By: Paul Hopkins
Swansea failed to gain revenge over Merthyr for the earlier cup semi-final defeat as the Ironmen ran out comfortable bonus point winners in a free-flowing match at St Helen’s.
Flanker Lennon Greggains almost burst through and found winger Adam Hoskins, who made a break on the wing, before a superb break by winger Lloyd Rowlands at the next phase sent Hoskins in for a try at the corner. Fly half Josh Lewis converted.
Centre Morgan Sieniawski made a clever line break as Merthyr attacked again, but lock Callum Bradbury was penalised for holding on after the tackle.
The Swansea pack earned a penalty at the scrum, but a poor kick by fly half Jacob Symes missed touch. Instead, the visitors were able to counter attack from deep, although winger Gareth J Rees superbly turned over possession in the tackle.
The home side grabbed a second try when number eight Cai Davies used his strength to bounce past a tackler, and Lewis cleared a weak tackle to send full back Morgan Meaclem over for a soft score. Lewis converted.
Sloppy play by Symes saw the fly half kick out on the full after the ball was passed back into the 22, but the Ironmen failed to take advantage when Lewis himself chipped out on the full.
Lock Sam Pailor lost the ball at the lineout and it looked as though Rowlands would score in the corner after Merthyr got quick ball out wide, but an excellent tackle by centre Gareth O Rees forced a forward pass.
With the visitors continuing to attack, centre Callum Carson did well to collect a grubber kick and scrum half Aron Hemmings cleared long with a box kick to ease the pressure on his side.
Winger Cori Lewis-Jenkins sprinted down the wing as Swansea’s backs had their first taste of an attacking threat, and the Merthyr backs were penalised for offside, so Symes chipped inside the 22.
From the lineout the home pack drove forward but a mistake saw Merthyr clear long through Lewis. A huge touch finder gave the visitors an attacking lineout five metres from the line, but an excellent tackle by prop Tom Sloane saved a certain try.
Another attacking lineout followed and centre Cole Swannack tried to power through the Swansea defence, but he lost possession and the Whites were able to clear.
A late tackle on Symes gave Swansea a penalty inside the Merthyr half, and a superb lineout take by flanker Joe Greaves saw the ball sent to Carson, who ran a superb line to break clear and score. Full back Brandon Wood converted.
Merthyr hit back with a superb try when Lewis chipped through the middle, with Hoskins backing his pace to collect and score. Lewis converted.
Greggains intercepted a loose pass in midfield and Merthyr came close to adding a fourth try, but Meaclem’s pass to Rowlands was crucially forward.
Merthyr were awarded a penalty which Lewis chipped to the corner and a superb lineout take by the visitors created an unstoppable rolling maul to the line, with the visitors awarded a penalty try and Sloane also yellow carded.
A superb run by the visitors saw Gareth J Rees accidentally trip a visitors player, injuring the man and earning a yellow card in the process.
Amongst the mess, Merthyr opted for a scrum just seven metres out from the line, but despite an advancing set piece, number eight Thomas Jevons played from the back and his side spilled possession on the stroke of half time.
Half-time:- Swansea 7-28 Merthyr
The home side made the two man advantage count immediately after half time when they used the backs well and sent Hoskins weaving over for a hat trick try. Lewis converted.
Merthyr began to run riot as the backs exploited space out wide with Rowlands sprinting down the touchline to send Swannack over for a try. Lewis missed the conversion.
The visitors gave away a penalty at the scrum and Wood found touch on the 22. Flanker Oliver Jones burst through the middle and sent a scoring pass out to Hemmings. Wood converted.
A powerful scrum by the home side earned a penalty, but Wood missed his touch finder, although Lewis’ clearance kick found touch anyway.
Greaves took the lineout, but an outstanding Merthyr defence kept the ball in the maul, although the touch judge stepped in to award the Whites a penalty after the visitors drove in from the side.
A booming kick by Wood found touch five metres from the line, and Pailor took the lineout, before the Merthyr pack illegally took down a maul with a penalty try awarded and prop Louis Jones yellow carded.
Hemmings was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on as the visitors looked to regain some momentum, but a forward pass brought an end to the move.
Merthyr were awarded a penalty at the scrum and Lewis chipped up to the 22. A rolling maul was formed by the visitors, with Bradbury close to scoring, but he was held up a metre short, although play was brought back for a penalty.
Lewis dinked the ball into the corner, but following a routine lineout, the visitors failed to make the most of the chance and gave away a penalty for driving in at the side.
Swansea looked to mount an unlikely comeback when Gareth O Rees burst through a tackle and raced into the Merthyr half, with Lewis-Jenkins making a mini break on the wing, before Cai Davies picked up a ball from the ruck to score a great solo try. Wood converted.
Swannack almost scored for the visitors with a chip and chase, but the ball was grounded by the home side and they were able to clear with a goal line drop out.
Greggains took a quick free kick and a chip through by Meaclem was well taken by Lewis-Jenkins, who managed to stay in play, but replacement scrum half Rhodri Lewis slipped and was forced to ground the ball behind his own line.
Merthyr sealed an impressive victory with the final play of the game when Lewis fired out a long pass to Hoskins, who squeezed over at the corner for his fourth try. Lewis converted.
Full-time:- Swansea 28-47 Merthyr
Swansea:
Tries:- Callum Carson (31), Aron Hemmings (51), Penalty try (56), Cai Davies (69)
Cons:- Brandon Wood (32, 52, 70)
Yellow cards:- Tom Sloane (40), Gareth J Rees (40+2), Aron Hemmings (59)
Merthyr:
Tries:- Adam Hoskins (3, 34, 43, 80+2), Morgan Meaclem (10), Penalty try (40), Cole Swannack (45)
Cons:- Josh Lewis (4, 11, 35, 44, 80+3)
Yellow cards:- Louis Jones (56)
Match facts:
Venue:- St Helen’s, Swansea
Weather:- Drizzle, 10C
Referee:- Dewi Phillips
Man of the match:- Adam Hoskins
Attendance:- 500
Swansea team:
15 Brandon Wood
14 Gareth J Rees
13 Gareth O Rees
12 Callum Carson
11 Cori Lewis-Jenkins (rep: Louis Fletcher 40+3-48)
10 Jacob Symes (rep: Harrison Doe 48)
9 Aron Hemmings (rep: Rhodri Lewis 70)
1 Tom Sloane (rep: Louis Fletcher 80+2)
2 Llew Phillips-Taylor
3 Ed Thompson (rep: Chris Davies 27-40+3, 76)
4 Lloyd Ashley ©
5 Sam Pailor (rep: Lewis Marsh 60)
6 Joe Greaves
7 Oliver Jones (rep: Jake Baker 79)
8 Cai Davies
Replacements:
16 Owen Thomas
17 Louis Fletcher
18 Chris Davies
19 Lewis Marsh
20 Jake Baker
21 Rhodri Lewis
22 Harrison Doe
23 Marcus Brown
Merthyr team:
15 Morgan Meaclem
14 Adam Hoskins (rep: Jamie Savery 61-66)
13 Cole Swannack
12 Morgan Sieniawski (rep: Jacob Lloyd 52)
11 Lloyd Rowlands (rep: Jack Kathrens 70)
10 Josh Lewis
9 James Soanes (rep: Ethan Lloyd 52)
1 Louis Jones (rep: Jamie Savery 66)
2 Ellis Shipp (rep: Ewan Wood 52)
3 Rhys Lewis (rep: Dave Whiting 52)
4 Craig Locke © (rep: Tom Davies 70)
5 Callum Bradbury
6 Lennon Greggains
7 Kian Evans
8 Thomas Jevons (rep: Logan Hannah 63)
Replacements:
16 Evan Wood
17 Jamie Savery
18 Dave Whiting
19 Logan Hannah
20 Tom Davies
21 Ethan Lloyd
22 Jacob Lloyd
23 Jack Kathrens