It was a second successive defeat for the Ironmen and their visitors rubbed further salt in the wound by picking up a third successive bonus point by running in four tries at The Wern. The star of the show once again, though, was former Dragons outside half Steffan Jones who stole the show with a 20 point haul.
Despite the visitors’ victory it was actually Merthyr who started the strongest with a try from centre Teri Gee after a mere three minutes. Former Llanelli scrum half Justin James, who was a constant threat throughout the game, was the next to score a try after a snipping from the base of the ruck to touch down for Merthyr’s second.
However, Bedwas then began their scoring spree with a penalty try after winger Mathew John was taken out without the ball preventing a certain try. Star man Jones then added two drop goals to narrow the gap to a single point just before half time.
Table topping Bedwas went up a few gears in the second half with aptly named winger George Gasson raced down the touchline for their second. Jones crossed for the third after being at the end of a brilliant team try, with wing Ollie Halford completing the try scoring before Jones rounded off a superb display with a penalty kick from 60 metres out.
Cardiff maintained their perfect start to the season with a 21-17 away victory over Bargoed to keep up the pressure on the leaders. In what was an extremely tense affair it was former Leicester Tigers centre Jack Roberts who won the game with a try in the 79th minute.
It took the Blue and Blacks just two minutes to open the scoring with Cardiff Blues full back Dan Fish crossing near the left hand corner following a nice backs move. The visitors second try came after seven minutes when their front row shoved the Bargoed pack over the try line forcing the referee to award a penalty try.
However, Bargoed hit back with two converted tries from former Wales Under 20 No 8 Ieuan Jones and wing Jordan Howells who crossed from 40 metres out to lead their visitors 17-14 at half time. The second forty minutes was a stalemate with both sides defences cancelling each other out.
With the second half turning into an arm wrestle between two strong sets of forwards it was left to Roberts to break Bargoed hearts. The home side were in possession on half way when they spilled the ball prompting Roberts to hack on before gathering to make it a perfect four out of four for the Blue & Blacks this season.
Cross Keys picked up their first win of the season with a 20-12 home win over Ebbw Vale. They sped into a 13-0 interval lead thanks to a Nathan Trowbridge try and eight points from the boot of outside half Josh Prosser.
Scrum half James Leadbeater crossed for a second try after the break which Prosser converted, while the visitors hit back with a classic ‘Catch ‘n Kynes’ driving line out try from their skipper Ronnie Kynes. Centre Srdan Majkic crashed over for a second with six minutes left and Callum Hall’s conversion set up a tense finish.
Newport also got their season off the mark with a morale boosting, 29-27 home win over Pontypridd on Friday night. Matt O’Brien kicked a penalty 10 minutes from time to haul his side ahead by two points and they were able to hang on from there.
