Ironmen show steel in second half to remain at summit

Merthyr .......... 26 Llanelli ............ 20

LLANELLI almost came up with their biggest win of the season after stretching the champions to virtual breaking point at The Wern.

In the end, though, missed opportunities and a stream of unforced handling errors cost them what would have been a thoroughly deserved victory.

Instead, they were left to dream of what might have been and left with only one point.

Merthyr were 14 points to the good in as many minutes after securing driving line-out tries from hooker Matt Dwyer and flanker Jake Thomas.

But Llanelli clawed their way back to within six points at the break with a penalty from Llew Smith and the first of two tries from wing Kallum Evans.

Evans crossed for a second time just after the restart as he took a long pass from scrum half Declan Smith to cross in the corner.

Llew Smith missed his conversion and then screwed wide a sitter of a penalty that would have put his side into the lead.

Merthyr then released centre Harry Davies to cross wide out on the left after two long passes in midfield, but then his opposite number Ryan Davies crashed over for a try by the posts that Declan Smith improved to edge Llanelli ahead.

The lead didn’t last long, though, as Matthew Jarvis went over for the bonuspoint try in the corner to keep the champions top of the table. Star man Ryan Davies - Llanelli