42 29

PONTYPRIDD claimed a first win in five attempts against Merthyr as the visitors fell to their third successive defeat. From the kick off Merthyr put immediate pressure on the hosts as they recovered their own kick and when they took a scrum against the head eight metres from the Pontypridd line it was wing Steff Andrews who touched down for the opening try.

A missed tackle enabled centre Garyn Smith to level the scores in the 20th minute while Andrews looked to have scored his second try of the game five minutes later only for a pass in the build-up to be ruled to have been forward.

The referee was playing advantage, however, and the resulting kick by Matthew Jarvis gave the visitors the lead once again.

The penalty count against Merthyr grew steadily through the opening 40 minutes and flanker Osian Davies paid the penalty with a yellow card in injury time. Ponty outside half Diggy Bird was successful with the ensuing kick to make the half time score 10 -10.

It took Bird just seconds to give the home side the lead following the restart when Merthyr conceded a penalty from the kick off.

Three minutes later it was Ponty’s turn to be denied a try by a forward pass but just moments later hooker Corrie Tarrant crossed in the corner to extend the home side’s advantage.

As the game reached the hour mark wing Dale Stuckey broke from inside his own half to touch down under the posts with the conversion giving Pontypridd a 15 point lead.

Matthew Jarvis narrowed the gap with a converted try in the 64th minute but only for replacement second row Sean Moore to hit right back with a try for the home side.

Despite trailing, Merthyr continued to dominate up front and looked to use that advantage eventually get- ting replacement scrum half Justin James over the line but Ponty immediately respond once again with a try for centre Dafydd Lockyer.

An injury time try for wing Kyle Evans was small consolation for the visitors while Pontypridd claimed a maximum points haul.