Daley’s treble as Merthyr run riot
ROUND-UP PRINCIPALITY RUGBY SCRUM-HALF Justin James admitted he did not expect Merthyr to run riot as the Ironmen hammered Llandovery 75-14 in Tier One of the Principality Premiership at the Wern.
Merthyr turned on the style running in 11 tries with Thomas Daley claiming a hat-trick and both Richard Carter and Kyle Evans scoring braces.
“I thought we started off quite well, we were very clinical in the opening stages,” said James. “We just played to our strengths and Llandovery couldn’t cope with it.
“Llandovery are a great attacking team and they are usually a tough team to play against. They had a lot of young kids playing today but they are still a very good team and we never expected that [score line].
“I think other teams will be looking at that result and I don’t think anyone is going to look forward to coming here.”
After Maynard converted Scott Jenkins’ opening try Merthyr replied with four of their own with Daley going over twice and Evans and Craig Locke touching down. Rhodri Jones kept the Drovers in the game, briefly, with another converted try, but Evans and Martyn Thomas both crossed the whitewash before half time for the Ironmen.
Phil Rees and Richard Carter claimed early second-half tries before Gavin Dacey, Carter and Daley completed the scoring to round off an impressive display for the hosts. Matthew Jarvis ended the game with 20 points from 10 conversions.
Elsewhere in Tier One, Bedwas climbed up to second with a tough 21-15 victory over RGC 1404 at Parc Eiras.
Jacob Botica kicked a penalty early in the first half and the hosts kept that lead until halftime in a low-scoring affair. Pat Lewis pushed the visitors ahead with the game’s first try but Afon Bagshaw crashed over immediately after to take the lead back, with Botica nailing the conversion.
But Bedwas came back with two Richard Powell penalties before Joseph Davies bagged their second try, which Powell converted. Sam Jones kept RGC in the game with a late try but Powell kicked a third penalty minutes later to seal the win.