Ironmen show steel to go five points clear
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP
CARDIFF ...................... 20 MERTHYR .................... 25
MERTHYR recorded a hard-fought win over Blues rivals Cardiff RFC for the third time this season as they ran out winners 20-25.
This win, with secondplace Pontypridd losing, puts the Ironmen five points clear at the top of the Premiership league.
The Ironmen once again showed their forward power as from the first scrum they drove the home side backwards at the set piece. A deep kick into the corner by outside half Garth Davies pinned the home side close to their own line. A catch and drive from captain Craig Locke saw his fellow forwards drive him over for the first try of the night, full back Matthew Jarvis converting to give Merthyr an early 0-7 lead.
From the re-start Merthyr were guilty of not securing the ball and were penalised which saw home outside half James Dixon slot over a penalty from 35 meters, to close the gap 3-7.
Merthyr began to settle and once again the forwards were constantly keeping the Cardiff scrum under pressure and the home side were guilty of giving penalties away. Once again from a kickable penalty, Merthyr kicked deep into the Cardiff 22. From the lineout, won by the improving young second row Ben Sier, the Merthyr pack drove Cardiff over their own line with hooker Rhys Williams crashing over for the first of his two tries. The Merthyr backs also began to show their pace and speed with Kyle Evans and Kristian Phillips looking very dangerous with ball in hand. Matthew Jarvis extended the Ironmen’s lead with a well struck penalty after Cardiff were penalised once again at the set scrum to stretch the lead 3-15.
It was now all Merthyr as Cardiff couldn’t cope with the constant pressure of the Merthyr forwards, with Phil Rees, Ed Siggery and Nick White making big yards for Merthyr with storming runs, and it was not long before the Ironmen extended their lead further when a lineout inside the Cardiff half was driven once again backwards and up popped hooker Rhys Williams to cross for his second try, Jarvis converted to give Merthyr a 3-22 half-time lead.
Cardiff made several half-time changes to try and get back into the game which seemed to work at the set piece for a while, however Jarvis extended Merthyr’s lead further early in the second half as the Cardiff scrum collapsed once again and he slotted the easy three points.
A fine break out of defence from home wing James Beal saw him race away up field and Merthyr were guilty of missing tackles, as the ball was recycled deep inside the Merthyr 22 centre Adam Jones was on hand to take the pass to cross for a try, replacement outside half Gareth Thompson converted to close the gap 10-25.
Merthyr then put the pressure back on the Cardiff side looking for the allimportant fourth try and bonus point, a kickable penalty was once again turned down by Merthyr as they kicked deep inside the Cardiff 22. From the lineout Merthyr drove towards the Cardiff line and after several pick up and drives it looked as if they were going to score, but a stray drop pass was picked up by full back Llywarch ap Myrddin who raced the full length of the field to beat the Merthyr defence to score under the posts, Thompson converted to close the gap 17-25.
With time all most up Merthyr were once again on the attack looking for the fourth try but it wasn’t to be as deep into injury-time Cardiff were awarded a penalty on the halfway line, with the last kick of the game Thompson converted the kick to give Cardiff a losing bonus point as Merthyr had run out winners 20-25.
It was once again the strength and power of the Merthyr scrum that caused Cardiff problems all night, with the front row of Nathan Trevett, Rhys Williams and Joe Rees giving their opposite numbers a torrid time at the set piece. Young second row Ben Sier is beginning to develop into a great asset to the Merthyr lineout with his fine lineout wins. Behind the scrum Gareth Davies controlled the good ball from the pack by his fine kicks and distribution, centre Josh Martin is also beginning to settle as he returns from injury, and Merthyr have match winners in wingmen Kyle Evans and Kristian Phillips.
Merthyr return home this week after several weeks playing away and entertain local rivals Pontypridd at home, kick off 2.30pm.