Injuries ravaged the visitors back line, with Ryan Wilkins pulling out just before kick-off to further hamper their preparations. Even so, their second half fightback earned them a losing bonus point and it could have been more.
“We didn’t turn up in the first half and they were much better than us coming out of the blocks. We need to start learning from our mistakes,” said Cook.
“We are well coached, we are dangerous and as soon as we start learning we are going to start turning over some top teams. It was one of those that got away from us.”
Merthyr enjoyed most of the territory in the opening exchanges and used that advantage to build a healthy lead. Cally James thought he had turned over the ball on half-way, but was penalised.
Josh Lewis kicked deep into the Ponty 22 and the rolling maul from the ensuing line-out earned home hooker Ellis Shipp the first try of the game. Lewis added the conversion.
Five minutes later Merthyr turned down a kickable penalty to go to the corner once again. This time Ponty defence kept them out, but when Josh Phillips knocked on in his 22 trying to stop Lewis claiming a 50-22, th Ironmen had a scrum in a great position.
They made the most of it as they spread the ball wide to allow Lloyd Rowlands to notch a second try. Lewis’ second conversion made it 14-0, but Rob Jones then crashed over from a driving line-out to get Ponty on the board before the break.
Merthyr extended their lead through Rowlands second try against his old club and a third Lewis conversion left Ponty with a mountain to club 16 points in arrears.
Canadian international flanker Sion Parry was forced to play at centre due to Ponty’s mounting injuries in the second half, but after home full back Ben Jones went to the sin-bin, Cook was able to convert a rolling maul into a try.
Josh Phillips then jinked his way over for a try in the dying seconds and Joe Scrivens conversion attempt hit the upright and bounced out.Scorers: Merthyr: Tries: L Rowlands 2, E Shipp; Cons: J Lewis 3; Pontypridd: Tries: R Jones, M Cook, J Phillips
