Greg Woods’ Steelmen fell off the top of the table following a 24-19 defeat to Pontypridd at Sardis Road and the result allowed defending champions Merthyr to move back to the summit.
It’s now tight at the top with only three points separating Merthyr, Ebbw and Pontypridd.
In the eight games to take place, a grand total of 464 points were scored as Premiership crowds across Wales were treated to some thrilling action and plenty of tries.
Although they sit third in the table, Pontypridd would have ended the weekend happiest.
Ebbw Vale arrived at Sardis Road on a run of seven straight league wins, but they hadn’t prepared for a star performance from Ben Jones who guided the home side to success.
Ebbw took an early lead via a Rhys Jones penalty, but Pontypridd responded with an automatic seven points via a penalty try.
Rhys Jones kicked another goal before a Gareth Smith try for Pontypridd and penalties from Ben Jones and Ebbw’s Carl Meyer.
The visitors took back control at the start of the second half when Stefan Thomas just made it to the line. The rest of the game turned into a straight shootout between the kickers.
But it was Ben Jones who came out on top over namesake Rhys as Pontypridd took the spoils.
Ebbw’s defeat opened the door for Merthyr and the Ironmen strode through the gap with a bonus-point success over Swansea on home turf.
A 35-24 win was just reward for Merthyr’s dominance, but they didn’t have it all their own way.
Callum Carson opened the scoring for Swansea with a quick tap and run to the line.
After that, the scoring continued at a regular rate.
In the end Merthyr were the ones to come out on top and their tries came from Jay Baker, Kyle Evans, Adam
Hoskins, Craig Locke and a late Phil Rees effort.
Swansea never went away and scored through Charlie Davies and Josh Guy and while Carson got his second of the afternoon, it wasn’t enough.
Elsewhere, there was a thrilling game at Cardiff Arms Park as Cardiff got the better of Llanelli in a 93-point clash.
It was the Blue and Blacks who went home happy following a 52-41 win, their fourth straight victory.
Cardiff Blues hooker Kirby Myhill found himself among the home team’s try scorers.
Llanelli remain second bottom, but the amount of tries they scored in the capital should give them hope for the rest of the campaign to come.
In a more one-sided fixture, Llandovery downed Neath 30-3 as the Drovers bounced back from a run of three straight defeats in front of the BBC Scrum V cameras at Church Bank.
Replacement Lee Rees was the man to seal the bonus-point win in the final few minutes as Neath’s brave performance in the forwards was ultimately left unrewarded.
Matt O’Brien produced the best individual display of the weekend as the Newport captain scored 23 of his team’s 28 points against Bridgend.
The Black and Ambers were 28-17 winners as O’Brien stole the show with two first-half tries, two conversions, and two penalties.
It meant there was absolutely no doubt over the man of the match award come the full-time whistle at Rodney Parade.
The final three matches saw Bargoed beat Aberavon 38-18, Carmarthen Quins took a bonus point as they downed RGC 1404 35-22, and Bedwas stormed Pandy Park to defeat Cross Keys.
Bedwas overturned an early 17-3 deficit to come out on top and their impressive scrum display against their regional rivals should give them plenty of heart.
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