LATE CUP AGONY FOR MERTHYR
WRU CUP SEMI-FINAL RGC 1404 ...................... 24 MERTHYR .................... 20
MERTHYR were knocked out of the WRU Cup in dramatic fashion at Sardis Road, Pontypridd against RGC 1404 from North Wales.
RGC had the advantage of the wind in the first half and were on the scoreboard after six minutes when outside half Jacob Botica slotted over a penalty from 40m as Merthyr were penalised at the scrum.
RGC started the more dangerous running side as they took the game to Merthyr with several sweeping moves and good ball handling from full back Bagshaw but Merthyr soon drew level when full back Mathew Jarvis made amends for his early miss as he slotted over a penalty from 35m to tie the scores 3-3.
Merthyr were struggling for some reason to get into the pace of the game as RGC kept the Ironmen under constant pressure and this was rewarded when a sweeping move started by Botica found wingman Carwyn ap Myrddin in space and he raced away for the try Botica converted and RGC were 10-3 ahead.
Merthyr tried to get back into the game as they started to put several phases together with No 8 Phil Rees and captain Craig Locke carrying good ball which allowed scrum half Rhys Downes to bring his backs into play, and this was nearly rewarded when a kick ahead was gathered by centre Aaron Pincers who raced away inside the RGC 22 but a last-gasp tackle denied him a score.
Matters got worse for the Ironmen as just before half-time Botica sidestepped his way over close to the line after some weak defence from the Ironmen, and as he converted his own try. RGC had taken a 17-3 half-time lead.
A half-time tonguelashing from Dale Mcingtosh seemed to work as Merthyr came out for the second half a different side as they took the game back to RGC and soon closed the gap when loose head prop James Howe showed good foot work and speed as he raced away from 25m out to score under the posts, Jarvis converted and the gap was closed 17-10.
It was now Merthyr that applied the pressure but silly handling errors let RGC off the hook. Jarvis then closed the gap once again when he kicked a penalty from short range when RGC were penalised for collapsing the scrum.
With score at 17-13 the next score was vital as the game approached the last 10 minutes. A great kick to touch from Jarvis pinned RGC deep inside their 22, from the lineout won by Lou Reed the Merthyr pack drove at the RGC line but were penalised for an infringement at the ruck and RGC cleared their lines.
RGC were then penalised for dropping the scrum inside the Merthyr 22, and once again Jarvis pinned RGC deep inside their own 22, with time running out Merthyr threw everything at RGC as they looked for a score and a fine three-quarter move saw centre Martyn Thomas ghost his way over in the corner for the try, Jarvis converted from the touch line and Merthyr had taken the lead for the first time 17-20.
With less than a minute left on the clock there was drama still to come as Merthyr failed to secure the restart and somehow RGC had recycled the ball and as they threw everything at Merthyr several pick up and drives saw them inch closer to the Merthyr line and when the ball was recycled a pass found wing man Sam Jones in space and he dived over for the winning try, Botica converted and the referee blew for fulltime.
In a dramatic last two minutes Merthyr had won and lost the cup tie but credit to RGC on the day they were the more dangerous side especially in the first half, but credit to Merthyr they clawed their way back from 17-3 down to 17-20 ahead.
It was a game that the Ironmen could have won but didn’t deserve to win. Merthyr who have lost both semi-finals, Foster’s Cup and WRU Cup.
Their only hope of silverware is the Premiership League title and they must now pick themselves up for they host league and cup finalists Pontypridd this Saturday at home, kick-off 2.30pm.