Merthyr made to work hard before securing East honours

MERTHYR took the East Conference Premiership honours after a hardfought battle at home to Bargoed where the result was in doubt right up until the end.

The 2016-17 Welsh champions will now go into the second half of this season, which starts next week, with a maximum eight bonus points.

Bargoed were centimetres away from taking a fifth-minute lead, but Calum Jones’ long-range penalty kick hit the post.

However, he had no issues seven minutes later when, a lot closer to the sticks, he easily converted to give Bargoed a 3-0 lead.

Quickly they extended their advan- tage after Ashley Norton forced his way over for the opening try. Calum Jones converted.

Merthyr soon hit back with a try of their own.

Josh Martin fed Alex Howman to go in under the sticks. Matthew Jarvis converted but straight away, at the other end Jones kicked a second penalty goal.

That made it 13-7 to Bargoed, but again Merthyr quickly hit back.

A fine passing move gave Rhys Downes a try in the corner, Jarvis converting again to give the home side the lead for the first time.

Calum Jones’ penalty kick, following an injury break, swung the pendulum back Bargoed’s way.

That was before Merthyr’s second try of the day, scored in the corner by Craig Locke, gave them the lead back.

But Bargoed went into half-time 23-19 to the good after a Ieuan Jones try was converted by Calum Jones.

After the entertainment served up in the first half, any fans who wanted more of the same after the break would have gone home disappointed.

It took Merthyr nearly 13 second- half minutes to regain the lead, Downes diving over from a scrum for his second try of the day which Jarvis converted.

Both sides then seemed to lack imagination to add anything else. Clock stoppages, replacements and scrums were the order of the day for much of the second 40.

Finally, with the last play of the game, Josh Martin found a gap for Merthyr’s fifth try which Richard Powell easily converted.

MERTHYR: Tries: A Howman, R Downes (2), C Locke, J Martin; Cons: M Jarvis (3); R Powell BARGOED: Tries: A Norton, I Jones; Cons: C Jones (2); Pens: C Jones (3)