-16 midway through the second half.

So former Ospreys head coach Lyn Jones, now engaged as a consultant at Eugene Cross Park, started his tenure in just the right way – even if it was a close call in the end.

Impressive Lewis had also scored Vale’s opening try to seal an excellent first- half performance by Kristian Owen and his men.

Centre Owen put him clear with a long midfield pass and Cardiff’s defensive line was torn to shreds. Bramwell ended with a personal total of 16 points by converting both tries and finding the target with four good penalty goals.

Cardiff scored all their 25 points in a dramatic 14-minute spell soon after the restart. Wing forward Rhys Shellard, Australian full back Tim Mosey – making his club debut – and replacement hooker Gary Horrigan snapped up touchdowns while outside- half Gareth Davies kicked two penalties and two conversions.

However, Davies will be regretting hitting an upright with another short-range penalty midway through the first half.

The closing stages were tingling as referee Leighton Hodges played six minutes of injury time, but Vale held their nerve and certainly ended the game, pressing hard once again deep inside their opponents’ territory.

Ebbw Vale backs coach Matthew McCarthy said after the match: “This really was a game of two halves. In the first period I thought we were excellent.

“We played the way we had trained all week with Lyn (Jones) coming in and changing just a couple of things. We coped well in defence and we attacked pretty well.

“To be fair, Cardiff came back hard at us in the first 20 minutes of the second half, scoring their tries quickly.

“Lyn has been outstanding this week and all that coaching experience he brings with him is just fantastic.”

Cardiff forwards coach Howard Stone said: “I’m disappointed we lost after making such a fantastic comeback in the second half. We must learn to ‘kill off’ games when we get in front.”

Cardiff: T Mosey; R Howells, S James (G Chapman 40), L Ford, C Morgan; G Davies (L Jarvis 71), O Ruttley, capt. (Garyn Lucas 78); S Roberts, K Crawford (G Horrigan 56), J Yapp ( Gay 66), M Veater, J Down, D Welch (A Powell 40), R Shellard (N Hampson 66) and C Everett.

Tries: R Shellard (47 mins), T Mosey (54 mins) and G Horrigan (59 mins); pens: G Davies (45 and 53 mins); cons: G Davies (2).

Ebbw Vale: A McLaughlan (S Powell 58); A Bevan, K Owen, capt., A Bramwell, J Lewis; D Langdon (A Williams 78), L Lane (I Evans 63); A Lott (G Jones 71), R Wilkes (C Thomas 77), M Jones, J Griffiths, G Lucas (D Absalom 71), C Ruddock, S Pengelly (R Jenkins 61) and J Thomas.

Tries: J Lewis ( 40+1 and 72 mins); pens: A Bramwell (11, 15, 27 and 66 mins); cons: A Bramwell (2).

Referee: Leighton Hodges (Bridgend).