Indigo Group Premiership Cup

SECOND HALF FIGHT BACKS WINS THE GAME FOR THE BLACK AND AMBERS

NEWPORT 27 MERTHYR 16 (Indigo Group Premiership Cup East)

Saturday 9^th October 21(at Spytty Park Newport)

For the second week running the Ironmen threw away a half time lead as they lost their way at Newport Stadium the new home of Newport RFC. The opening half belong to the Ironmen as they dominated most phases of the game but will wonder for the second week running how they squandered a 0-13 lead.

The Ironmen impressed up front in the early exchanges and were unfortunate on several occasions not to get a score on the board only good Newport defence keeping them at bay. A fine run from wing man Ashley Norton split the home defence as he raced up into the Newport 25 and only a last gasp tackle prevented him from scoring. Merthyr pile the pressure on but lost possession on impact at the tackle area where they spilled good ball which let the home side off the hook. After several attempts of drives Merthyr were awarded a penalty 30 meters out and outside half Gareth Thompson made no mistake to give the Ironmen a deserved 0-3 lead.

Back came Merthyr with wave after wave of attacking from the Merthyr forwards with Phil Rees, Paddy McBride and captain Craig Locke gaining ground and when Newport was caught offside just over the halfway line, Thompson stepped up but saw his kick bounce back off the posts with Newport clearing the danger. Newport then after soaking up the early pressure began to take the game to the Ironmen and several drives near the line seemed looked like a score but good defence preventing a score. A quick tap penalty by scrum half Adam Hoskins on the halfway line caught Newport out and when second row Josh Skinner impeded Hoskins Match referee Ben Whitehouse awarded a penalty and sent skinner to the bin. Merthyr kicked for the corner and won clean lineout possession through Callum Bradbury and the pack drove at the Newport line with Hooker Rhys Williams crashing over for the try, Thompson added the conversion and Merthyr had extended the lead 0-10.

Merthyr kept the pressure on, and this was rewarded just on half time when Newport was penalised for a high tackle and once again Thompson slotted over the kick which saw Merthyr go in at half time with a well-deserved 0-13 lead.

Merthyr began the second very nervously and when full back Ben Jones kicked went straight into touch, Merthyr were pinned back inside their own 25 and under pressure. After several Newport lineout drives Merthyr managed to clear their lines and take the pressure off. Merthyr were penalised at the break down 40 meters out and home centre Matt O’Brien pinned the ball deep inside the Merthyr 25. Newport won good lineout possession and drove Merthyr backwards and when the maul was collapsed Mr Whitehouse awarded a penalty try and in doing so yellow carded back row man Jack Perkins and brought the score 7-13.

This gave Newport a new incentive as they began to take the game to Merthyr and after giving away several penalties Newport kicked deep inside the Merthyr 25 and drove once again from the lineout and when the ball moved wide it found backrow man Lennon Greggains in space to crash over near the posts, outside half Reed adding the conversion and Newport had taken the lead for the first time 14-13.

The game swung back to Newport and when replacement prop Rhys Lewis collapsed a scrum Reed converted the penalty to extend Newport’s lead 17-13. Merthyr full back Ben Jones then gifted Newport 3 points when he flew off his feet at a ruck and dived into the Newport forwards, Reed converting the 3 points and stretch Newport’s lead 20-13.

Merthyr then need a score and began to move the ball wide and when Newport gave away a penalty on the halfway line Mr Whitehouse sent then back another 10 meters for back chat, Thompson converted the kick and to make it a one score game at 20-16. Gaps began to appear as the Merthyr pack began to tire and Newport began to throw the ball around and were rewarded with a fine back passing move which saw wingman Oli Andrews touch down wide out for a fine try Reed converted and Newport had run out winners 27-16.

Merthyr will wonder once again how they let Newport back into the game after dominating the first 40 minutes. For Merthyr the pack laid the foundations down for the first half display but seemed to lose their way in the second half giving away silly penalties. Behind the scrum Hoskins kept Newport on their toes with snipping runs and Wingman Norton looked dangerous with ball in hand. Merthyr this week face league leaders Cardiff at home.

MERTHYR: 15 B Jones,14 S Jones,13 A Webber,12 T Pascoe,11 A Norton, 10 G Thompson, 9 A Hoskins, 1 C Lewis, 2 R Williams, 3 O Rees, 4 C Locke©, 5 c Bradbury, 6 P Mc Bride, 7 J Perkins, 8 P Rees, 16 D Wall, 17 R Lewis, 18 R Lewis, 19 D Stonelake, 20 M Tutaia, 21 R Pritchard, 22 G Davies, 23 J Martin.