Round 11. Indigo Group Premiership 2022/23

LEWIS KICKS THE IRONMEN TO VICTORY IN HEADS OF THE VALLEY DERBY:
EBBW VALE 9 MERTHYR 24.
(Wednesday 15th March 2023 at Ciner Glass Community Stadium)

Merthyr moved into second place in the Indigo Premiership league table after a hard-fought victory over heads of the valley rivals Ebbw vale in terrible weather conditions with heavy rain and wind causing both sides to make many handling errors. Merthyr used the elements first and took the lead with a well taken penalty from ex Ebbw Vale player Josh Lewis, this however was short lived as Ebbw Vale drew level with home outside half Evan Lloyd slotting over a penalty. This seemed to lift the home side as they drove at Merthyr and when the drive was pulled down, referee Elgan Williams yellow carded Cullum Bradbury, Lloyd made no mistake with the kick to give Ebbw Vale a 6-3 lead. This was shorted lived as from the kick off Merthyr recycled the ball and moved the ball wide, with Lewis making a half break to find wing man Teri Gee in space who handed off two defenders to race away to score, Lewis converted to give the ironmen a 6-10 lead. The Merthyr pack well led by second row Paddy McBride and well supported by back row men Perkins, Davies and Phil Rees began to take the game to Ebbw Vale with some great pick up and drives putting the home pack under pressure. Just before half time Lewis extended Merthyr’s lead with his second penalty of the night to go in 6-13 at the break. With the elements in their favour Ebbw Vale began the second half the brighter as they looked for a score and soon were rewarded when Lloyd kicked his 3rd penalty of the night as Merthyr were penalised for handling on the floor and closed the score 9-13. Merthyr’s pack then began to take control as they drove at Ebbw Vale and after constant pressure, they gave away a penalty just over the halfway line. Up stepped Lewis who slotted over kick into the wind to give Merthyr a 9-16 lead. Back came the home side looking for a score as they made several changes with 10 minutes left, but credit to the ironmen they kept Ebbw Vale under pressure which soon told as the were penalised inside their 25, up stepped Lewis who made no mistake with his 4th penalty of the night and gave Merthyr a 10-point lead. Ebbw Vale then threw everything at the ironmen looking for any score and looked to have salvaged a losing bonus point when the were awarded a penalty 30 meters out, but Lloyd hit the post with the kick and Merthyr cleared down field. A half break and kick ahead from replacement scum half Tavis Knoyle just over the halfway line found centre Morgan Sieniawski who picked up the kick to crash over wide out for the try, Lewis just missing with the extras, but the ironmen had sealed this important win which will go a long way in a top 4 place finish. On the night both sides should be congratulated on playing in very poor conditions, but the ironmen held the upper hand with their pack and the kicking of Josh Lewis the deciding factors.

MERTHYR: 15 B JONES,14 T GEE, 13 M SIENIAWSKI, 12 J LEWIS, 11 A HOSKINS, 9 J SOANES (T KNOYLE 63) 1 C PHILLIPS C LEWIS 69), 2 R WILLIAMS, 3 R LEWIS, 4 P McBRIDE© 5 C BRADBURRY, 6 J PERKINS, 7 O DAVIES, 8 P REES, 16 D WALL, 17 L JONES, 18 C LEWIS, 19 T JEVONS, 20 T DALEY, 21 T KNOYLE, 22 D THOMAS, 23 M MEACLEM.
Scorers, T GEE 1T, M SIENIAWSKI 1T, J LEWIS 4PENS, 1C.
REFEREE: ELGAN WILLIAMS (WRU).