McIntosh takes a blast at social media in pitch row
MERTHYR ........................ 17 PONTYPRIDD ................... 3
DALE McIntosh has put the blame on social media for whipping up a frenzy after seven Merthyr players suffered friction burns during their Welsh Cup semi-final with RGC 1404 at Pontypridd.
The Merthyr coach branded it “bull” and revealed the Ironmen’s backs coach Lee Jarvis had been carpeted for remarks he had made about the artificial surface at Sardis Road.
“Social media is a load of rubbish and blew it up out of all proportion. People need to think before they use it because it hasn’t put us in a good light,” said former Wales and Pontypridd back-row forward McIntosh.
“There’s a right way of doing things in rugby and that was to have gone to Pontypridd privately and said: ‘Look, there’s a problem with the pitch’. Posting pictures and speaking out publicly was wrong.
“Yes, health and safety is the most important thing and those injuries did happen but it’s not fair to blame Ponty or anybody else for them until the investigation into what happened is completed.
“‘Jarv’ was wrong to speak out and we’ve blasted him for it for we believe things should be done through official channels. RGC said they didn’t have a problem with the pitch and, as far as I’m concerned, we didn’t either. It was bull!”
Nevertheless, Merthyr trio Martyn Thomas, Gavin Dacey and Gary Powell missed Merthyr’s Principality Premiership Tier One 17-3 victory over leaders Pontypridd after sustaining painful fiction burns at Sardis Road.
The skin wounds has resulted in a high-level investigation, involving the WRU, South Wales Sports Grounds, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Pontypridd RFC, into the artificial surface at Sardis Road.
McIntosh had a stint as coach of Cardiff Blues and pointed out that players suffer burns at the Arms Park, on most artificial surfaces and sometimes on grass.
“You get bumps on every pitch. Most players will have had grass burns playing on dry pitches so it’s not just the artificial ones,” he said.
Opposing centres Aaron Pinches and Dafydd Lockyer both had blooded knees during Merthyr’s clash with Pontypridd at The Wern. Whether it was because of its artificial surface was unclear.
Pontypridd’s players were happy with the surface at The Wern with flanker Rhys Shellard, who was making his 200th appearance, keen to focus on where they’d lost the match to be knocked off top spot in the Tier One table by Merthyr.
“Two small mistakes cost us. We thought there was crossing for their first try and for their second stopped playing after we’d knocked on. They never and scored,” said the 31-yearold.
It was Merthyr’s fourth victory over Pontypridd this season in all competitions. Right-wing Kyle Evans and centre Terri Gee scored their tries. Outside-half Matthew Jarvis, who also landed a penalty, converted both with Wales Under-20 playmaker Ben Jones replying with a penalty.
Merthyr’s success saw them climb past Bedwas, who were in Fosters Cup final action, and Pontypridd to head the league standings by a point.
Shellard, who has set his sights on equalling his father Mike’s 256 appearances for Pontypridd, said: “There’s still plenty of rugby left.
“We are in a Welsh Cup final and in the top four in the league. We want to finish in the play-off zone so it’s a cup final for us every week now.
“Confidence is high so there’s no reason why we can’t reach the league play-off final. We could even end up playing Merthyr again!”
O Howe; K Evans, T Gee, A Pincers, R Carter; M Jarvis, J James; N Trevett, R Williams, L Jones, L Reed, C Locke (capt), T Daley, P Rees, E Siggery.
L Jones, J Howe, M Dwyer, B Murphy, N White, R Downes, D Gunter, D Bishop. Daley (74). G Williams; L I Williams, B Coombs, D Lockyer (capt), D Stuckey; B Jones, D Blacker; J Popple, L Belcher, M Auger, S Moore, C Dicomidis, D Davies, H Barnes, R Shellard. W Evans, L K Williams, C Hall, H Dowden, L Young, P Sidoli, L Bodman, S May. Blacker (28), Auger (41). S Rees (WRU).