Now all attention turns to this week’s Premiership clash with Newport, the team that beat them four times last season for the first time in their history last season.
“We were league winners last season, so we are defending that title. We need to keep this level of performance going,” said two-try hero Tom Habberfield.
“It was difficult to begin with and against Merthyr we knew we had to take a hold of the game in the first 20 minute. We had to match them physically and I think we did just that.
“Merthyr have a history of coming back in the second half, so we wanted to put the game to bed early. I don’t think we could have started the season better.”
The Cardiff forwards helped the home side open up a 24-3 lead before half time. Then their backs began to open things up in the second half, blowing away the opposition with an eight try salvo.
Merthyr threatened a late comeback, with two quick tries through the impressive Dafydd Thomas, but it wasn’t nearly enough. The home side got to work early with a try from their skipper, Morgan Allen. Then came driving maul tries from front row men Marc Thomas and Joey Tomlinson.
Merthyr coach Rowland Phillips kept his players out on the pitch after a disappointing first half display and things continued to get worse for the Ironmen as Cardiff’s backline got into the action.
Habberfield was the recipient of two walk-ins, following some lovely attacking rugby. Tomlinson got a second, James Beal also got on the scoresheet and then former Wales U20 star Joe Goodchild rounded things off with an impressive finish.
Scorers: Cardiff : Tries: J Tomlinson 2, T Habberfield 2, M Allen, M Thomas, J Beal, J Goodchild; Cons: D Fish 4, H James. Merthyr: Tries: D Thomas 2; Con: G Thompson; Pen: G Thompson
EBBW VALE 34 – 14 CARMARTHEN QUINS
Ebbw Vale backed up their Gwent derby victory over Newport with a comfortable win against a lacklustre Carmarthen side in the opening round of Group games in the WRU Premiership Cup.
The Quins are yet to register a win this season under the leadership of new coach Marc Jones and struggled to gain a foothold at Eugene Cross Park. The Steelmen ran in four tries on their way to victory, easily brushing aside their visitors.
Evan Lloyd was once again the playmaker and he kept the scoreboard ticking over for the home team. But it was their dominance on the floor that settled the game for the home side.
It was first blood to Ebbw as full back Morgan Richards grabbed the opening try of the game in the third minute. Lloyd’s metronomic boot added the extras in front of a good home crowd.
The Quins struggled to hold on to the Steelmen as Lloyd kept hitting the target with his kicking. He ended the game with 14 points.
In a frenzied finish to the first half, former Wales U20 wing Carrick McDonnough raced in for two crucial tries, extending the home side’s lead to a very healthy 24-0 at the break.
Whatever Jones said in the dressing room it seemed to hit home because it was the Quins who grabbed the first points of the second half. Hooker Torin Myhill drove over for their first try and Steff Marshall added the conversion.
Luke Garrett made sure there was going to be no way back for the Quins with a fourth home try, which Llloyd converted to stretch the lead to 32-7, before Lucca Setaro grabbed another consolation score for the visitors.
Scorers: Ebbw Vale: Tries: C McDonough 2, M Richards, L Garrett; Cons: E Lloyd 4; Pens: E Lloyd 2. Carmarthen Quins: Tries: T Myhill, L Setaro; Cons: S Marshall 2
PONTYPRIDD 26 – 30 BRIDGEND
Luke Price is already making a major impact at Bridgend as the old Osprey helped the Ravens survive a late rally to secure a vital away win at Sardis Road in their opening Group B win in the Welsh Premier Cup.
The visitors looked comfortable winners at 30-12 but a late yellow card for replacement Bowen Davies for a deliberate knock-on saw Ponty awarded a penalty try and meant Bridgend were forced to cling on with 14-men in the dying moments.
Former Osprey Price, who returned to Wales from a sojourn in France, proved to be a steady hand on the tiller in a frenetic climax to the tussle at the House of Pain. He ended the afternoon with two penalties and two conversions for 10 points.
Bridgend scored four tries through wing Caine Woolerton, lock Jack Pope, scrum half Chris Williams and a length of the field effort by full back Edd Howley to secure a big win.
Ponty opened the score with a try by lock Kristian Parker before Price replied with two penalties to give Bridgend a 6-5 lead midway through the first half. The Ravens soon stretched their lead with tries by Woolerton and Pope.
Ponty then replied with a try by No8 Joe Miles. Tries by Williams and Howley sent the visitors into an 18 point lead. Then came the late drama.
Ponty took full advantage after being awarded a penalty try and with the visitors down a man with a third try by Tommy Morgan but it was too little, too late.
Scorers: Pontypridd: Tries: K Parker, J Miles, Penalty Try, T Morgan; Cons: D Stuckey 2. Bridgend: Tries: C Woolerton, J Pope, C Williams, E Howley; Cons: L Price 2; Pens: L Price 2
SWANSEA 40-13 LLANELLI
What a difference a few weeks can make! Battered at Parc Y Scarlets in their opening league game of the season, Swansea rallied to completely turn the table son their arch-rivals at St Helen’s.
The All Whites opened the score with a debut try for Gareth J Rees before two Josh Phillips penalties brought Llanelli back to within a point. Garan Williams then crossed for a second home try to regain the lead.
A charging run from Cameron Jones paved the way for Lewis Marsh to score the third try for the Whites, but a professional foul by Dan Edwards earned the visitors a try and a yellow card for the Wales U20 outside half.
Ospreys back row man Harry Deaves converted a driving maul into a fourth home try and regional clubmate Cai Evans added the fifth. The victory was made complete in the dying seconds when home skipper Tom Sloane crashed over from close range.
Scorers: Swansea: Tries: GJ Rees, G Williams, L Marsh, H Deaves, C Evans, T Sloane; Cons: C Evans 3, J Davies 2. Llanelli: Tries: Pen Try; Pens: J Phillips 2.
