MERTHYR RFC 20 : 11 PONTYPRIDD RFC – MATCH REPORT
Fri 22nd March 2019, 19:05, The Wern, WRU National Cup Quarter Final
The WRU National Cup holders Merthyr managed to squeeze past six times winners Pontypridd after a heroic second half defensive effort saw the Ironman progress to the semi-finals.
Dale Mcintosh’s plea for good discipline from his side before the game went out the window after just 35 seconds as Adam Thomas was penalised for a high tackle on Pontypridd winger Corey Howells. Veteran Ceri Sweeney duly slotted the three points to give the away side the perfect start.
Moments later and it was Sweeney who was on the end of referee Craig Evans’ whistle after a tip tackle on Terri Gee which allowed fly half Matthew Jarvis to dissect the uprights and draw the teams level. Gee troubled Pontypridd once more as he split the away sides defence in two before giving a wayward pass to Kyle Evans who was unable to gather.
Even with the warning signs of Merthyr’s attack on display, the ill-discipline of the home side seemed to let them down as Sweeney beautifully slotted a 45-metre penalty goal after yet another high challenge from Aaron Pinches on Alex Knott. Unfortunately for Justin Burnell’s men though his team’s stubborn defence was finally breached after a Hemi Barnes offload was met by the onrushing Rhys Downes for the first try of the cup tie.
The stark reality of two former Pontypridd stalwarts combining to plot the demise of their former team’s cup run would have been a bitter pill to swallow for many of the away side’s supporters. It was the home crowd though who were forced to eat some humble pie as Pontypridd turned up the heat on a blistery night at the Wern culminating in a superbly worked try. After a mistake in midfield by Pinches, the rangy Chris Dicomidis galloped down the touch line before the ball was moved wide to fullback Gary Williams who squeezed in at the corner to give Ponty their lead back.
In an entertaining first half it was Merthyr who had the final say as Gee found weaknesses in the oppositions defence and weaved his way through to the try-line after a neat inside pass from Downes. There was still time for a Pontypridd fightback, but the half-time whistle beat them to it giving the Ironmen the advantage at the break.
Neither Ceri Sweeney nor Matthew Jarvis would like to see the highlight reel after the game as a number of missed kicks by both players certainly effected the score line, especially for Pontypridd as the former Wales international missed 11 points at goal.
It was the defence that won the day in the second half for Merthyr though as Pontypridd’s showing with ball in hand provided more questions than answers, even with the home side down to 14 men as Downes was put in the bin after a number of offences by Mcintosh’s men.
Being a man down didn’t effect the home side though as Merthyr provided the cruel sucker punch to Pontypridd’s quest of a seventh Welsh Cup victory as the Ironmen’s grip on the trophy only grew stronger after Osion Davies crashed over the line with 10 minutes left on the clock.
A tough day at the office for Pontypridd but nevertheless the lessons learnt will be crucial to the ambitions of Justin Burnell’s team as the Valley Commando’s turn their focus to the Principality Premiership and Llandovery next Saturday.
15. Gary Williams, 14. Dale Stuckey (George Thomas), 13. Alex Knott, 12. Daf Lockyer, 11. Corey Howells, 10. Ceri Sweeney (Lewis K Williams), 9. Dane Blacker (Joel Raikes), 8. Alun Lawrence, 7. Rhys Shellard (Sion Edwards), 6. Morgan Sieniawski (Lloyd Evans), 5. Chris Dicomidis, 4. Shay Smallman, 3. Morgan Bosanko (Jon Elley) 2. Rob Jones (Huw Dowden), 1. Huw Owen. (Ian George),
Tries: Gary Williams (25”)
Pens: Ceri Sweeney (1”, 16”)
By Nathan Parker
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