Hooker Ieuan Morris proved the match-winner with a decisive try at the death to seal a remarkable 34-33 triumph over Swansea RFC at Broadacre, capping a breathless encounter that swung wildly throughout and featured a flurry of cards.
For Strange, the manner of the win — coming amid mounting injuries, suspensions and a run of poor results — made it all the more significant.
“It was an extraordinary game, featuring five yellow cards and one red; given our injuries and suspensions, the team delivered an outstanding performance and secured a crucial victory against a much-improved Swansea side,” he said.
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Ebbw had looked in serious danger of slipping to a third straight league defeat, despite spending long periods with a numerical advantage. Instead, they found a way to snatch victory in the final play, underlining the grit that has driven their campaign.
Morris was again at the heart of it all, claiming a hat-trick to take his tally for the season to 17 — remarkably, seven of those tries have now come against Swansea alone.
The visitors made a bright start, opening the scoring through Liam Lloyd, but the complexion of the game shifted when Swansea were reduced to 14 men after Iwan Shenton was sent off for an off-the-ball incident just before the half-hour mark.
Despite that setback, the home side rallied impressively. Tries from Lewis Edwards and Matthew Aubrey, both converted by Josh Phillips, helped Swansea into a 19-8 half-time lead, leaving Ebbw with work to do.
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The second period descended into further chaos as discipline on both sides faltered. Yellow cards for Kian Hire and Mat Protheroe saw Swansea briefly reduced to 12 players — and Ebbw capitalised ruthlessly.
A penalty try, followed by further scores from Morris and Cameron Davies, turned the contest on its head, with Tom Price adding the extras to push the Steelmen into a 29-19 advantage.
Yet the drama was far from over. Ebbw themselves were then hit by two yellow cards, with Curtis Gregory and Luke Garrett sent to the sin bin, allowing Swansea to regain momentum.
A penalty try and a converted effort from Callum Bowden edged the hosts back in front at 33-29 heading into the closing stages.
But just when it seemed Swansea might hold on — and extend their five-match winning run — another yellow card, this time for replacement Iwan Glynn, proved costly.
Ebbw seized their final opportunity, kicking a late penalty to the corner before executing a clinical catch-and-drive, with Morris crashing over to complete his hat-trick and secure a scarcely believable victory.
Elsewhere in the competition, Newport RFC continued their strong run of form with a 35-20 win over Bridgend Ravens, extending their winning streak to six matches.
The Black & Ambers also successfully defended the SRC Challenger Shield for the first time since taking it from Ebbw the previous weekend.
Tries from Dafydd Buckland, Ben Roach, Kyle Tayler, Henry Palmer and Chay Foster-Smith, all converted by Harrison James, ensured a bonus-point success, although the Ravens claimed a point of their own thanks to four unconverted tries.
RGC climbed to sixth place with a 41-23 victory over Carmarthen Quins, producing a dominant second-half display after trailing at the break.
Billy McBryde played a key role, contributing a try, three conversions and a penalty as the hosts pulled clear.
Meanwhile, Aberavon RFC finally ended their long wait for a win with a 38-14 success against Pontypool RFC in a basement clash.
A first-half hat-trick from scrum-half Scott Whitlock laid the foundations for victory — their first in almost five months — while Pontypool slumped to an 11th consecutive league defeat.
But the headline act belonged to Ebbw Vale and their never-say-die finish — a performance epitomised by Morris’ late heroics and summed up by Strange’s pride in a side that refused to fold when it mattered most.
