Ebbw Vale 24 Swansea 13 EBBW Vale coach Alex Codling believes his side can stay near the top of the Welsh Premiership - and if the change he has fashioned in tight-head prop Kristian Gay is any guide, who can doubt him?

Gay was massively overweight when taken on permit from Tredegar nine months ago, and though he has shed around three stones, there is still scope to lose a bit more.

But in helping Vale defeat Swansea at Eugene Cross Park on Saturday to go third in the table, Gay epitomised the work ethic that has quickly made fledgling coach Codling so highly respected.

Not only was he excellent in the tight, but he made numerous bone-crunching tackles and got around the field astonishingly well for such a big man.

"When he joined us he was young and talented but had lost his way a little in rugby terms," said Codling.

"He had a choice whether or not to give rugby a real crack, so I had a chat and as a result he has worked his socks off, gone through the pain barrier, lost weight and been outstanding - and is only going to get better."

Vale, too, can only get better, for though they outscored Swansea 4-1 on tries and largely outplayed them, a lack of composure at times prevented a wider-margin success.

"We started fantastically well but lost our way for 20 minutes, so we regrouped and dominated the second half to close the game out," added Codling.

"I think we can stay near the top if we keep doing the things we are doing. It's all about momentum and confidence and the boys have confidence in each other."

Despite several promising youngsters, Vale also retain an abundance of experience, and lock Neil Edwards (despite an ankle injury) and flanker John Bowd (who went off late with a knee niggle) were inspirational on Saturday.

Edwards took six line-outs against the Swansea throw, twice with Vale under pressure near their line, and Bowd's covering and ball-carrying were crucial.

Vale trailed to a first-minute penalty, but soon after drove a lineout 22m for a great forwards try by prop Ian George.

Swansea pivot Stuart Thomas then dropped a Bryan Shelbourne kick behind his line and wing Matt Jess pounced, outside-half Sam Mills converting both tries.

Play then became scrappy, and as Vale lost direction Thomas added another Swansea penalty and converted a Marc Popham try with Vale down to 14 (centre Greg Roberts yellow-carded).

But a minute after the interval Vale wing Simon Hunt dashed over, and immediately after Swansea replacement David Blyth had been yellow-carded, quick passing from a ruck put Vale hooker Richard Wilkes across for a 64th-minute touchdown.

Vale's Kristian Owen and Swansea's Nicky Thomas were sent off for fighting after 72 minutes, but despite Neath referee Hugh Watkins astonishingly finding 12 added minutes, there were no more fireworks.

Ebbw Vale: A McLaughlan, S Hunt, K Owen, G Roberts (D Phillips 80), M Jess, S Mills, B Shelbourne (P Horgan 62), I George (L Williams 68), R Wilkes (D Williams 80), K Gay, M Griffin, N Edwards, J Bowd (J Lydiate 74), A Senio, C Cleaver.

Scorers: Tries - George, Jess, Hunt, Wilkes; conversions - Mills (2).

Swansea: R Williams, R Jones (L Bevan 62), C Shelmerdine (R Payne 66), A Thomas, N Thomas, S Thomas, J Hooper (D Pittard 77), C Williams, A James, M Jones, D Lloyd-Jones (M Collins 62), I Evans, B Lewis, R Pugh (R Jones 80), M Popham (D Blyth 62).

Scorers: Try - Popham; conversion - S Thomas; penalties - S Thomas (2).