The Ironmen were trailing by two points against the previously unbeaten All Whites when they were awarded a penalty at a collapsed scrum 25 metres out from the posts on the 15 metre line.
“I was pretty confident that Steve would kick the penalty, but I have to admit I couldn’t watch. I had my head in my hands”, said Jarvis, one of the Merthyr coaches.
“It was an epic battle, and we got back to within two points before winning that final penalty. Steve works very hard on his goalkicking, but that was a real pressure-cooker kick. I’ve had many of those myself in the past and you have to be confident. He was and it won us the game.
“We gifted Swansea three tries through our mistakes, but it was a great response to a poor defeat the previous weekend. Our backs were against the wall, especially when we were 23-6 down, but we showed great spirit and fight”.
Merthyr became the first team to beat Swansea this season, and they scored five tries in their 38-37 victory. Full back Josh Fly came up with two, wings Aaron Howard and Owen Morgan also crossed the visitors line and prop Lewis Jones got the other.
Lang converted all five and added that last gasp penalty for a match haul of 13 points. Swansea picked up two points in defeat thanks to their four tries from centre Dai Watts, Nicky Thomas, Lock Sam Kiley, and scrum half Iwan Mainwaring.
Swansea’s defeat allowed Bargoed to move further ahead at the top of the table with their sixth straight win. They beat Narberth 23-16 to go three points clear.
Tries for the home side came from brothers Darren and Rhys Humphries and wing Lewis Protheroe, while outside half Josh Prosser weighed in with two penalties and a conversion.
RGC 1404 went on a try romp against Glynneath as they scored seven in a 44-3 win. Centre Danny Cross crossed twice and wings Tom Blackwell and Carwyn ap Myrddin also got in on the act.
Referee Rhys Thomas sent off three players in the first half at Pontypool Park after a free-for-all amongst the forwards in the game between Pontypool and Cardiff Met. Home forwards Rob Nash and Garrin Harris left the field along with Julian Watkins from the students’ pack, and things got even worse in the second half when home centre Joe Blackmore was given a yellow card to reduce Pontypool to 12 men for 10 minutes.
A close contest saw the students lead 17-13 at the break, with two tries from full back Tim Thompson tipping the scales in favour of the visitors 28-21.
James Whittingham was Llanharan’s first win of the season, 32-10 over Tondu. He kicked five penalties and a conversion for a match winning hall of 17 points.
Skipper Scott Malone, Harry Davies and Morgan Williams crossed for tries for the Dairymen, while Josh Thatchell and David Bishop scored tries for Tondu.
There were 19 points from the boot of Josh White in Bridgend Athletic’s 29-21 home win over Blackwood. Skipper Sean Williams and Dan Howells ran in tries for the Athletic, while Scott Turner kicked 11 points to add to Blackwood’s two tries.
There were 46 points in the first half at the Welfare ground, Newbridge, but none in the second as Tata Steel settled for a bonus point in a 31-15 victory.
Mark Harvey, Jordan Crealock, Owen Thomas and Brett Thomas scored tries for the visitors, three of which Gareth Walters converted. Steve Lewis also kicked a penalty. Newbridge had tries from centre Dwayne Dyer and prop Ian George, with Gary Wilkes adding a conversion and a penalty.
