Loader lauds players after upset

And few, if any would have predicted this outcome, especially as the Steelmen had gone down to a heavy 51-12 defeat at Pontypridd last time out.

But Vale showed traditional values in completing the double over the Blacks, who lost 29-10 at Eugene Cross Park back in October.

Just as changes at the helm of football clubs can bring about significant changes in fortunes, the arrival of forwards coach Christian Loader at Eugene Cross Park might prove a masterstroke.

Last month Loader in tandem with ex-Swansea scrum-half Rhodri Jones were entrenched as coaches at fifth-division Swansea Valley club Trebanos.

But Loader readily accepted a chance to work alongside Matthew McCarthy at Vale.

And this win over Neath was just the tonic the club needed.

However, the former Swansea prop, who won 19 Welsh caps, heaped praise on the players for the gusto they put into training last week.

"When I got a telephone call from Ebbw Vale to say the least it was unexpected, but it formed a brilliant chance for me to further my coaching career," explained Loader.

He added: "There is still a lot of hard work to be performed at the club, but the players last week upped intensity during two training sessions.

“They are the ones who deserved to come away from The Gnoll with a win, as they really took Neath on.’’ The victory was also achieved without the services of the Wales sevens duo of Aaron Bramwell and James Lewis while Rob Lewis was called on by the Newport Gwent Dragons in Connacht and David Langdon was with coach Phil Davies’ Wales U-20s side.

Former coaching consultant Lyn Jones witnessed Vale as they began to take the sting out of the home challenge.

And a former Neath player, Brecon-based flanker Simon Pengelly, led from the front, as Vale made it two wins and a draw from their last three visits to Neath’s famous ground.

Pengelly was a man on a mission, and he made his point felt to Neath for having released him at the end of last season.

And in a Vale pack that that lasted the pace well, captain and No 8 Gavin Lucas and Cambridge Blue Will Jones at lock were the other standout performers.

Jones figured prominently in the build up to both Vale tries, but he then bombed a certain try in the 68th minute when failing to cling on to a try-scoring pass from wing Andrew Bevan.

The Steelmen livened proceedings up in registering two tries in the space of eight minutes in the approach to half time.

Wing Ieuan Coombes was sent in at the corner while lock Jones worked his socks off before releasing fly-half Andrew Williams for a try at the posts.

Fly-half Williams improved on both while a try from Neath centre Wayne Mitchell reduced half-time arrears to 14-5. But any hope that Neath held of turning things around evaporated on the restart when Vale continued to go at it hammer and tongs.

Two penalties from fly-half Williams made it 20-5 before a belated Neath rally yielded a try by fly-half Howard Thomas and a penalty from replacement Matty James.

But Vale easily clung on to end a run of six league matches without a win.

Incredibly, since lowering the colours of the Blacks back on October 25, the Steelmen had won just once – 23-17 at Pontypool over Christmas. They must now wish they could play Neath every week.

Neath: G King (M James 51 mins); R Smith, S Thomas, W Mitchell, G James; H Thomas, T Knoyle (K Farrell 51); N Downs, G Price (A James 74), M Jones (A Howell 74), E Evans, N Edwards, C Ruddock, G Gravell (capt), C Price (L Evans 40)

Scorers: Tries – W Mitchell, H Thomas; Con: M James; Pen: A James

Ebbw Vale: A McLaughlan; I Coombes, P Smith, S Powell, A Bevan; A Williams, L Lane; A Coundley (A Lott 53), M Williams (R Wilkes 75), M Jones (A Coundley 59), W Jones, M Griffin, J Griffiths (S Waldron 76), G Lucas (capt) (J Thomas 66), S Pengelly

Scorers: Tries – I Coombes, A Williams; Cons: A Williams (2); Pens: A Williams (2)

Referee: Leighton Hodges (Bridgend)

Argus star man: Simon Pengelly (Ebbw Vale)