Thomas leaves Vale in fear

Ebbw Vale 21 Swansea 26

Pity the poor rugby fan if he has nine more months of this to endure. Even allowing for the absence of some leading internationals, the fourth rubber in Pool A of the Celtic League failed to reach any heights.

Ebbw Vale faced a difficult season with no real star quality in their midst. In contrast, the All Whites of Swansea have talent and class in abundance but their qualities of attitude and commitment can often be called into question.

The home side led for most of the game, but Swansea, who never really moved out of first gear, changed their game plan after the interval, using the boot of fly-half Arwel Thomas to drive the home side back – not pretty but influential in sealing a much-needed Swansea away victory.

With the season in Wales already well on its way, the Celtic League may not have produced rugby of dazzling quality but it has created interest, with a majority of clubs enjoying the healthy sound of rotating turnstiles.

The key ingredient has been the success of the Irish Provinces, unbeaten Leinster and also Munster until their defeat against an impressive Neath on Friday evening.

Every sport needs genuine competition and this Celtic League, which many believed would be a non-event, has already grabbed the imagination of the supporters and generated that competitive streak amongst the players.

Ebbw Vale may not have attracted any big-name signings during the off-season but have recruited heavily from neighbouring clubs. Full-back Matthew James, winger Gareth Cull and forwards Neal Edwards and Will Thomas showed up well.

Swanseawere missing their Lions, Scott Gibbs and Mark Taylor, but they were able to include Thomas and Gavin Henson in the same back division.

It was Thomas who set the scoreboard in motion after 12 seconds, charging down an attempted clearance by his opposite number Scott Mitchell and diving over for what will probably be the season's quickest score. Thomas converted his early opener.

The Welsh back-rower Geraint Lewis left the field with a rib injury after only six minutes, depleting the Swansea pack, and the home side immediately took advantage with two penalties from Gareth Cull. He then blasted over a prodigious effort from 58 metres to nudge Vale ahead for the first time.

On what should have been a perfect day for a display of rugby talents, the skill level was nothing short of abysmal. Thomas missed with a couple of comfortably placed penalty attempts, as did Cull before the latter slotted an angled penalty on the half-hour. Cull repeated that effort before the interval with Thomas also managing a 30-metre effort.

At least the second half became more enjoyable due to the quickly changing scoreline, with Thomas reclaiming Swansea's early lead through two further penalties and a drop-goal, only for Cull to nose the home side ahead with two penalties with five minutes remaining.

The decisive score came two minutes before full time when the Swansea full-back Kevin Morgan produced the game's cleanest break, from a missed Vale touch-finder. Morgan tore through the midfield and found support on his left from Lee Jones and Gareth Mason, who sent second row replacement James Griffiths over for a crucial Swansea try. Thomas converted from the touchline for a 21-point tally.

Ebbw Vale: M James; G Cull (N McKim, 76), R Shorney, D Weatherley (P Matthews, 75), A Wagstaff; S Mitchell, G Betts; I Thomas, L Phillips (J Evans, 67), M Jones (D Penisini, 76), C Billen (capt), N Edwards (P Sidoli, 76), K Tuipuloto, P Williams, W Thomas (G Evans, 76).

Swansea: K Morgan; R Rees, G Henson, S Payne (M Brayley, 75), P Mackey; A Thomas, S Martens; A Le Chevalier (G Mason, 72), C Wells, B Evans, T Maullin (J Griffiths, 40), A Moore (capt), G Lewis (L Jones, 6), D Thomas, H Jenkins.

Referee: D R Davies (WRU).