The Wizards managed to escape with two points, but now find themselves well within touching distance of the three teams below them. There were 11 tries in a spectacular game, four of which came in succession from the home side who turned a 14-14 interval scoreline into a 38-14 lead.
Back came the Wizards to notch three more of their own to ensure they left Merthyr with both a try bonus-point and a losing bonus-points. They remain in third place, while The Ironmen are now within four points of them in fourth with two games in hand.
There could be no better game for new recruit Dylan Davies to make his debut for Ebbw Vale than in this weekend’s Indigo Premiership home clash with Bridgend.
The former Wales U18 scrum half has joined The Steelmen from the Ravens and could give a bit of inside knowledge to his new teammates for what is another ‘must win’ game.
Having gone down to defeat in two of their last three outings, at Llandovery and RGC, Jason Strange’s side remain in the hunt for a top four place to get into the play-offs, but it is getting tight at the top.
“I was really pleased with the five points at Llanelli last week and with some individual performances, especially Ethan Phillips and Curtis Gregory, who played his best game for the club,” said Strange.
“It was a positive performance all round and we managed to pick up a vital bonus point.”
Their home record is very good, with only a 23-20 defeat to Llandovery on 6 October against them in six league games at Eugene Cross Park, and there will be a whiff of revenge in the air after the 29-27 defeat at Bridgend at the start of the season.
Newport’s defeat in Colwyn Bay to RGC last weekend pushed them a little further out of the race for a top four finish and it will be the results around every side in the top half of the table will be as crucial as their own performances as the season progresses.
Table-topping Cardiff have a home game against bottom of the table Llaneli on Sunday, which should allow them to move further ahead. Merthyr’s game with Aberavon on Thursday night was another critical clash, while second placed Llandovery’s trip to RGC will be another vital fixture.
Newport are back at home for a visit from Swansea and will still be licking their wounds after taking nothing out of their long trek north to RGC last weekend. They conceded five tries in the end in their 36-21 defeat and have now lost twice on the road since becoming the first team to beat Cardiff, 18-17, on 14 January.
