Cross Keys won a thrilling Gwent derby 26-24 at Ebbw Vale in the Principality Premiership on October 10.
It was Keys who enjoyed the better opening and produced several chances before settling for an Ethan Davies penalty from in front of the posts after just over 2 minutes of play.
It was good build up and patient play that eventually saw Keys create a two man overlap out wide for Scott Andrews to cross the whitewash with ease. Ethan Davies kicked the conversion.
Keys looked like extending their lead when they put Vale under huge pressure with 30 minutes played but the chance went begging when the ball was spilled and Vale picked up almost on their own try line, opening up the Keys defence to cross for a superb try thanks to wing Ryan Gardiner. Outside half Iain Smerdon converted.
Smerdon had a chance to level the scores just before the break with a long range penalty but it fell short and Keys held on to their narrow lead.
Keys again looked sharper in the opening minutes of the second half, but Vale’s defence stood firm.
It did break however, and Keys crossed for their second try with a little over ten minutes of the half played when Ethan Davies broke through a number of tackles and ducked under a crowd of bodies to cross the line for a try he also converted.
It got even better for Keys as Davies crossed again with 15 minutes to go and converted his own try.
Two tries by the home side ensured a tense ending, but Keys did enough to close the game out and celebrated a hard fought victory over their Gwent rivals.
Fourth in the table Cross Keys host leaders Pontypridd on October 17.
Match report by David Glastonbury, courtesy of www.crosskeysrfc.com.