Match Reports 2011/12
Merthyr (28) Tredegar (7)
December 17th 2011
With only 2 games going ahead in Division 1 East, Tredegar were hoping to continue where they left off after defeating high flying Newbridge last time out, but the elements and the Ironmen of Merthyr Tydfil proved to be too much.
Tredegar had the benefit of the slope in the first half but didn't capitalise on its advantages by trying to run the ball instead of kicking for the corners, a tactic Merthyr employed to great effect in the second half.
With the conditions restricting an open flowing game it took Merthyr thirty minutes to get over the whitewash when Geraint Edmunds crashed over and Lloyd Hynes slotted the conversion.
Despite Merthyr holding territorial advantage and denying Tredegar any possession the visitors stunned the home crowd when a fine solo effort by Greg Jones saw the Tredegar general slip a tackle on the half way line and raced fifty metres to touchdown under the posts and his conversion tied the score at half time.
Two second half blunders by the referee put Merthyr firmly in the driving seat to secure a bonus point win.
From Merthyr's restart, Tredegar's number eight Alun Jenkins clearly fielded the ball and grounded it over the visitors try line but the referee must have been unsighted as when the Ironmen's scrumhalf, Darryl Jenkins then touched the ball down the ref reacted to the vociferous home crowd and awarded him the try which Hynes converted. To further add to the drama the ref yellow carded Tredegar's Lloyd Williams when in fact play should have been stopped earlier in the incident when Merthyr blatantly knocked on.
With numbers superiority Merthyr turned the screw and gained a penalty try and when Nick White crossed Merthyr sealed the win with two more conversions from Lloyd Hynes.
With no games till the new year the management and players wish supporters and sponsors a peaceful Christmas and a happy new year and look forward to kicking off 2012 on January 7th against Rumney who they also entertain in the Swalec cup at the end of January
