Bridgend's Wales 'A' half-back pairing of Huw Harries and Craig Warlow were the driving force behind Bridgend's 24-12 victory over Ebbw Vale, as the Brewery Field side moved into second place in the Welsh-Scottish League.

The hosts had to battle for their win, trying to punch through the visitors' flat and tenacious defence, only to be frustrated by superb tackling and handling errors.

And there was relief for Dennis John's side after a serious-looking injury to lock Paul Clapham turned out to be relatively minor.

The big second row fell awkwardly at a line out and required oxygen before being stretchered off, but suffered ankle ligament damage and will be out for only a couple of weeks.

"It was a very hard game for us tonight," Harries said. "They were very organised, especially in defence.

"They turned a lot of our ball over, which was a bit of a disappointment but they're fighting for their lives."

Bridgend were tentative from the start and Shaun Connor landed a penalty and dropped a goal to give the visitors the lead.

But Bridgend bounced back when Shaun van Rensburg sent skipper Harries under the posts for a converted score.

Vale had Stephen John sent to the sin-bin for a late challenge on Warlow, but that did not stop Connor adding a second drop goal.

Warlow kicked a penalty to end a poor first half, with Bridgend holding a slender 10-9 lead.

Knock-out blow

The shoot-out continued when a second Connor penalty again nudged the visitors in front.

Vale produced heroics in defence until fierce pressure brought a second try for Harries, which Warlow converted.

Then fly-half Warlow delivered the knock-out blow when he collected a clever chip over the defence to score a converted try under the posts.

"We're second in the Welsh-Scottish League and it's fantastic," Harries added. "We've got a couple of games in hand as wellon people below us.

"There's a long way to go but we're confident and ever improving."

Bridgend: Tries: Warlow, Harries 2. Cons: Warlow 3. Pen: Warlow.

Ebbw Vale: Pens: Connor 2. Drop Goals: Connor 2.

Teams:

Bridgend: Taumalolo, G. Jones, Devereux, Durston, Peters, Warlow, Harries, Price, Ferris, Griffiths, Clapham, Stephens, Bryan, Van Rensburg, Molitika.
Replacements: Mustoe, Lloyd, Ringer, Joy, Hewlett, D. Jones, Cull.

Ebbw Vale: Matthews, John, Shorney, Hawker, Wagstaff, Connor, Smith, Thomas, L. Phillips, Penisini, Billen, D. Jones, Green, M. Jones, T. Morris.
Replacements: A. Phillips, B. Morris, Grabham, S. Williams, Betts, Strange, J. Williams.

Att: 2,300

Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales).