Josh Martin cut straight through the Gogs defence to score the first try and with a penalty and conversion from Matthew Jarvis it meant the visitors went into the break 10-5 ahead. The home try in the first-half came from Sam Jones.
But two tries in the opening five minutes of the second half set-up the Ironmen for a superb second 40 and they
swatted aside the powerful home team to maintain the pressure on league leaders Llandovery.
Scrum half Justin James and skipper Craig Locke scored the tries at the start of the second period and the bonus point was brought up when Richard Powell crossed for a try at the posts in the 68th minute. Louis Jones rounded off the rout with try number five.
There was a consolation score for the home side from Afon Bagshw at the death, but it was nowhere near enough to unsettle a very competent Merthyr outfit.
Today sees last weekend’s conquerors of the champions, Aberavon, host Llandovery in a game that will reveal to Wizards coach Jason Hyatt whether or not his side have got what it takes to mount a title challenge. Successive wins over Pontypridd and Merthyr have given him the hint, but the game against the unbeaten Drovers will be the acid test.
Former Scarlets star Regan King will become the first All Black to play for Neath when he starts at outside half for the struggling home side against Ebbw Vale at The Gnoll. The Steelmen are on fire this season and will travel with confidence against a Neath team still seeking their first win.
Bedwas and Llanelli are also both with a victory to date and they will each enjoy home matches in Round 5. Bedwas host Carmarthen Quins, while Llanelli entertain Newport on Sunday.
Morgan Allen and James Murphy return to bolster the Cardiff pack for their home game against Bargoed. The visitors broke their duck last weekend with a great win over Cross Keys.
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 5
Friday, 28 September
RGC 1404 10 – 34 Merthyr
Saturday, 29 September
Aberavon v Llandovery
Aberavon: Jon Phillips; Matthew Jenkins, Will Price, Rheon James, Chris Banfield; James Garland (captain), Jacob Flynn; Rhys Forse, Ieuan Davies, Geraint James, Ben Thomas, Rhodri Hughes, Jac Morgan, Andrew Waite, Joe Tomalin-Reeves
Reps: Liam Popham, Iwan Temblett, Lee Purnell, Luke Davies, Ashton Evans, Jon Thomas, Chris Davies, Ben Davies
Llandovery: Kristian Jones; Gavin Thomas, Ryan Evans, Rhodri Jones, Harri Doel; Jack Maynard, Lee Rees; Dino Dallavalle, Ricky Guest, Dexter Thomas, Jack Jones, Joe Powell, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Shaun Miles, Richard Brooks (captain)
Reps: Llyr Green, Bradley Davies, Jordan Evans, Jake Baker, Matthew Moore, Lloyd Phillips, Tom Dew, Scott Maynard
Bedwas v Carmarthen Quins
Bedwas: Joe Scrivens; Patric Lewis, Adam Williams, Lewis Bowdon, Kane Teear-Bourge; Jacob Chilcott, Luke Crane; Tom Devine, Dale Rogers, Ellis Evans, Gareth Allen, James Richards, 6. Jonathan Armitage, Sion Parry, Nathan Hudd (captain)
Reps: Brynley Toms, Alun Rees, Rhys Hutcherson, Phil Williams, Adam Dove, Tom Rowlands, Dion McIntosh, Jordan Rees
Quins: Aled Thomas; Dylan Morgans, Nick Reynolds, Joshua Batcup, Mattew John; Steffan Marshall, Liam Davies; Steffan Phillips, Thomas Ball, Connor Allen, Lee Taylor, Haydn Pugh (captain), Ed Siggery, Ellis Lloyd, Lewys Millin
Reps: Gethin Robinson, Lewis Roberts, Carwyn Francis, Shaun Jones, Gethin Davies, Gareth Rees, Jac Wilson, Dale Ford
Bridgend v Pontypridd
Bridgend: Mikey Kennedy; Aaron Grabham, Stuart Floyd-Ellis, Nathan Edwards (captain, Will Holley; Jamie Murphy, Chris Williams; Rhodri Apsee, Gareth Harvey, Garyn Daniel , Chris John, Shaun O’Rourke, Tom Morgan, Adam O’Driscoll, Dafi Davies
Reps: Rob Jones, Ollie Evans, Cai Lewis, Jack Pope, Owain Lloyd, Connor Tantum, Ryan Evans, Sam Berbillion
Pontypridd: Ben Jones; Dale Stuckey, Alex Knott, Dafydd Lockyer (captain), C. Howells; Ceri Sweeney, J. Hill; Ian George, Huw Dowden, Gareth Smith, Chris Dicomidis, Shay Smallman, Lloyd Evans, Rhys Shellard, Morgan Sieniawski
Reps: Huw Owen, Joe Page, Joe Popple, Josh Hawkins, Sion Edwards, Dai Francis, Tom Riley, Lewis Williams
Cross Keys v Swansea
Cross Keys: Leon Andrews; Wes Cunliffe, Srdan Majkic, Dylan Fidler, Mason Williams; Jason Tovey, Dan Babos; Gary Carpenter, Rhydian Jenkins, Richard Cornock, Damian Welch (captain), Tom Lampard, Lee Evans, Joe Thomas, Izaak Duffy
Reps: Connah Vaughan, Scott Hoskins, Corey Hewlett, Harvey Reader, Joe Carlin, Declan Williams, Owain Leonard, Chris Johnsey
Swansea: Luke Griffiths; Ryan Griffiths, Gareth Rees, J. Rhys Williams, Andrew Claypole; Foard Cooksley, Josh Guy; Tom Sloane, Paul John, Greg Cuniffe, Tudor Hughes, Jon Fox (captain), Jon Vaughan, Ben Davies, Callum Bowden
Reps: Sion Jones, Jack Powell, Tom Harper, Gethin John, Andy Green, Sam Cambriani, Jedd Evans, Ben Cambriani
Neath v Ebbw Vale
Neath: Ed Howley; Ashley Evans, Aaron Bramwell, Gavin Evans, Ian Ellis; Regan King, Scott Gibson; Ben Uphill, Darren Hughes, Liam Tobias, Ryan Bean, Scott Andrews, Jordan Collier, Lloyd Evans, 8 Ieuan Jones
Reps: Luke Garrett, Sion Crocker, Ryan Thomas, Leon Ward, Elis Hopkins, Chris Morgans, Callum Hall, Iwan Evans
Ebbw Vale: Dan Haymond; Paul King, Carl Meyer, Dom Franchi, Toby Fricker; Rhys Jones, Dai Jones; Joel Harries, Joe Franchi, Rob Sevenoaks, Lance Randall, Ashley Sweet, Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes (captain), Cameron Regan
Reps: Rhys Francis, Ross Jones, Curtis Hicks, Kristian Parker, Lewis Young, Sam Ireland, Owen Young, James Lewis
Cardiff v Bargoed
Cardiff: Llywarch Ap Myrddin; Matthew Powell, Will Rees-Hole, Joe Gatt, Cameron Lewis; Steffan Jones, Nicky Griffiths; Thomas Davies, Joey Tomlinson (captain), Kieron Brown, Miles Normandale, James Murphy, Tom Daley, Zach O’Driscoll, Morgan Allen
Reps: Ross Davies, Ian Jenkins, Ramaz Rukhadze, Sam Pailor, Luke Crocker, Martin Roberts, Gareth Thompson
Bargoed: Julian Mogg; Matthew Oliver Billett, Jordan Howells, Barney Nightingale, Jordan Purcell; Josh Prosser, Matthew Bancroft; Rhys Morgan, Rhys Buckley (captain), Alex Gardner-Key,Ashley Gibson, Louis Blacker, James Locke, Callum Davies, Grant Rogers
Reps: Duane Dyer, Ashley Norton, Wade Langley, Owain Cooper, Lewis Johnson, Keagan Bale, Michael Kavanagh
Sunday, 30 September
Llanelli v Newport
Llanelli: Thomas Rogers; Ryan Davies, Joe Roberts, Jonathan Lewis, Liam Hutchings; Ashley Sutton, Gareth George; Craig Thomas, Callum Jenkins, William Bassett , Elliott Rees, Ashleigh Hyndman, Joel James, Lloyd Pike, Nathan Hart
Reps: Rhys Cherry, Callum Williams, Adam Thomas, Jack Davies, Ellis Thomas, Josh Weeds, Oli Reyland, Leon Randell
Newport: Geraint O’Driscoll; Jon Morris, Tom Pascoe, Chay Smith, Harri Lang; Haydn Simons, Ryan James; Dan Preece, Henry Palmer, Garin Harris, Josh Skinner, Joe Bartlett, Rhys Jenkins, Kyle Tayler, Chris Williams
Reps: Will Evans, Lewis Smout, Jack Williams, Rhys Cresswell, Josh Reid, Ryan Bates, David Richards, Matt O’Brien
