With a tight tussle at Eugene Cross Park all tied up at 13-13, the former Wales U20 wing was put away on the narrow side of a scrum by Harrison James and created enough space to send full back Cam Winnett over in the corner.
That try put Cardiff in front with 10 minutes left to play and they successfully negotiated the closing minutes to move back to the too of the table and set-up a huge final game at the Arms Park on Saturday with Merthyr.
The prize at stake will be a home semi-final tie in the Indigo Premiership play-offs, with a potential re-match with fourth placed Newport on the cards.
It has been a cruel few weeks for Ebbw Vale. Winnett’s try aside, Jason Strange’s team were effectively written out of the play-off picture when Llanelli threw in the towel for their final two games and presented five free points to both Merthyr and Newport. It meant that even before their clash with Cardiff they couldn’t move out of fifth place.
Cardiff made a faltering start. Evan Lloyd kicked an early penalty for the home side, the Blue & Blacks then lost James Beal with an injury and also lost flanker Nathan Hudd to a yellow card.
While he was away, The Steelmen conjured up a try for Lewis Young which Lloyd improved to extend their lead to 10 points just short of the half-hour mark. The gauntlet had been well and truly laid down by the home side and Cardiff had to turn to their most experienced head to change the course of the game.
Dan Fish had been the man of the match six days earlier in the cup final and it was his try that got Cardiff back into the contest. Harrison James, who had earlier replaced Beal, added the extras and then kicked a penalty on the stroke of half-time to level things up gong into the second half.
That made it 13-13 and it took the try from Winnett to win it for Cardiff and take them above Merthyr and Llandovery in the race for top spot and a home semi-final. They now meet Merthyr at home in their final fixture before concentrating on retaining their title in the play-offs.
Scorers: Ebbw Vale: Try: L Young; Con: E Lloyd; Pens: E Lloyd 2. Cardiff: Tries: D Fish, C Winnett; Con: H James; Pens: H James 2.
