Five-star Merthyr make it eight wins on the spin

CHAMPIONS Merthyr made it eight straight wins but they were given a real fright by Newport at Rodney Parade in a thriller.

The two sides had served up a 43-33 humdinger at the end of September which the Ironmen won and this was another classic.

The visitors left with a bonus point victory for their five tries but the hosts picked up a losing bonus point for their efforts.

Merthyr were clinging on in the dying stages after they lost centre Aaron Pinches to the sin bin but just held on.

Newport had deservedly led 13-10 at the interval but Merthyr bossed most of the second half but could never quite shake off Craig Warlow’s gritty Black and Ambers.

The Ironmen’s five tries came from hooker Matthew Dwyer, a penalty try, scrum-half Justin James, ex-Ospreys wing Kristian Phillips and captain and second row Craig Locke. Their full-back Matthew Jarvis kicked two conversions and a penalty.

The hosts’ skipper and outside-half Matt O’Brien ended with 20 points after scoring a try, three conversions and five penalties.

The Black and Ambers’ other two tries came from No.8 Lennon Greggains and replacement wing Jon Morris.

Newport lost prop Nicky Boyce and full-back Elliot Frewen to the sin binand eventually slipped to defeat while the Black and Ambers couldn’t make the visitors pay when Pinches was yellow carded.