IRONMEN TOO HOT TO HANDLE
MERTHYR extended their winning streak to 16 games – 14 in the league – after a fiery win over valleys rivals Pontypridd.
The victory means the Ironmen extend their lead at the top of the Principality Premiership table.
Merthyr took the lead after eight minutes when Matthew Jarvis kicked an easy penalty goal from right in front of the sticks.
Both sides found themselves down to 14 men in the 16th minute when Pontypridd’s Corey Domachowski was given a red card and Merthyr’s Craig Locke a yellow, for their part in a brawl.
Merthyr were given the penalty, but Pontypridd were next to score, regaining the ball straight away and Dale Stuckey ran over in the corner with Ceri Sweeney converting.
The home side missed a chance to reduce the gap to a point when Jarvis sent a penalty wide, but they made up for it on the half-hour, just after they went back to a full complement of players, as Richard Carter ran over for their second try, which went unconverted.
They further extended their lead a couple of minutes before the break after Andy Howman scored from close range and Jarvis converted making it 15-7 at the break.
Pontypridd were denied a try 10 minutes into the second half after Chris Dicomidis grounded after receiving a forward pass from Rhys Shellard.
The Ironmen took full advantage of Ponty’s misfortune. From their next attack, Josh Martin kicked well for Howman to beautifully scoop up and score whilst under pressure. Jarvis easily converted. Ponty weren’t giving up. Sweeney and Alun Lawrence were both close to slipping through the Merthyr backline, but in the end it was Morgan Sieniawski who scored in the corner, with Sweeney doing well to convert from the sideline.
But Merthyr addressed the balance seven minutes later with a bonuspoint try from Nathan Trevett from a rolling maul. Jarvis’ conversion attempt hit the post.
Pontypridd attacked right up to the end, with virtually all the action in Merthyr’s half in the last 10 minutes, knowing that they needed two tries back.
They got one, Geraint Walsh scoring just left of the sticks and Sweeney converting, but it wasn’t enough. Merthyr earned a penalty in the last minute which Jarvis duly converted to seal a hard-fought win.