Merthyr 38-28 Pontypridd – Match Report

A much anticipated top of the table clash lived up to expectations, a real blood and thunder encounter in which the opposing sides went at each other hammer and tongs, with Merthyr extending their unbeaten record and enhancing their title ambitions in claiming a 38pts to 28 victory.

It was Ponty who struck first, full back Dale Stuckey instigating a counter attack from deep which was carried on by Niko Matawalu who fed a scoring pass to winger Joe Davies, his try converted from in front of the posts by Jaydan Pugh. Despite that early setback the home side were enjoying a greater share of possession and driving forwards forcefully but conceding a penalty to yield their advantage. Having soaked up a lot of pressure Ponty had the wherewithal to strike back, playing through numerous phases to send Matawalu over the try-line but the score disallowed. The contest was high on intensity and evenly balanced with big carries and big hits made by both sides. A Ponty line-out malfunction allowed Merthyr to capitalise as the ball was spread wide for winger Corum Nott to cross for an unconverted try. Play continued to ebb and flow as the two opponents grafted hard in both attack and defence, testing each other to the full.

The Ironmen launched a powerful line-out drive from which no8 Cerith Lloyd claimed a try which Ben Jones duly converted only for the visitors again to respond by hammering the gain line but their advance halted by a penalty decision against them. The Merthyr pack continued to impose themselves on the game, setting a platform to advance into their opponents’ twenty-two and sending Cerith Lloyd over for another try, again converted by Jones. The home team by now were in the ascendancy, dominating territory and turning pressure into valuable points from a forward drive as hooker Ellis Shipp claimed a try, well converted by Jones. A quick tap penalty taken by Ben Jones asked more questions of a desperate Ponty defence, who scrambled to clear and peg back the interval deficit to 26pts to 7.

HALF TIME: Merthyr 26-7 Pontypridd

Merthyr threatened straight from the restart through a Jack Kathrens kick and chase, setting up camp in the Ponty twenty-two before Niko Matawalu set off on a dynamic break, the momentum carried on by Dale Stuckey and the ball then recycled and shipped out wide for winger Iwan Griffith to cross for a try which Jaydan Pugh converted. The visitors had sprung back to life and despite a sometimes faltering line-out, gained further confidence from a dynamic midfield charge by Joe Davies, but his side unable to capitalise from the ensuing attacking scrum. Gaining penalty awards, Ponty elected to kick for touch but again failed to drive home their advantage due to costly handling errors. Following a lengthy injury delay Ponty were soon back in their stride with Joe Davies once more to the fore with an opportunist kick and chase foray. As the home pack were serially penalised and warned about their indiscretions by the referee, the visitors finally forged a breakthrough as Connah Hughes grounded the ball at the back of a line-out drive, his try converted by Jorge Lucey.

Just as Ponty seemed to be right back in the mix, a costly knock-on in their own twenty-two gifted an opportunity for Merthyr to strike back, the ball moved wide for winger Corum Nott to cross, his score improved by Conor Murphy’s kick. Going into the final ten minutes Ponty were still fully intent on chasing the game, playing through the phases and rewarded as replacement Jordan Coxley powered over close to the posts with Lucey adding the conversion. There was high drama to follow as Ponty pressed in search of a winning score only to see a pass intercepted which allowed Jack Kathrens to claim a crucial home try which Murphy converted. As the clock turned red Ponty still pressed in search of an additional losing bonus point but all to no avail, conceding defeat by 38pts to 28 from a pulsating encounter.

FULL TIME: Merthyr 38-28 Pontypridd

Match Report – Guto Davies (13/12/2025)

MERTHYR:

15.Cole Swannack (Jack Kathrens). 14.Corum Nott. 13.Adam Hoskins. 12.Tom Hughes (Conor Murphy). 11.Kodie Stone (Dafydd Land). 10.Ben Jones. 9.James Soanes.

1.Travis Hawkins (Jamie Savery). 2.Ellis Shipp (Ryan Hughes). 3.Rhys Lewis. 4.Paddy McBride (c). 5.Craig Locke (Aled Evans). 6.Daniel Phillips. 7.Jack Perkins. 8.Cerith Lloyd.

Subs: 16.Ryan Hughes. 17.Jamie Savery. 18.Iestyn Pope. 19.Aled Evans. 20.Finley Thomas. 21.Dafydd Land. 22.Conor Murphy. 23.Jack Kathrens.

Tries: Corum Nott (15, 65); Cerith Lloyd (23, 30); Ellis Shipp (33); Jack Kathrens (78)

Cons: Ben Jones (24, 30, 34); Conor Murphy (66)                                                                                             

PONTYPRIDD:

15.Dale Stuckey. 14.Joe Davies (Stuart Floyd-Ellis). 13.Niko Matawalu. 12.Garyn Smith. 11.Iwan Griffith. 10.Jaydan Pugh (Jorge Lucey). 9.Lloyd Dennett (Joey Williams).

1.Ben Stephens (Cameron Tyler-Grocott). 2.Louis Tovey (Connah Hughes). 3.Garyn Daniel (Kian Mattravers). 4.Mitch Barnard (Jordan Coxley). 5.Macauley Cook. 6.Cai James. 7.Cally James (c). 8.Joe Miles (Ben Drew).

Subs: 16.Connah Hughes. 17.Cameron Tyler-Grocott. 18.Kian Mattravers. 19.Ben Drew. 20.Jordan Coxley. 21.Joey Williams. 22.Jorge Lucey. 23.Stuart Floyd-Ellis.

Tries: Joe Davies (2); Iwan Griffith (44); Connah Hughes (61); Jordan Coxley (75)

Cons: Jaydan Pugh (2, 45); Jorge Lucey (62, 75)                                                                                                                                                 

Referee:  Cai Lewis             AR3:  Simon Harris

 

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