MERTHYR 40 LLANDOVERY 26
The last time these two met, in the WRU Cup final back in April, the Drovers squeezed home 20-18 but this pre-season friendly was a wholly different affair writes Huw S Thomas
Last year’s all conquering champions were knocked out of their stride by a Merthyr side that, on this performance, will be favourites to win the revamped Premiership.
The Ironmen have kept many of the players who performed in last year’s semi-pro games and look the team to beat in the community game based Premiership.
Llandovery were second in most phases – scrum, line out, contact area and most surprisingly, the loose where Merthyr were faster to the ball.
Ex- Drover Dafydd Land, starting a new career at scrum half for Merthyr, formed an impressive half back partnership with Man of the Match Ben Jones.
With old war horses Craig Locke and Paddy McBride a terrific force in the second row, Merthyr were invariably on the front foot, allowing the half backs to dictate the game.
Jones, back in his best position at fly half, was a constant threat with his quick handling and elusive running – his reward a solo try and five conversions for a 15 point haul.
Llandovery looked a shadow of the side that had produced last year’s wonders and on this evidence, they will find it hard to make the same impact in the nascent Super Rygbi Cymru league.
Shorn of retired skipper Jack Jones, the forwards lacked direction and although there were sound individual contributions from No 8 Nathan Hart and lock Joe Powell, it was only towards the end that there was enough ball for the backs to attack with.
“Lethargic, off the pace, error prone and short in intensity” was the e view of attack coach Gareth Potter, a brutally honest opinion that few would contest.
The line out was often fragile with clean possession lost through poor relay or simple knock ons whilst the front row missed the scrummaging power of absent Jamie Hughes and Berian Watkins.
True that a few regulars were missing up front, but coach Euros Evans faces the task of getting everyone back to speed before the opening SRC game at Pontypool on September 12.
Injuries to fly half Ioan Hughes and flanker Lewis Ellis-Jones will not help but the return of flanker Stuart Worrall and lock Chris Long will bolster the forward effort.
The announcement that former Llandovery defence coach, Tom Hancock, will be helping out at Pontypool this season, also makes the opening game a huge challenge.
One big surprise on Saturday was the concession of six tries by a side that last year let in just two tries a game and prided itself on its defensive prowess under Hancock.
The first of Merthyr’s six tries came early on when the pass of wing Morgan Meaclem, a former Ironman, was intercepted by wing Adam Hoskins and although Llandovery got tries from skipper Lee Rees and prop Dino Dallavalle, it was the home side that dominated.
The forwards were held up on the Llandovery line umpteen times before centre Cole Swannack swept in and when Rees was yellow carded, co centre Rhys Davies and Land twice plunged through holes for a 28-14 interval lead.
Tails up, the Iromen went to 40-14 through a close range effort from back rower Sam Cross and a dazzling chip and chase try from the twinkling Jones.
With floods of replacements breaking up the game, the Drovers got late tries from their best back – wing Harri Doel – and centre Rhodri Jones and although there was encouragement in the sharp play of replacement scrum half George Macdonald, it was a day to forget.
Merthyr
Tries: A Hoskins, C Swannack, R Davies, D Land, S Cross, B Jones
Cons: B Jones (5)
Pens:
Llandovery
Tries: L Rees, D Dallavalle, H Doel, R Jones
Cons: J Maynard (3)
Merthyr: J Lloyd; F Baker, C Swannack, R Davies, A Hoskins: B Jones, D Land; C Lewis, R Hughes, R Lewis, C Locke, P McBride, A Evans, S Cross, C Lloyd
Replacements😛 Richmond, S Ripley, L Caviel, J Griffiths, R Walker, T Hawkins, J Savery, M Greening, M Green, D Phillips, T Davies, J Perkins, K Evans, L Hannah
Llandovery: J Maynard; H Doel, Adam Warren, R Jones, Morgan Meaclem; I Hughes, L Rees; D Dallavalle, T Davies, L Green, O Davies, J Powell, L Ellis-Jones, N Hart, J Evans
Replacements: H Gwyn-Jones, G Macdonald, J Baker, G Jones, F Thomas, L Tucker