The Ironmen’s 35-7 win at Bargoed earned them the title with a game to spare, which means their final fixture of the season at The Wern on Tuesday night against Aberavon will be something of a celebration party.
The result was never in doubt as the reigning champions plundered two tries in the opening 10 minutes through scrum half Justin James and wing Kyle Evans to take a 14 point lead. That advantage grew to 28 points before the home side came up with any sort of response.
There were driving line-out tries for the Front Row Union as prop Nathan Trevett and replacement hooker Matt Dwyer both crossed. Then replacement scrum half Adam Hoskins rounded off the 23rd win in 28 league games this season in both halves of the campaign with try No 5.
Battling Bargoed conjured up a try for back row man Grant Rogers in the second half, but they played second fiddle from start to finish to find themselves anchored to the bottom of the table after Neath picked up a losing bonus point at Carmarthen Quins.
“This is totally different from when I was at Pontypridd and we did the double there. Ponty is my club and it was a dream come true then,” said Merthyr head coach Dale McIntosh.
“Having done it once doesn’t make it any less enjoyable the second time. It is a really a tough feat to achieve and
I am just chuffed for those players because they have worked really hard out there.
“Everyone wants to knock you off your pedestal and Ebbw Vale were outstanding against us earlier in the week. There are some sore boys out there who are tired both mentally and physically, but we got through it.”
Merthyr are now undoubtedly the outstanding semi-pro club in the country having won the Premiership in their first two seasons in the top flight, captured the Cup this season and reached the semi-final of that competition last season. They have now won six trophies in the past five seasons.
Llandovery can still finish as runners-up after their 28-21 triumph at Swansea. They currently trail Pontypridd by four points after they ran out 56-28 victors’ at Cross Keys.
But the Drovers have a game in hand and can overtake them if they can win with a bonus-point when they host Llanelli at Church Bank on Saturday. RGC 1404’s 43-36 home win over Newport gives them a chance of overtaking Carmarthen Quins if they can win their final fixture at Bargoed on Saturday.
Principality Premiership Results
Aberavon 14, Bridgend 17
Bargoed 7, Merthyr 35
Cardiff 17, Ebbw Vale 20
Carmarthen Quins 18, Neath 14
Cross Keys 28, Pontypridd 56
Llanelli 31, Bedwas 30
RGC 1404 43, Newport 36
Swansea 21, Llandovery 28
