EBBW Vale coach Matthew McCarthy says the battle to avoid relegation carries on regardless despite Pontypool opening up a seven-point gap on the bottom club.

And that battle starts with a crunch match against Pooler on Saturday.

“Pontypool are obviously on a bit of a run but they have to come to Eugene Cross Park and that’s going to be a massive game,” said McCarthy.

“If we win our remaining three games and Pooler lose a couple of theirs then we stay up. But it’s not as easy as it sounds.

“It’s hard work. This group of players is young and they have improved but it obviously was not good enough against Swansea.

“The players aren’t giving up but it just seems everything is conspiring against us at the moment, probably how Bridgend felt last year.

“I thought we played well but lacked a little bit of composure – you can tell we have been on a losing streak. Swansea didn’t create much – they lived off our mistakes.”

McCarthy was far from happy with referee David Bodilly, who felt got some crucial decisions wrong during the game.

McCarthy said: “He’s a good referee but he’s got to look at that performance and say it’s not good enough. It’s not sour grapes on my part because we are well of the situation we are in.”

Ebbw Vale were hit by a try hat-trick from Swansea’s 18-year-old teenage wing Hanno Dirksen – the third score in injury time sealing the All Whites a bonus point.

But the Swansea win was marred by a serious injury to centre Chris Shelmerdine, who suffered a broken jaw in a double tackle and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

And a second ambulance was required for another facial injury to Ebbw Vale full-back Nick Wakley.

The match was held up for a total of 20 minutes because of the injuries but it only delayed Ebbw Vale crashing to the four tries to one defeat.

Number eight Rhys Williams did score a good try for the Steelmen but it wasn’t enough to stop them slipping to defeat that means they have lost all 13 away games this season.

Swansea scorers: Tries – H Dirksen (3), B Lewis; Cons – J Dixon (3) Ebbw Vale: N Wakely (A Williams 80); A Davies, L Phillips, S Powell, A Bevan; G James (G Bowen h-t), A Jenkins (capt); A Coundley, B Parry, M Jones, H Pugh, J Griffiths, T Mabbutt, R Williams, R Jenkins.

Ebbw Vale try: R Williams Referee: David Bodilly (Cardiff)