PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP
MERTHYR got back to winning ways as they came back from trailing 10-15 at half time to run out winners in a second half which saw them run in five tries.
A stern half time talk from the coaches seemed to have worked as Merthyr were a completely different side second half.
Neath (the Welsh All Blacks) made the brighter start and seemed to have Merthyr in trouble at the set scrum which resulted in Neath full back Ed Howley kicking a penalty following a collapsed scrum. Merthyr soon replied when Neath gave away a penalty which saw full back Matthew Jarvis convert from 40m to tie the scores 3-3. Both sides were guilty of knock-ons and dropped passes before Neath took the lead when their back line moved the ball dangerously in the Merthyr 22 with wing man Aled Jenkins following up his kick ahead which hit the corner flag and bounced back into play, Howley converted to give Neath a 3-10 lead.
Back came Merthyr with several good drives from Ben Murphy, Tom Daley and No 8 Nick White with the ball reaching captain James Howe who showed his strength and determination to charge over from 10m out, Jarvis con- verted to tie the scores once again at 10-10. Both sides then lost players to the sin bin with Howe and Thomas been shown yellow cards. The remainder of the first half became very scrappy as both sides found it hard to put any phases together. Just before half time Neath took the lead once again when their back division moved the ball wide and a kick and chase from full back Ed Howley saw him catch and touch down to give Neath a 10-15 half time lead.
Merthyr came out for the second half a different side as they tore into Neath with forwards and backs combining well and when the ball reached wing man Kyle Evans just over the half way line he showed his pace as he raced away for a fine try, Jarvis converted and Merthyr had taken the lead 17-15. Merthyr then began to take control of the game as the home forwards began to pressure Neath at the set piece but a silly penalty just over the half way line was slotted over by Howley to give Neath back the lead 17-18. This shook Merthyr back into action and after several forward drives near the Neath line the ever alert Rhys Downes darted over to regain the lead 2418 with Jarvis converting. It was now all Merthyr as the forwards began to drive Neath back at the set scrum and after several drives near the Neath line referee Simon Mills awarded Merthyr a pen- alty try after Neath were guilty of collapsing the scrum, Jarvis converted and Merthyr extended the lead to 31-18 and gained a bonus point.
There was no let-off for Neath as Merthyr began to throw the ball around and several good breaks from centre Harley Thomson stretched the Neath defence as he came close to scoring. A penalty 25m out was turned down as Merthyr kicked for touch and from the lineout won by back row man Ed Siggery, the Merthyr forwards drove for the Neath line which saw second row Tom Daley crash over for the fifth try, Jarvis converted to give Merthyr a 38-18 lead.
Merthyr came straight back at Neath from the kick off with second row Ben Murphy making good ground supported well by young Ben Sier and when the ball was moved wide the backs combined well and when the ball was recycled near the Neath line second row Tom Daley was on hand to crash over for his second try, which replacement Owen Howe converted to give Merthyr a 45-18 win.
Whatever was said at half time by coaches Dale McIntosh and Leigh Jarvis worked as Merthyr turned a lacklustre first-half performance into an impressive bonus-point win. For Merthyr forwards Murphy, Daley, Siggery and captain Howe had fine games and behind the scrum Downes and Davies controlled matters with centre Harley Thomson putting in a match-winning performance which won him man of the match on his debut. This was an important win for the Ironmen after last week’s poor away performance at Bridgend, and with leaders Aberavon only managing a draw at Bedwas, Merthyr move within one point of the leaders.
This Saturday Merthyr travel to Llandovery for a 12pm kick off before the Wales v Japan international.