WRU NATIONAL CUP ROUNDUP

There was also a conversion and penalty from Jarvis.

Aberavon staged a late rally and replacement scrum-half Jacob Flynn crossed with Merthyr down to 13 – with Jarvis and Phil Rees in the sinbin – but it was not enough.

“It was a good game to be fair,” said Baker.

“Both teams came out firing and at half time everyone in the changing room was blowing. I spoke to a few of the Aberavon boys and they said the same. The tempo was high and it was a tough game.

“We could see when we came in at half time that Aberavon were getting a bit frustrated and chief [Dale McIntosh] told us not to get involved in any scuffles or things like that because we had the upper hand and he wanted us to keep going that way.”

Rhydyfelin bowed out of this season’s competition after losing 24-8 at home against Bedwas.

It was the Village who opened the scoring courtesy of Dai Gratton’s third minute penalty.

But the hosts, who were hampered by yellow cards for prop Dale Green and flanker Lewis James in the first half, were penalised for collapsing a maul on 15 minutes and saw the visitors awarded a penalty try.

Fly-half Joseph Scrivens’ try right on half time, which he also converted, gave the visitors a 14-3 lead at half time.

The hosts then went over for a try of their own early in the second half