Law has become a serial winner at the Arms Park since joining as head coach in 2017 from Bedwas. Two cups and one league title have already been delivered and in the COVID hit 2019/20 campaign they were on course to win the league when time was called as they held a seven-point lead.
“This season the league and cup double is very much on the cards having backed up their title win last year with another first place finish. That earned them the right to host fourth placed Newport on Sunday (kick-off 5.15pm).
The prize for Law’s men if they can match their recent WRU Premiership Cup final win over the Black & Ambers will be a home final against the winners of the game between Llandovery and Merthyr.
Cardiff head coach Steve Law
“We may not have the best players or pay the brightest brand of rugby, but we are a very difficult team to beat.There is a real desire and passion to play for Cardiff in the players,” said Law.
“I’ve told them that in my eyes they are already the best team in the country having finished in the No 1 position in the table. Now they face a tricky challenge against Newport to try to get a home final.”
“If there were any doubts that Cardiff are favourites to complete the league and cup double this season then this five try demolition of Merthyr ended them. The Ironmen started strng but were well beaten in the end.”
With a home semi-final place, as well as top spot overall, up for grabs at the Arms Park, Law’s side ensured they will have the advantage when Newport head to the Welsh capital on Sunday for a repeat of the WRU Premiership Cup final.
Cardiff won that one with a spectacular late try from Joe Goodchild, but this time it was their leading try scorer, Dewi Cross, who grabbed the headlines. With his side trailing 7-3 at the end of a highly competitive first-half, Cross turned on the style, and the after-burners, to race clear for two second half tries that took his league tally to 19 this season.
Merthyr came into the game needing to make up one point of Llandovery in second and three points on Cardiff on the top of the table. It meant Rowland Phillips’ side had a shot at clinching a home semi-final and they began in fine style.
Rhys Williams drove over for the opening try and Josh Lewis added the extras. To compound things for the home side, they then lost scrum half Tom Habberfield to a yellow card and saw Wales U20 full back Cam Winnett limp off with a dead leg.
Dan Fish got the reigning champions on the board in the 31st minute with a penalty, but they were still behind at the break and in need of some inspiration. It finally came in the form of Cross’ first try three minutes into the second half, with Fish adding the extras.
Once they got their noses in front, the confidence came flooding back. Much in the same way they had overhauled Newport in the adjoining Principality Stadium a week earlier, they came on strong and scored five tries after the break.
Evan Llyd was next over the line and then Cross sped clear from near half-way to bag his second, Fish once again adding the conversion to turn a four point deficit into a 15 point lead in the space of 20 minutes.
A second Fish penalty then extended the lead before there was a final flourish from the home side as front row men Mark Thomas and Freddie Barnes forced their way over for tries that Harrison James improved.
It means that for the second season running, Cardiff have finished on top of the Indgio Prem table. Now they have to win two more games to hold onto their crown, starting with a re-match against fourth placed Newport on Sunday.
Merthyr, meanwhile, will head to Church Bank to face Llandovery in the second semi-final on the same today. The winners to play in the final the following Sunday.
Scorers: Cardiff: tries: D Cross 2, E Lloyd, M Thomas, F Barnes; Cons: D Fish 2, H James 2; Pens; H James 2. Merthyr: Try: R Williams; Con: J Lewis
