It promises to be quite an occasion in store for the Ironmen and their followers when they take on Llandovery at the Principality Stadium next month in one of the showpiece games in #RTP24.
Not only will they bid to stop the Drovers winning a potential league and cup double but the clash will be Merthyr’s last game on such a big stage for some time.
Their decision not to apply for a licence to join the new 10-team Elite Domestic Competition means big matches against the likes of Llandovery won’t be in their fixture list next season. Winger Morgan Meaclem scored a try in each half for 2018 cup winners Merthyr.
Hooker Ellis Shipp was also on the scoresheet with outside half Josh Lewis adding their other eight points from the tee. Swansea were again able to call on young talent from the Ospreys in the likes of Harri Houston, Llien Morgan, Tom Florence, Tristan Davies and Dafydd Davies.
The Whites were confident of doing something special in order to reach a first cup final since 2000 and held a 10-3 advantage early on in this semi-final.
They led courtesy of captain Callum Bowden’s 14th minute try, converted by outside half Rhys Jones – after the latter and his opposite number Lewis had traded penalties.
But Merthyr responded through a try from Meaclem that went unconverted, but a second Lewis penalty and a Shipp score, improved by Lewis, opened up an 18-10 lead for Merthyr at the break.
Meaclem scored his second – and Merthyr’s third – try just shy of the hour mark, again unconverted, to further extend a lead they would never surrender – despite a try from Jamie Cox for Swansea, converted by Jones, that gave the Whites some hope.
But it was Merthyr that held on to reach a third national cup final.
Scorers: Merthyr: Tries: M Meaclem 2, E Shipp; Con: J Lewis; Pens: J Lewis 2. Swansea: Tries: C Bowden, J Cox; Cons: R Jones 2; Pen: R Jones
