Bridgend RFC

Bonus point win for the Ironmen.

BRIDGEND 16 MERTHYR 36

Timbuild Brewery Field

Saturday 26th February 22

The Ironmen got back to winning ways at the Brewery Field Bridgend as they ran in 5 tries and secured a bonus point and moved up into third place in the indigo premiership league table. The opening quarter belonged to the home side as they took the game to Merthyr and opened the scoring after 10minutes when outside half Matthew Jones slotted over a penalty in front of the posts. Merthyr looked to have got on the score sheet when scrum half James Soanes broke from a set scrum 25 meters out to touch down under the posts, but referee Simon Rees penalised Merthyr for crossing in mid field. Bridgend then doubled their lead when Jones kicked his second penalty after Merthyr were penalised for offside and the Ravens led 6-0. This seemed to wake up Merthyr and after constant pressure from the Merthyr forwards well led by captain Craig Locke and good support from Paddy McBride, and man of the Match Tom Daley, it was Daley that touch down to close the gap 6-5 after fine work from centre Aaron Pinches. Then just before half time Merthyr took the lead after fine work from the Merthyr 8 which created space for Outside Half Gareth Thompson to sidestep his way over under the posts, converting his own try Merthyr led 6-12. Then just before half time Merthyr gave away a penalty which saw full back Alex Webber yellow carded and Jones kicked his third penalty to bring the half time score 9-12. The second half belonged to the ironmen with Thompson extending the lead with a simple penalty from 25 meters. The Merthyr forwards then took the game to Bridgend and following constant pressure and drives from Locke, hooker Williams, and back row man Daffyd Stonelake, number 8 Tom Daley crashed over for his second try, Thompson converted to give Merthyr a 9-22 lead. It was all Merthyr now as the Merthyr forwards kept Bridgend under constant pressure and it was not long before they extended the lead further when replacement back row man Massa Tutaia drove over from range, Thompson converted, and Merthyr had gained a bonus point and now led 9-29. With the game won the Merthyr backs began to spread the ball wide and when an overlap was created inside the Bridgend 25 replacement back Adam Hoskins strolled over for Merthyr’s 5th try. Thompson converted and the ironmen led 9-36 with time running out. However, it was Bridgend that had the last say deep into injury time when replacement scrum half Dai Pritchard broke several tacklers to touch down, Jones converted to bring the game to an end which saw the ironmen run out comfortable winners 16-36. For the ironmen especially in the second half the Merthyr forwards took control well lead by captain Craig Locke, supported by his fellow forwards Rhys Lewis, McBride, and Stonelake and man of the match Tom Daley. Behind the scrum half backs Soanes and Thompson linked well and some fine running from centre Pinches allowed young wing Daffyd Thomas show his pace and was unlucky not to have scored on several occasions. The win has moved the ironmen up to 3rd place in the league table and now make the short journey to Sardis Road Pontypridd next Saturday for a local derby.

MERTHYR: 15 A Webber, 14 S Jones,13 T Pascoe, 12 A Pinches,11 D Thomas, 10 G Thompson, 9 J Soanes, 1 C Phillips, 2 R Williams, 3 R Lewis, 4 C Locke© 5 C Bradbury, 6 P McBride, 7 D Stonelake, 8 T Daley, 16 A Hughes, 17 O Rees, 18 C Lewis, 19 M Tutaia, 20 R Thomas, 21 A Hoskins, 22 G Davies, 23 J Cushion.
Scorers, T Daley 2t, M Tutaia1t, A Hoskins 1t, G Thompson 1t, 1p, 4 cons.
Referee Simon Rees (WRU).