Newport started the game strongly when Lennon Greggains rumbled over the line following a well worked lineout move just five metres out. The Black and Ambers continued their early dominance, Andrew catching a floating cross field kick and finished well in the corner.
The tries kept coming and after 21 minutes Johnny Morris added another try for the visitors, courtesy of a cultured grubber kick from the young centre, Harri Ackerman. Newport had dominated the early stages of the match, but Merthyr hit back six minutes later with a try of their own from the talismanic Craig Locke.
Despite getting themselves back into the game, Merthyr’s Paddy McBride saw yellow for a dangerous tackle. The visitors sensed blood and after a period of pressure Oli Andrew scored his second try of the afternoon, to secure a try bonus point after just 33 minutes. O’Driscoll added a difficult two pointer to see his side head to the sheds 26-7 up.
Merthyr came out from the break reinvigorated. The speed of ball had increased, and the intensity had noticeably gone up. After creating some good territory, a sniping run from scrum half James Soanes snipe through a gap in Newport’s defence, to score the Ironmen’s second try of the afternoon.
The Black and Ambers quickly regained their composure however, as their pack grabbed a hold on the game. Under some pressure Newport were awarded a penalty try, for repeated infringements, which saw Sam Jones receive a yellow card.
With a man advantage, Andrew added his hattrick try with a show and go after he received a lovely cross field kick from O’Driscoll. After becoming Newport’s 11th highest point scorer last weekend, Geraint O’Driscoll added four out of five conversions.
Soanes scored his second and Merthyr’s third try, before a last gasp effort from Paddy McBride earned the Ironmen a bonus point.
Scorers: Merthyr: Tries: J Soanes 2, C Locke, P McBride; Cons: J Lewis, A Hoskins; Newport: Tries: O Andrew 3, L Greggains, J Morris, Pen Try. Cons: G O’Driscoll 4
