For Phillips it was proof that he is getting to know his new team and that he has plenty of good players to work with. As a former Wales defence coach, and rugby league international, it wasn’t the tries that pleased him most, but one sensational defensive set in the second half.
“In a defensive set like that you learn a lot more than just about your defence, you learn about your people as well. I was very pleased with that,” said Phillips.
“They went through about 20 phases, but we were neat and tidy, went up and folded, didn’t have any issues and didn’t concede any penalties.
“We set our standards high, and we know there are things on which we still have to improve. When we play to our full potential, and there were times when we did against Swansea, then we are going to be a difficult team to defend against and beat.
“It was important for us to back up the performance against Bridgend last week. If we can deliver consistency, then we will be up there with the best teams in this league.”
Looking at the team sheets it was always going to be a battle between the power of the Merthyr pack and the pace and guile of the Swansea back division. The question was, could the All Whites, or purples as they are in this their 150th anniversary season, get enough quick ball to feed their back three?
The answer was an emphatic ‘No’ in the opening quarter as Craig Locke and co up front dominated the collisions and paved the way for The Ironmen to race into a 14-point lead. The Swansea scrum creaked and there was no holding the driving line-out of the home eight.
The early pressure eventually told when Dafydd Thomas was worked clear on the overlap wide on the left and cruised in for the opening try after only nine minutes. Gareth Thompson added the extras from the touchline and it was the perfect start.
Five minutes later Thompson kicked a penalty into the right corner to give his forwards the chance to demonstrate their line-out prowess. Locke won the ball, Swansea’s attempt at a blitz defence failed and flanker Tom Daley was driven over for another try improved by the Merthyr No 10.
With so many current and former Ospreys in their back line – Mat Protheroe was at full back, Hanno Dirksen on one wing and Wales U20 caps Tom Florence, Osian Knott and Harri Houston filling other threequarter positions – Swansea needed to win some ball to stop the rot.
When they did, they were at least able to fire some warning shots. Hoston got outside his man in a blindside raid, but his inside pass was put down by Protheroe with the line at his mercy
Then Merthyr No 8 Phil Rees picked up a yellow card for a neck high tackle and it was the chance for the visitors to express themselves. Luke Scully kicked the penalty into the 22, the line-out drive made more ground and the back line passing was sweet enough for Houston to cross in the left corner.
Scully converted off the touchline and then hit the upright with a penalty from half-way. Swansea butchered another great scoring opportunity just before the break when prop Tom Sloane had his pass 10 metres out intercepted when he failed to find the two men outside him.
It was anyone’s game in the second half and the game followed a similar pattern to the first. The Merthyr pack found their second wind and eventually squeezed a penalty try out of referee Simon Rees in the 50th minute with another irresistible driving line-out.
Rowland Phillips obviously wound up his forwards in the interval because they were like dervishes in the second half, once again totally dominating the collisions and giving the gifted Swansea runners no space at all. Daley, Jack Perkins and Rees didn’t miss a tackle and the front five geared up for another big effort.
The bonus-point try was another huge forward effort. Swansea tried to run out of defence and a pass went astray and they conceded a five metre scrum.
The drive came on, Swansea were pushed back and scrum half James Soanes pounced to claim the push-over score. Thompson converted to make it 28-7 with 18 minutes to go.
All the momentum in the second half had been with The Ironmen and when they found themselves under the pump they simply refused to buckle. Swansea threw the kitchen sink at them with 10 minutes left, but after 20 phases in the home 22 they found themselves turned over.
That was game, set and match physically and psychologically before they went on to deliver the coup de gras as they beat the visitors at their own game with a great corner try from Adam Hoskins. Thompson, of course, added the touchline conversion to complete a great afternoon for the home side and their fans.
Swansea picked up a consolation, 70 metre breakaway try from Matthew Jenkins which Scully converted.
Scorers: Merthyr: Tries: D Thomas, T Daley, Pen Try, J Soanes, A Hoskins; Cons: G Thompson 4. Swansea: Tries: H Houston, M Jenkins; Cons: L Scully 2.
