A WIN is always useful to help a new face settle in at a club and Lyn Jones couldn’t have asked for a better start to life at Ebbw Vale.

The rugby consultant oversaw a terrific victory against Cardiff at the Arms Park with the Steelmen surviving the hosts’ second-half comeback.

The Eugene Cross Park outfit raced into a 16-0 half-time lead but were stunned by 25 unanswered points before Aaron Bramwell booted a penalty and then added a terrific touchline conversion of James Lewis’ interception try.

And the former Ospreys chief has paid tribute to the Ebbw supporters for playing their part in helping the players dig deep to take the spoils.

“I’ve really warmed to the club, the officials are excellent and the supporters have been every bit as good as I was told they would be,” he said.

“They were so enthusiastic and really got behind the team. There was no negativity and that really helped us, especially in the second half when we were under pressure.

“Cardiff played well but our first-half performance was as good as a lot of regional ones that I have seen. But saying that, the second half display was Division Two stuff to level it off!

“But there is a nice blend of players at the club and my job is to help in the development of the ambitious ones, while trying to help the club achieve as high a position as possible.”

Jones has been impressed by the attitude and approach of the Vale squad but appreciates that they will need to be on top of their game if they are to record their first back-to-back wins of the campaign when they head to basement outfit Llandovery tomorrow.

The Drovers have lost all six of their games so far, the latest a narrow defeat at Pontypool, and they need to start picking up points if they are to avoid another tense relegation run-in.

“It will be a very tough game and we appreciate that the club’s history at Llandovery isn’t particularly good,” said Jones.

“It’s quite common that a good result is followed by coming unstuck, so we will be ensuring that the preparation is good and that we focused from the off.

“The bottom team has an ability to beat anyone in the Premiership. They will have a big opening 20 minutes and it will be down to us to rise to that challenge and stop them getting on the front foot.”

Ebbw have been given the services of Newport Gwent Dragons flanker Jamie Ringer and he slots in alongside Academy products Rhys Jenkins and James Thomas in the back row.

Andrew Williams replaces Dai Langdon at fly-half with the latter dropping down to the bench.

Ebbw Vale: A McLaughlan, I Coombes, K Owen (captain), A Bramwell, J Lewis, A Williams, L Lane, A Lott, R Wilkes, M Jones, J Griffiths, G Lucas, R Jenkins, J Ringer, J Thomas. Replacements: G Jones, C Thomas, S Pengelly, R Eaves, S Powell, D Langdon, I Evans.