WELSH PREMIERSHIP
RAMPANT Merthyr fired a stark warning to their Principality Premiership title rivals as they took Llandovery to the cleaners at the Wern – racking up 11 tries in a crushing 75-14 win.
A simply scintillating first 40 minutes of rugby put the Ironmen firmly in the box seat and all but out of sight by the break.
Having fallen behind to Scott Jenkins’ converted try, braces from Kyle Evans and Thomas Daley along with tries from Craig Locke and Martyn Thomas, helped power Merthyr in a commanding half time lead.
Matthew Jarvis converted all six tries, as they led 42-14 with Rhodri Jones going over for another Drovers try, while Jack Maynard booted his second conversion.
Llandovery’s annihilation was completed after the break as Merthyr scored another five tries with Daley completing his hat-trick, Richard Carter bagging a couple along with sole efforts from Gavin Dacey and Phil Rees – and Jarvis adding four more conversions.
The win also saw Merthyr bounce back from their narrow 25-24 defeat at RGC 1404.
The other game in Tier One saw Bedwas beat RGC 21-15 at Parc Eiras to move into second and a behind leaders Pontypridd.
Tries from Pat Lewis and Joe Davies, along with a conversion and three penalties from the boot of Richard Powell, earned a third victory from four second phase games for Steve Law’s men.
Jacob Botica’s penalty had earlier given RGC a narrow 3-0 lead at the break while Afon Bagshaw and Sam Jones were their try scorers, with Botica also adding a conversion.
For RGC it was a third defeat from four and severely dents their top four hopes.
Meanwhile in Tier Two, Newport put their off-the-field uncertainties to one side to make it three wins out of three as they ran out 25-9 victors over Neath at the Gnoll.
Speculation surrounding Newport’s Rodney Parade home continued to build this week, but there was little evidence of any distractions throughout a thoroughly accomplished performance.
Elliott Frewen scored the only try of the first half, converted by Geraint O’Driscoll who also kicked two penalties.
The Black and Ambers took a 13-9 lead into the break with Ed Howley booting three penalties for the hosts.
Second half tries from touchdowns from Llywarch Ap Myrddin and Rhodri Jones sealed a well-deserved win for the visitors with O’Driscoll converting the Ap Myrddin try.
The win means Newport sit four points behind Gwent rivals Cross Keys, with a game in hand while, for the Welsh All Blacks, this was their first defeat since the split.
Elsewhere Llanelli are finally up and running after picking up their first win of the second phase at the fourth time of asking – running out 20-17 winners over Cardiff at the BT Sports Arms Park.
Gareth Thompson booted Cardiff in front with a penalty before he then converted James Murphy’s try.
Billy McBryde replied with a penalty for the Sospans, who trailed 10-8 at the break thanks to an unconverted try from Ryan Davies.
But second half tries from Craig Thomas and Jack Condy ensured it was Llanelli who would leave victorious, with McBryde converting the latter’s try.
Gareth Thompson scored again for Cardiff in added time, which was converted by Diggy Bird to earn them a losing bonus point – but it was little consolation in this, a fourth defeat from as many games.