MERTHYR moved back into the Indigo Premiership Play-off places after they beat Pontypridd 28-12 on Friday night (Feb 24).
The home side were on a three-match winning run while visitors Pontypridd came into the game on the back of two narrow defeats.
It was Ponty who took the early lead as Joseph Scrivens sent a penalty through the posts.
However, just two minutes later Merthyr took the lead as Adam Hoskins touched down for the first try of the game. The conversion was missed.
Back came Ponty though and they regained the lead thanks to another penalty from Scrivens, making it 5-6.
Merthyr then grabbed the next score midway through the half as Rhys Williams touched down following a rolling maul. The conversion was again missed.
Ponty kept themselves in the game though as Scrivens added a third penalty to make the score 10-9.
Gareth Thompson then scored a penalty for the home side to edge themselves further in front while Ponty were reduced to 14 men.
On the stroke of half time, Hoskins went over for his second try of the game but the conversion could not be added.
It meant a half time score of 18-9 in favour of the home side but Ponty were keen to make a good start to the second half.
Both sides battled away but the first score of the second period did not come until the 60th minute. And it was the visitors who got it as Scrivens sent a penalty through the posts following a yellow card to Merthyr’s Craig Locke.
Try as they might, Ponty could not find another score and with nine minutes to go Josh Lewis increased the lead with another penalty.
WIth time running out, Merthyr went over for their fourth try with Travis Knoyle touching down before Lewis added the extras.
The win for Merthyr is their fourth in a row and moves them back into third place. On Saturday, March 4, they face another side on a four-match winning run when they visit Carmarthen Quins.
Pontypridd will look to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they host bottom side Llanelli.
