Jones puts boot into his old mates

RHYS Jones put the boot into his former Ebbw Vale team-mates as he converted five of six tries run in by the reigning champions as they got back to winning ways at The Wern.

Having been beaten at Colwyn Bay in their opening Premiership outing, the Ironmen were in no mood for a second slip-up, and with new outside-half Jones orchestrating things they powered their way to a bonuspoint win.

Ebbw Vale drew first blood with a 40-metre Dan Haymond penalty after 10 minutes, but it was the home side who seemed the hungrier. Merthyr duly notched up the first try of the day three minutes later when hooker Rhys Williams went over from a driving maul.

Haymond’s second successful kick brought the Steelmen back to within a point before a strong burst from lock Damian Welch enabled Merthyr to increase their lead with a second try. Jones’s second conversion made it 14-6.

On the stroke of half-time Ebbw lost Dai Jones to the sin-bin. That provided Merthyr with the chance to kick to the corner to allow the home pack to drive Williams over for his second try. A third Jones penalty made it 21-6 at the break.

Haymond’s third penalty five minutes into the second half gave the visitors a lift, but the champions soon bagged the bonus point when centre Adam Thomas ran in the fourth try.

A fourth Jones conversion extended the lead to 22 points and it looked all over as a contest.

Battling Ebbw had other ideas, though, and tries in quick succession from Dan Hill and Ewan Rosser, the latter converted by Haymond, cut the home lead to 10 points with 15 minutes to go.

It was a great revival, but Merthyr were in no mood to capitulate.

Replacement scrum-half Rhys Downes was sent in at the posts for a fifth try after good approach work from Thomas, and he put the icing on the cake when he sped away for a second touchdown.

MERTHYR: Tries: R Williams (2), D Welch, A Thomas, R Downes (2). Cons: R Jones (5), G Davies.

EBBW VALE: Tries: D Hill, E Rosser. Con: D Haymond. Pens: D Haymond (3).