Admiral Premiership champions Merthyr put the cap on a successful season by defeating arch-rivals Pontypridd 26-14 at Sardis Road to lift the inaugural Worthington’s Mid District Premiership Cup. Hooker Ellis Shipp’s second minute try off a rolling maul for Merthyr, converted by Ben Jones, was cancelled out moments later by a score by centre Stuart […]
Admiral Premiership champions Merthyr put the cap on a successful season by defeating arch-rivals Pontypridd 26-14 at Sardis Road to lift the inaugural Worthington’s Mid District Premiership Cup.
Hooker Ellis Shipp’s second minute try off a rolling maul for Merthyr, converted by Ben Jones, was cancelled out moments later by a score by centre Stuart Floyd-Ellis for Ponty, converted by Jacob Symes.
Scrum-half Dafydd Land scored again for the Ironmen on the half-hour, finding a gap at the base of a ruck to run in unopposed. Jones again converted to make it 14-7. That was a lead Merthyr took into half time, although they had to defend well – with Ponty unable to take their opportunities.
A further two Merthyr tries followed within eight minutes of the re-start; first through wing Dafydd Thomas, converted by Jones, and then centre Cole Swannack against his former club. Just over three years ago Swannack memorably scored a dramatic late try to help Ponty beat Merthyr at the same venue.
A second Ponty try scored by replacement Ethan Evans, converted by Symes, gave them hope of pulling off a comeback and adding another trophy to their WRU Premiership Cup triumph.
With the ‘House of Pain’ bathed in sunshine, temperatures also rose on the field with Merthyr’s Welsh international No 8 Sam Cross and Ponty second row Mitch Barnard both shown yellow cards as tempers flared following a heated scuffle.
But in the end, it was Merthyr who were celebrating a third victory of the season over Ponty and heading back up the A470 as double winners.
The win was also a fitting tribute to Tony Soanes, who recently passed away and was remembered with an impeccably observed minute of silence before kick-off. Tony represented Merthyr as a player, committee and executive member and is the father of Merthyr scrum-half James Soanes.
“The first 20 minutes was tough. Credit to Ponty for starting so well – they really took it to us but the boys shone through,” said Merthyr outside half Ben Jones.
“It was nice to see our backs having a go, taking on boys and scoring some good tries. It’s what the boys deserve this season, and we’ll look back and we’ll cherish these memories.
“We came in last June, so it’s been an 11-month season. We wanted to finish the last game on a high because we’ve got players and coaches leaving and unfortunately the father of one of our players passed away – so we wanted to do it for them.”
Despite it being played at Sardis Road, Merthyr had the home dressing room for the final having finished top of the Premiership Mid District standings.
Ponty looked to have missed out on a place in the final after losing at Bargoed the previous week and had only stepped in when Bargoed subsequently forfeited their place due to player unavailability in certain key positions.
Having seemingly been left stuck on 99 games, Ponty’s final reprieve also meant hooker Rob Jones played his 100 and last match for the Valley Commandos as he bids farewell to Sardis Road after a seven-year stint before return to his local club Treorchy.
“I’m thrilled to bits to get the opportunity to reach 100 games for this proud club. It was another tough battle, and we knew we had to bring that physical edge against a big Merthyr pack,” said Jones.
“We did that. I think we won it up front in all honesty, we won that physical battle, but they scored some long-range tries which we weren’t pleased about.
“But it’s been a successful season overall. To win the cup at Principality Stadium and to finish second in the league against a club and team like Merthyr, and play in another final, is something to be proud of.”