CROSS Keys endured a torrid opening to the Principality Premiership season as they were outplayed by Merthyr at a sodden Pandy Park.

The first Saturday of the new term was greeted with some typically wet Welsh weather, and it was always going to be the side who could cope with the conditions the better that would prevail.

Both packs showed their hand early on and a Merthyr rumble looked promising until referee Gwyn Morris spotted a bit of foul play by the visitors.

Keys cleared from inside their own 22 and a few minutes later they took the lead when the Ironmen transgressed again.

Full-back Ethan Davies kicked the resulting penalty but the hosts did suffer a temporary blow with captain Scott Matthews leaving the field with a blood injury.

And he wasn’t the only one in the wars in the first half. Opposite number, Merthyr skipper Craig Locke, was on the receiving end of a big hit that was deemed illegal by the match official.

Locke then opted to go for a driving lineout when Merthyr were awarded a penalty in kicking range.

However, the decision backfired and Keys managed to turn the ball over before clearing to near halfway.

By this point the forward battle was going the way of the Premiership new boys and they got one over on the hosts at a Keys’ scrum.

The Ironmen nearly breached the Keys defence from the reset scrum with openside Osian Davies and scrum-half Rhys Downes making snipes for the line.

Keys kept out those initial thrusts but when Merthyr opted for another lineout from a penalty there was no stopping the visiting pack.

Hooker Rhys Williams looked after the ball at the back of the maul and touched down as Keys succumbed to the pressure. Centre Matthew Jarvis missed the conversion.

With the rain showing no sign of letting up Merthyr were reduced to 14 men. Former Wales and Lions back-rower Andy Powell got as little carried away and was binned for a high tackle.

That, and a few other off the ball incidents, then prompted the referee to speak with the two captains.

But rather than go into their shell after going a man down, Merthyr extended their lead.

A bone-crunching hit on Keys’ Merthyr-born number-eight Adam Powell by lock Ben Murphy was the precursor to Jarvis slotting a three-pointer.

Now trailing 8-5, the home side might have reduced the deficit but Davies was just off target with his left boot.

Keys were made to pay for that miss just before the interval and there was a sense of déjà vu about the second Merthyr try.

Another driving lineout resulted in Osian Davies burrowing his way over the whitewash. Jarvis did add the extras on this occasion to make it 15-3 at the break.

Line breaks had been at a premium in the first period but that changed within seconds of the restart.

Winger Terri Gee’s break down the left ultimately came to nothing, however, it was evident gaps were beginning to appear in the Keys’ backline.

Another burst by Gee brought about a Keys infringement that was punished by Jarvis.

Backed by a big travelling support, Merthyr pinned Keys back in their own half and almost snatched a third try when a Downes chip over the top nearly paid dividends.

The last quarter of the match was played almost entirely in Keys territory and it was all very scrappy.

And while they couldn’t increase their advantage, Merthyr were always in control of proceedings.

Skipper Locke was sin-binned for apparently making contact with the face of a Keys player, but even down to 14 men they were never in any danger of letting their lead slip.