Locke off in feisty clash as Aberavon triumph

ABERAVON completed a league double over the reigning champions in a game that saw Merthyr skipper Craig Locke sentoff for making contact with the head of his opposing captain.

The home leader, flanker Joe TomalinReeves, had been a nuisance all night and joined Locke in leaving the field, but only for ten minutes.

He picked up a yellow card for initiating the incident at a ruck in his 22 by holding onto the laces of Adam Thomas.

The Merthyr centre remonstrated, Locke tried to stamp on his hand, and missed, and the Merthyr skipper was pushed off the ball.

He charged into the ruck, was pushed backwards and, as he fell, his boot caught TomlinReeves in the face.

Referee Ben Breakspear issued the red and yellow cards after speaking to his TMO.

He also sent Merthyr No.8 Phil Rees to the bin five minutes from time for a high tackle.

A feisty first-half featured only one score after 42 minutes.

Merthyr conceded yet another penalty, and Rhodri Cole punished them.

The champions grabbed the lead five minutes into the second half with a sucker try from Richard Powell, who tapped and went for the line from five metres out rather than kicking to the corner and Matt Jarvis added the extras for the visiting outfit.

Prop Jordan Walters thenhit back in dramatic fashion as he seized the initiative for his troops, storming 20 metres for a try that put Aberavon back in front in a heated encounter.

Cole, who was consistent with the boot all encounter, successfully kicked the conversion and kept his cool to add two penalties to seal an important victory. Star man Rhodri Cole - Aberavon