Merthyr leapfrog rivals Ponty to go top of the table

MERTHYR moved to the top of Tier One after they beat Pontypridd in a fiery affair at The Wern.

Kyle Evans and Terri Gee scored the Ironmen’s tries each side of half-time which proved enough for the reigning Championship winners to leapfrog their Valleys rivals to top spot in the table.

The build-up to the game was widely dominated by burn-gate after Merthyr players had complained about injuries they had suffered at Ponty’s Sardis Road home in their National Cup loss to RGC 1404 last weekend.

But Lee Jarvis’ side were able to have the last laugh on Saturday and allowed their rugby to do the talking.

Wales U20s starlet Ben Jones missed the first chance at goal for Ponty in the opening exchanges.

Evans went close to opening the lead for the hosts following Matthew Jarvis’ crossfield kick but Jones kept his cool to break the deadlock in the 25th minute.

That opened the game up as Dane Blacker was sinbinned for pulling back Owen Howe and Jarvis duly added the consequent penalty.

And seconds before halftime, Merthyr took the lead through Evans with Jarvis converting.

Mitch Auger became the visitors’ second yellowcard of the afternoon after a high tackle, but outsidehalf Jarvis uncharacteristically missed the penalty.

Gee made sure the hosts added to their lead and Jarvis was able to split the uprights with the extras.

Tom Daley saw yellow late on, but the Ironmen had already sealed the game by then. Star man Lee Jarvis - Merthyr