Merthyr 28 vs Pontypridd 25

Pontypridd’s unbeaten start to the 2024/25 season came to an end after a dramatic 28-25 defeat against Merthyr at The Wern.

A first half try from Joe Miles was accompanied by two late scores from Lucus Welch and Cai James, but they weren’t enough after a brace from Merthyr openside flanker Jack Perkins and a score from number 8 Sam Cross gave the hosts a 28-11 lead after an hour.

An overthrown Ponty lineout gave Merthyr a first opportunity of the afternoon as a midfield break gave the hosts a platform before Ponty were penalised in the breakdown, giving fly-half Ben Jones a kick at goal in which he was successful for the first points of the match.

Ponty’s first spell of possession saw the hosts get caught offside on the halfway line, inside centre Ioan Evans took over kicking duties with a kick from the halfway line to level the scores.

Evans’ second attempt at goal drifted wide after Ponty were awarded a penalty for obstruction.

Pontypridd took the lead with their first visit into the Merthyr 22 – following a lineout, Ponty opted to go for a move down the blindside instead of the rolling maul and number 8 Joe Miles powered over to score the first try of the afternoon. Jacob Symes’ conversion headed wide, but Ponty had an 8-3 lead after quarter of an hour.

Ioan Evans added a second penalty from long distance to extend the visitors lead, before Merthyr fly-half Jones kicked his second penalty to close the gap back to five points, 6-11 after 23 minutes.

Merthyr then crossed for their first try after some pressure in the Ponty 22 after a rushed clearance kick from fly-half Symes. After a penalty for jumping across the lineout, Merthyr had a chance five meters out and after a couple of phases close to the Ponty try line, number 8 Sam Cross scored to level the scores at 11-all.

The hosts re-took the lead a few minutes before halftime when openside flanker Jack Perkins was on the end of a rolling maul that rumbled over. Ben Jones added the conversion to give his side an 18-11 lead at the interval.

HALF TIME: Merthyr 18-11 Pontypridd

Ponty were reduced to 14 men at the beginning of the second half when fullback Dale Stuckey was shown a yellow card by referee Tom Spurrier following an infringement in the breakdown.

Merthyr put the rolling maul to good use for a second time, with Jack Perkins on the receiving end to score his second of the match extending his side’s lead whilst putting them in control of the contest – 25-11 after 46 minutes.

Referee Spurrier showed a second yellow card of the afternoon when Merthyr outside centre Tom Hughes was penalised for deliberately knocking the ball on from a Garyn Smith pass.

Ponty attempted to use the rolling maul themselves and Jeff Young crossed the tryline but couldn’t quite ground the ball and it was given as held up.

Moments later, the visitors got within touching distance of the line but were met with stern Merthyr defence who managed to keep them out as the game headed into the final quarter with Ponty trailing by 14 points.

A hectic period of play saw a third yellow card of the match, after a quick penalty from Stuckey who was stopped short in the Merthyr 22, a loose pass from fly-half Symes saw Merthyr break up the other end. Momentum was stopped by the chasing Ponty defence, before the referee gave captain Cally James a yellow card – the game’s third and Ponty’s second of the afternoon.

The resulting penalty saw fly-half Jones kick his third penalty-goal for a 28-11 lead. A few minutes later Ponty crossed when replacement scrum-half Lucus Welch sniped over from short range with centre Evans converting.

Another yellow for the hosts came in the final few minutes when Craig Locke was given his marching orders. A third Ponty try came through flanker Cai James who scored under the cross bar, Jaydan Pugh’s conversion left a tense finish with a 3 point deficit at 28-25.

Ponty received the kick-off and attempted to run it from their own 22 knowing that both time and the scoreboard were against them, but they were stopped just outside the 22 and the hosts forced a turnover.

After a reset scrum, Merthyr won a penalty at that particular set-piece and Ben Jones tapped the ball and kicked it out for the game’s final act.

Pontypridd will look to return to winning ways back at Sardis Road when they welcome Brecon next Saturday 16^th November.

FULL TIME: Merthyr 28-25 Pontypridd (9/11/2024)

Match report – Iestyn Thomas

PONTYPRIDD –

15. Dale Stuckey. 14. Joe Davies. 13. Garyn Smith. 12. Ioan Evans. 11. Stuart Floyd-Ellis (Jaydan Pugh). 10. Jacob Symes (Louis Rochefort-Shugar). 9. Joel Raikes (Lucus Welch).

1. Ben Stephens (Ben Drew). 2. Jeff Young. 3. Morgan Bosanko (Garyn Daniel). 4. Mitch Barnard (Lloyd Riley). 5. Kristian Parker. 6. Cai James. 7. Cally James (c). 8. Joe Miles.

Subs: 16. Dylan Kelly. 17. Ben Drew. 18. Garyn Daniel. 19. Elis Evans. 20. Lloyd Riley. 21. Lucus Welch. 22. Jaydan Pugh. 23. Louis Rochefort-Shugar.

Tries: Joe Miles, Lucus Welch, Cai James

Conversions: Ioan Evans, Jaydan Pugh

Penalties: Ioan Evans x 2

Yellow Cards: Dale Stuckey, Cally James

MERTHYR –

15. Jacob Lloyd. 14. Morgan Meaclem. 13. Tom Hughes. 12. Rhys Davies. 11. Dafydd Thomas. 10. Ben Jones (cc). 9. James Soanes.

1. Travis Hawkins. 2. Ellis Shipp. 3. Rhys Lewis. 4. Craig Locke. 5. Paddy McBride (cc). 6. Daniel Phillips. 7. Jack Perkins. 8. Sam Cross.

Subs: 16. Jamie Savery. 17. Ryan Hughes. 18. Callum Dawes. 19. Cerith Lloyd. 20. Kian Evans. 21. Leon Caviel. 22. Seb Ripley. 23. Adam Hoskins.

Tries: Sam Cross, Jack Perkins x 2

Conversions: Ben Jones x 2

Penalties: Ben Jones x 3

Yellow Cards: Tom Hughes, Craig Locke

Referee: Tom Spurrier

Assistant Referee/Third Official: Chris Lewis