Jarvis stars for Merthyr as they claim win at Arms Park

Cardiff ............ 12 Merthyr .......... 37

LAST season’s beaten semi-finalists Merthyr are through to the Cup quarterfinals once again after emerging comfortable winners over an under-strength Cardiff outfit at the Arms Park.

The Ironmen piled on the pressure from the kickoff and it was against the run of play that Cardiff winger James Beal was able to break from his own half to score the opening try of the game in the seventh minute.

The visitors were soon back on the offensive, however, and it took just four minutes for full-back Matthew Jarvis to give them the lead, crossing in the corner to score and then converting his own try.

He also extended the lead with an 18th-minute penalty.

With the strong wind at their backs, Merthyr continued to dominate the game territorially but it took them until the 39th minute to claim their second try, wing Kyle Evans running through the Cardiff defence to cross under the posts.

Despite playing into the driving rain, Merthyr continued to enjoy the best of the possession following the interval and extended their lead in the 49th minute with a second penalty for Jarvis, before breaking from their own half two minutes later for scrum-half Justin James to score his side’s third try of the match.

With a little over ten minutes of the game remaining a third successful penalty for Jarvis took the Merthyr full-back’s personal tally up to 20 points while Cardiff replacement Nicky Griffiths claimed a 75th-minute consolation try for the home side.

Merthyr had the last word, however, with a try for flanker Nick White. Star man Matthew Jarvis - Merthyr