Principality Premiership leaders Merthyr blasted Cross Keys with eight tries as they romped to an easy win.

Keys, to their credit, fought hard and managed to snap up a try bonus point themselves having crossed for four tries.

Keys tries came from prop Scott Evans, lock Scott Andrews, wing Rory Bodina and replacement hooker Rhydian Jenkins. Outside half Jason Tovey kicked four conversions. Another replacement , prop Richard Cornock made his 300th appearance for the Pandy Park men.

Merthyr’s tries came from wing Lewis Williams, prop Nathan Trevett (2), wing Jay Baker, hooker Rhys Williams, inside half Adam Hoskins, full back Joseph Williams and outside half Richard Powell who also kicked six conversions.

Cross Keys ended a run of six Principality Premiership defeats when they drew 5-5 with Llanelli at a rain-soaked Pandy Park a week earlier but they faced a major hurdle against top-of-the-table Merthyr, the defending champions, at The Wern.

The Ironmen applied the early pressure and coasted into a 14-0 lead after 20 minutes. First, wing Williams side-stepped outside a would-be tackler to cross for a corner try which Powell converted. Then prop Trevett stole the limelight employing a fine dummy pass before charging over for a second touchdown which Powell converted. The nearest Keys had come to scoring was in the 13th minute but the ball hit an upright after Tovey’s 30 metres penalty attempt.

Baker added a third try for Merthyr, converted by Powell, before Keys finally broke their duck when prop Evans forced his way over for a touchdown converted by Tovey. Hooker Williams secured a bonus point try for the home side again converted by Powell before lock Andrews gave Keys a glimmer of hope when he burst over for a try just before the interval Tovey’s excellent wide-angled conversion made the interval score 28-14.

Keys kept up the fight but they looked a well-beaten side at the final whistle.

Merthyr: Tries: L Williams, N Trevett (2), J Baker, R Williams, A Hoskins, J Williams, and R Powell Cons: R Powell (6) Cross Keys: Tries: S Evans, S Andrews, R Bodina ,R Jenkins Cons: J Tovey (4) Cross Keys star man: Jason Tovey