Indigo Group Premiership Cup

NINE TRIES AND BONUS POINT WIN FOR THE IROMEN

MERTHYR 61 PONTYPRIDD 32 (Saturday 13^th November 21 at the Wern)

(Indigo Cup Round 8)

After last week’s disappointing loss at RGC 1404 the Ironmen bounced back with a nine try rout over valley rivals Pontypridd in this Indigo Cup 8^th round tie. The game started at a frantic pace with both sides moving the ball wide at every opportunity. Visiting outside half Ben Burnell open the scoring for the visitors as Merthyr were penalised for offside. Merthyr began to settle, and the forwards drove at the heart of the Ponty defence with lock Callum Bradbury touching down, Thompson converted to give Merthyr a 7-3 lead. Merthyr were winning good lineout possession from Bradbury, and it was a fine line break from back row man Tom Daley that set up Merthyr’s second try with outside half Gareth Thompson up in support to touch down with the conversion going over Merthyr stretched the lead 14-3. Full back Morgan Richards then broke down field to find wingman Iwan Prys Jones in support whose inside pass found scrum half Dafydd Buckland to touch down for Pontypridd’s 1^st try. Burnell converted to close the gap 14-10. Pontypridd then took the lead when play maker Burnell made an inside break deep inside the Merthyr 25 and found second row Jack Pope in support to race away for a try, Burnell added the extras to give Ponty a 14-17 lead. Back came Merthyr with some fine support work from Jack Perkins, and Phil Rees and when outside half Thompson spotted a gap in the Pontypridd defence his chip ahead was collected by replacement wing Ashley Norton who raced away to touch down under the posts, Thompson converted to give Merthyr the lead back 21-17. However, a shoulder injury to outside half Burnell who had to leave the field seemed to disjoint Pontypridd, but just before half time wing man Dale Stuckey kicked a penalty, but the Ironmen had a 1-point lead 21-20.

Then came a second half barrage from Merthyr with firstly Skipper Craig Locke charging over for a try converted by Thompson to stretch the lead 28-20. Pontypridd then had no answer to the power of the Merthyr 8 with drives from Phil Rees, hooker Dan Wall, and Daley allowing the Merthyr backs to spread the ball and it was young centre Rhys Davies next on the score sheet with a fine inside break that caught Pontypridd flat footed to race in under the posts, Thompson converted. Wingman Stuckey gave Pontypridd some hope has he raced away after a kick head was collected to touch down. This was short lived as Merthyr hit straight back with replacement back row man Paddy McBride charging up field and knocking several Pontypridd tacklers away to score under the posts, Thompson converted, and Merthyr had stretched the lead further 42-25. Things got worse for Pontypridd when a fine wing run from Alex Webber whose outside pass was deliberately knock on by number 8 Sam Evans which earned him a yellow card from Referee Elan Williams who also awarded a penalty try. Merthyr didn’t let up as they hit back once again with the Merthyr backs spreading the ball wide and finding wingman Ashley Norton in space who raced in for his second try and the Ironmen had hit 50 points with 10 minutes left. Merthyr were now rampant, and it was the turn of scrum half Justin James who raced away from a set scrum on the Pontypridd 25 to touch down in the corner, replacement outside half Gareth Davies converting to take the Ironmen passed 60 points.  Pontypridd finished the game with a consolation bonus point try when replacement centre Cai James raced away up field with the last move of the game, to bring the final score 61-32.

This was an impressive second half performance from the home side which was well led by captain Craig Locke. Also impressive in the Merthyr pack were front row of Lewis, Wall and Williams who held the upper hand in the front row. Also prominent were back row of Daley, Rees and Perkins. Behind the scrum James looked sharp for his first game back from injury but outside half Thompson controlled and dictated the play and ended up with 17 points. A mention also to young centre Rhys Davies who has settled in the side and has been impressive in his last 3 appearances.

The win takes the Ironmen into 3^rd place 3 points above Ponty and closing the gap on both Cardiff and Newport who they meet in their two remaining games.

MERTHYR:15 B Jones,14 A Webber,13 R Davies,12 J Martin,11 S Jones,10 G Thompson,9 J Soanes, 1 C Lewis,2 D Wall, 3 K Williams, 4 C Locke©, 5 C Bradbury, 6 T Daly, 7 J Perkins, 8 P Rees, 16 O Rees, 17 A Hughes, 18 C Phillips, 19 P McBride, 20 M Tutaia, 21 J James,22 G Davies, 23 A Norton.

Scorers, A Norton2t, J James 1t, C Locke 1t, R Davies1t, P McBride1t, C Bradbury1t, Penalty Try, G Thompson 1t, 6 cons, G Davies 1c.

Referee: Elgan Williams (WRU).