Round 7. Indigo Group Premiership 2022/23

FORWARDS PAVE WAY TO BONUS POINT WIN
MERTHYR 37 CARMARTEHN QUINS 7

(Thursday 27th October 2022)

Merthyr ran out bonus point winners over Carmarthen Quins in the live Thursday night SC4c Game at the Wern Sports complex. After losing a hard-fought game at Aberavon the previous week, this was an important win for the ironmen has they maintained 4th spot in the league table. Both sides took a while to settle with the Quins moving the ball wide in the early stages. Merthyr took the lead after 6minutes when a clever kick from full back Ben Jones pined the Quins deep inside their own 25.Merthyr stole the lineout thanks to second row Callum Bradbury and as the forwards drove towards the Quins line the ball was recycled and moved wide to wingman Sam Jones, who was tackled short of the line, when the ball was recycled, Scrum half James Soanes found back Rowman Thomas Jevons up in support to touch down for the first try, outside half Gareth Thompson converted to give Merthyr a7-0 lead. Quins looked as if they were going to draw level when a lineout close to the Merthyr 25 was driven forward and when the ball reached Hooker Torin Myhill, he crossed the line but lost possession as he attempted to touch down and the chance had gone. Both sides then cancelled each other out as the game began to open out, a fine break up field from wingman Adam Hoskins put the Quins back under pressure and from a forward drive the Quins gave away a penalty at a driving maul, Thompson slotting over the 3 points and Merthyr stretched the lead 10-0. As hard as the Quins tried the home defence kept them out for the remainder of the first half. Merthyr doubled their lead early in the second half when a kick deep inside the goal area from scrum half Soanes saw wingman Richard’s fumble and drop the ball with back Rowman Paddy McBride pouncing on the ball to score, Thompson going wide with the kick. Straight from the kick off Merthyr extended their lead when a fine 50 meter break up field from centre Jac Keenan split the Quins defence and when the ball was recycled inside the 25, it was spread through several pairs of hands and reached d full back Ben Jones to race over for a well worked try, Merthyr now led 20-0. To their credit the Quins kept moving the ball wide and this was rewarded when wingman Richards sides stepped the Merthyr defence to race in from 35 meters, outside half Jac Wilson converted to close the gap 20-7. The game then began to open with the Quins looking to close the gap and Merthyr looking for another score to make the game safe and it was outside half Thompson that made the game safe with his second penalty after Quins gave away a penalty for off side, leading 23-7 Merthyr looked for a 4th try and the all-important bonus point and this came from a penalty try when a cross kick from Thompson saw wingman Hoskins catch the kick but was tackled in the air with the line at his mercy with referee Mike English awarding the try , this gave Merthyr a 30-7 lead as the game reached its last quarter. Merthyr were then reduced to 14 men when back row man Paddy McBride was red carded for an alleged shoulder tackle at a ruck. Merthyr then finished with a 5th try when the forwards drove deep inside the Quins 25 and when the ball was moved wide replacement outside half Josh Lewis found back row man Osian Davies up in support to cross over, Lewis then converted, and the Ironmen had run out worthy winners 37-7. Credit to the Quins although well beaten on the night they never gave in and may feel a little unlucky not to got something from the game. For the ironmen the Merthyr 8 were well led by captain Lloyd Ashley has they laid the platform for this win. Also prominent in the win was second row Cullum Bradley and the back row of Jevons, Rees, and McBride. Behind the scrum, scrum half Soanes got his back line moving well supported by young centre Keenan and Sieniawski, and full back Ben Jones looking dangerous with ball in hand.
MERTHYR: 15 B Jones, 14 A Hoskins, 13 Jac Keenan, 12 M Sieniawski, 11 S Jones, 10 G Thompson, 9 J Soanes, 1 C Lewis, 2 R Williams, 3 J Rogers, 4 A Lloyd©, 5 C Bradbury, 6 P McBride, 7 T Jevons, 8 P Rees, 16 D Wall, 17 C Phillips, 18 R Lewis, 19 t Daley, 20 O Davies, 21 T Knoyle, 22 J Lewis, 23 T Gee.
Scorers, T Jevons 1t, P McBride 1t, B Jones 1t, O Davies 1t, Penalty try, G Thompson 2p, 1c, J Lewis 1c.
REFEREE: Mike English (WRU).