History boys
Merthyr win the Cup for first time
MERTHYR .................... 41 NEWPORT ...................... 7
MERTHYR created club history as they lifted the WRU Cup for the first time in their 142-year history.
Merthyr produced a dominant performance from start to finish as they were crowned WRU National Cup winners following a 41-7 victory over Newport.
The Black and Ambers of Newport, who had recently defeated the Ironmen in the Premiership league, had no answer to the power of the Merthyr side in this cup final.
Newport gave everything on the day and refused to buckle early on but on the day the Ironmen were too strong and sealed the biggest victory in Welsh Cup final history.
As both sides began to settle in the early exchanges it was Merthyr’s centre Arron Pinches that began to find holes in the Newport defence and only good defence from Newport kept him from scoring. Merthyr took the lead following a touch kick deep into the Newport 22 for outside half Richard Powell. From the lineout the Merthyr forwards drove the Newport pack backwards over their own line and prop forward Nathan Trevett crashed over for Merthyr’s opening try, full back Matthew Jarvis converted to put the Ironmen in front 7-0.
It was all Merthyr pressure and they should have extended the lead further but prop forward Joe Rees’s try was disallowed when the TMO adjudged the ball was not grounded. However, Merthyr were awarded a penalty which Jarvis made no mistake to stretch the lead to 100. Matthew Jarvis, who in the final passed a 1,000 points in three seasons for the Ironmen, then kicked a long-range penalty and it was now one-way traffic as Newport struggled to contain the Merthyr pack and it was captain Craig Locke that was a thorn in the Black and Ambers side all afternoon that stretched the lead even further with a bulldozing drive from 20 meters out to smash his way over for a try, Jarvis converted to give the Ironmen a 20-0 half-time lead.
As the second half began Newport tried desperately to get back into the game as they ran the ball back at Merthyr with captain Matt O’Brian trying everything he could muster to find a gap in the Merthyr defence and when a cross-kick went desperately wrong wingman Kyle Evans gathered the ball and showed his pace and power has he weaved and jinked his way clear to race in for Merthyr’s third try, Jarvis converted and Merthyr had raced into a 27-0 lead and there was no comeback for the Newport side.
Newport tried desperately to get back into the game by throwing the ball around passing from touch line to touch line looking for gaps but once again they could not find a way through the Merthyr defence. Things got worse for Newport as wingman Evans once again showed his strength and power as he raced in under the posts to really seal the game, outside half Richard Powell converted to give the Ironmen a 34-0 lead.
For the Ironmen second row Nick White was outstanding all afternoon with his catch and drives from the lineout well supported by the WRU Man of the Match Osian Davies.
With time running out Newport did manage a consolation try when eventually centre Cay Smith found a gap in the Merthyr defence to race clear, but it was Merthyr who had the last say in this cup final when a fine blind side move on the half way line from replacement outside half Gareth Davies found young Adam Hoskins in space and he raced away to score Merthyr’s fifth try with Powell converting and the Ironmen sealed a convincing victory over the Black and Ambers 41-7.
This was an outstanding performance from the Ironmen as every player played their part in this historic victory.
With the cup now safely won, the Ironmen turn to the Premiership league action this weekend when they make the long trip to North Wales to face RGC 1404 as they defend their Premiership crown.