Indigo Group Premiership Cup

YOUNG DAVIES STARS FOR THE IRONMEN

EBBW VALE 16 MERTHYR 20 (Indigo Cup 6^th Round tie)

(At Ciner Glass Community Stadium, Ebbw Vale)

Merthyr travelled to the Steelmen of Ebbw Vale looking to avenge their defeat at home 24-26 on the opening day of the season and can thank young fullback Rhys Davies who was making his full senior start of the season.

Merthyr got off to a flying start when a lineout overthrown from the home side deep inside their own 25 was scooped up by hooker Dan Wall who raced over for the opening try, outside half Gareth Thompson converted and the Ironmen had taken the lead 0-7. A attack from Ebbw Vale was halted deep inside the Merthyr 25 when Thompson tried to intercept the pass and was alleged to have deliberately knocked on with referee Elgan Williams giving him a yellow card, outside half Ryan Evans slotted over the penalty to close the gap 3-7.

Young full back Rhys Davies then stepped into the outside half position and was soon on the score board when he converted a penalty after Ebbw Vale had deliberately collapsed a scrum and pushed Merthyr ahead 3-10. With the Merthyr pack dominating the scrum and putting the Ebbw Vale under pressure at the set piece came the best move of the game when the Merthyr back line spun the ball wide and found speedster Sam Jones in space to race over wide out, Thompson going wide with the conversion.

Merthyr then piled on the pressure and several fine runs from back row man Dafydd Stonelake caused problems in the Ebbw Vale defence and only good tackling keeping Merthyr from extending the lead further. However, some sloppy play from the Ironmen allowed Ebbw Vale to close the gap just before half time when home Dragons Academy full back Joe Westwood kicked a penalty form 45 meters to make it 6-15 at the break.

In a scrappy 10 minutes of the second half with both sides making silly mistakes it was Westwood who closed the gap with a 50-meter penalty to make it a one score game at 9-15. Merthyr then began to take back control as the forwards took the game to the Ebbw Vale pack and after several good drives from captain Locke, and McBride they set up good ball for the Merthyr backs and when the ball was moved wide, Full back Davies came into the line to cross for Merthyr’s third try and extend the lead 9-20, Thompson going wide with the kick. Merthyr then looked for the bonus point and 4^th try has they threw the ball about but drop passes and referee decisions went against them, with time almost up Ebbw Vale got a consolation try when Wales and Dragons wing Dafydd Howells split the home defence to race in for the try, Westwood converted but the referee blew for full time and Merthyr runout worthy winners 16-20.

It was a fine win away from home for the Ironmen, but they will be a little disappointed they didn’t get the extra try for the bonus point. For the Ironmen, it was the Merthyr forwards that once again laid the foundations for the win with Captain Locke leading by example, also young back Rowman Stonelake and hooker Wall showing up well in the loose. Behind the scrum Thompson and Soanes linked up well and it was great to have Aaron Pinches back in the centre, but the star of the back line was young full back Davies who controlled the game with good fine touch kicks and getting the all-important try.

The Ironmen take a week off due to the Wales international before they travel to North Wales to face RGC 1404.

MERTHYR: 15 R Davies, 14 S Jones, 13 A Pinches, 12 H Thompson, 11 A Webber, 10 G Thomson, 9 J Soanes, 1 Chris Phillips,2 D Wall, 3 O Rees, 4 C Locke©, 5 S O’Rourke, 6 P McBride, 7 D Stonelake, 8 T Daley. 16 R Williams, 17 N White, 18 K Williams, 19 C Bradbury, 20 M Tutaia, 21 A Hoskins, 22 J Martin, 23 B Jones.

Scorers, D Wall 1t, S Jones 1t, R Davies 1t, 1p, G Thompson 1c.

Referee Elgan Williams (WRU).