WITH Newbridge at the wrong end of the Championship and Merthyr flying high in the Principality Premiership, this scoreline was fairly predictable, writes Peter Hughes.

However, the Newbridge fans can take heart that their side kept battling all the way to the 80th minute in their WRU National Cup first round tie at the Wern.

Craig Locke initiated and completed the move that resulted in Merthyr’s opening try.

A run by the second row from just inside his own half took the ball to within five metres of the Newbridge line.

The Merthyr team then went through the phases before Locke touched down between the posts to give Matthew Jarvis an easy conversion.

Try number two came four minutes later for wing Richard Carter from a cross-field kick by Dean Gunter.

The writing was already on the wall for Newbridge when, after 10 minutes, the Merthyr pack drove their way over the line from a lineout for hooker Rhys Williams to touch down.

Just two minutes later, Alex Howman claimed his side’s fourth try, before the wing claimed a second under the posts on the 20-minute mark.

To their credit, Newbridge continued to battle and opened their account with a 26th-minute try for outside-half Simon Veall which he went on to convert from close to the touchline to make the half-time score 33-7.

It took the home side a little over three minutes to resume their scoring ways, Alan Pincer touching down. The centre went on to compete his double five minutes later.

Newbridge continued to battle but struggled to fight their way out of their own half while Merthyr continued to pile on the pressure.

Full-back Jarvis crossed and converted just after the hour mark to take his side past the half-century.

Moments later, Newbridge got within inches of the Merthyr try line only for the ball to go astray and enable their hosts to clear their lines.

Pincer completed his hat-trick with five minutes of regular time to go.

Still, Newbridge refused to let their heads drop and flanker Kyle Scrivens claimed a consolation try in the 89th minute to complete a creditable if losing performance for the Gwent side.

Scorers: Merthyr – Tries: C Locke, R Carter , R Williams, A Howman (2), A Pincer (3), M Jarvis, Cons: M Jarvis (8)

Newbridge – Tries: S Veall, K Scrivens, Con: S Veall

Merthyr: M Jarvis; R Carter, G Dacey (K Evans 57), A Pincers, A Howman; D Gunter (G Davies 50), R Downes (J James 50); L Jones, R Williams (S Evans 40), G Powell (N Buck 50), B Murphy, C Locke (capt) (R Ludick 57), N White, M Rees, P Rees (T Daley 43)

Newbridge: T Watkins; L Knight, J Beighton, M Powell, T James (S Jones 57); S Veall, J Bennett (J Howells 57); J Tucker, K Greenway, M Kavanagh (J Edwards 62), R Dawe, R Isaacs (P James 48), K Scrivens (capt), R Bevan (O Johnson 62), J Sharpley

Referee: Robert Price (WRU)

Argus star man: Simon Veall (Newbridge)