Ironmen show mettle to see off Steelmen
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP EAST EBBW VALE ................. 20 MERTHYR .................... 33
MERTHYR won the bragging rights in this hardfought local derby of the Steelmen v the Ironmen which saw referee Rhys Thomas issue five yellow cards.
Merthyr did most of the early attacking but silly errors and a little indiscipline took the pressure off Ebbw Vale.
The home side took the lead when a fine break from home centre David Langdon who made 40 meters but was halted inside the Merthyr 22, but Merthyr gave away a penalty which home outside half Lewis Dennet converted to give Ebbw Vale a 3-0 lead.
However, this was short lived as Merthyr full back Matthew Jarvis drew the scores level 3-3 following a high tackle.
Dennet extended Ebbw Vale’s lead with his second penalty to extend the lead 6-3.
Then came Merthyr’s’ first try when outside half Ben Jones chipped the ball over the home defence inside the 22 which saw centre Harri Millard win the race for the touchdown under the posts, Jarvis converted and Merthyr had taken a 6-10 lead.
Merthyr were then reduced to 14 men when back row man Ed Siggery was yellow carded for an off-the-ball offence which saw Dennet make no mistake with the penalty kick to close the gap 9-10.
Back came the Ironmen and this time Ebbw Vale were penalised and Jarvis made no mistake with a 35-metre kick to nudge Merthyr further ahead 9-13.
Just before half-time Merthyr were once again reduced to 14 men when back-rower Osian Davies was shown a yellow card for preventing home scrum half Carl Lewis taking a quick penalty.
The Steelmen took advantage of the extra man as they drove from the lineout which saw hooker Rhys Francis crash over to give Ebbw Vale a 17-13 half-time lead.
Matthew Jarvis reduced the lead with a well struck penalty early in the second half, but this was soon cancelled out as Dennet kicked his fifth penalty to give the home side a 20-19 lead.
Then indiscipline from the home side saw them reduced to first 14 men and shortly after to 13 and then 12 men as Rhys Clarke, Lance Randell, and try scorer Francis were all shown yellow cards by referee Thomas.
Merthyr took full advantage as they turned down a kick at goal and kicked for touch, and from the lineout drove Ebbw Vale back over their line and when they collapsed the drive, referee Thomas awarded a penalty try to extend the Ironmen’s lead 20-26.
Things got worse for the home side as a penalty on the halfway line was drilled deep into the Ebbw Vale half by outside half Jones.
From the driving lineout young second row Ben Murphy crashed over from short range, Jarvis converted and Merthyr had taken a 13-point lead with time running out.
Merthyr then chased the bonus point as they threw everything at the home side but the home side defended well to keep the Ironmen out.
In this hard-fought local derby, it was the three yellow cards that turned the game towards Merthyr and proved the downfall of the Steelmen.
For the Ironmen, it was once again the pack that laid the foundation for the win with Louis Jones, young second row Ben Murphy, and veteran Joe Bearman the pick of the forwards.
Behind the scrum young outside half Ben Jones is beginning to settle as he showed with some fine runs and kicked well for touch, and full back Matthew Jarvis showing his kicking skills with a tally of 16 points.
After a poor run of form, this away win will give the Ironmen the boost they need to find the form of last season, however they will be tested once again as they make the short trip this week to Bargoed Park, to face Bargoed, who also had a fine away win at Rodney parade over Newport.