Newport 7 Merthyr 41: Black and Ambers overpowered in final

The Black and Ambers getting to Principality Stadium was an accomplishment in itself given that less than a year ago their very existence was hanging by a thread.

That won’t numb the pain for the Newport players and management after a 41-7 drubbing but the travelling support, enjoying their first final since 2003, made their pride clear despite the scoreboard making tough viewing.

The Ironmen were just too good.

Newport had beaten them seven weeks earlier at the Wern but the Premiership champions looked a class apart on the big stage, making it a one-sided, record-breaking affair.

The Black and Ambers had players to pose problems but made too many mistakes and bad calls, were too inaccurate in key moments, plus they gave themselves a mountain the climb by shipping 20 quickfire points in the first half.

There was no shortage of endeavour but they just couldn’t bend the Ironmen, who dominated the collisions. Newport possess some dangerous backs but had no go-forward to truly test Merthyr’s defence.

Craig Warlow’s men had booked a big day out by beating Swansea, Aberavon, Bedwas and then Llandovery but knew they needed to be at their very best to earn winners’ rather than runners-up.

Alas, they weren’t and Colin Smart in 1977 and Gary Teichmann must wait to be joined as Black and Ambers captains that have lifted the cup aloft.

Newport showed from the off that they intended to move the ball around on the big pitch, avoiding an arm-wrestle with the hefty Ironmen.

Both teams showed flashes but it remained scoreless after 16 minutes until Merthyr pounced when flanker Kyle Tayler was pinged for a no-arms tackle.

Ex-Bedwas fly-half Richard Powell booted the ball expertly into the corner and the pack did the rest, powering over for a try that full-back Matthew Jarvis converted.

One nearly became two swiftly when the Ironmen, playing with penalty advantage, spread the ball left for tighthead Joe Rees to power over.

However, wing Jonathan Morris got his body under the front rower and the TMO Tim Hayes didn’t have sufficient evidence to award the score, leaving Merthyr to settle for 10-0 from Jarvis’ right peg.

And the former Osprey ruthlessly punished a breakdown offence to make it 13-0 with 21 minutes on the clock – Newport had to get a foothold.

Instead they were 20-0 down after 24 minutes after lock Craig Locke powered over after a peach of a pass to the left by flanker Osian Davies, the attack all stemming from a black and amber error.

Newport finally got a chance to respond with a lineout in the 22 only for Merthyr to snuff out the danger then a superb breakout from his own 22 sparked an attack that unfortunately fizzled out when captain Matt O’Brien’s chip over the top went out on the full.

The Black and Ambers were desperate for a score before the break and had a sniff in the 38th minute when quick lineout ball was followed by O’Brien’s flat pass putting Tom Pascoe into the 22 on a nice line but his attempted offload didn’t go to hand.

That summed up a rather scrappy half for the Black and Ambers, who were playing catch-up against the most formidable Welsh team outside professional rugby.

Newport needed to strike first after the restart but instead they suffered a body blow when wing Kyle Evans went through some weak tackling to go over for a try that Jarvis converted for 27-0.

That meant that the Rodney Parade side were now playing for pride, desperate to give a glimpse of the true Black and Ambers.

They were attempting to avoid becoming the first club to be nilled in a cup final but instead it was the winners-elect that were next to strike thanks to a stunning acrobatic finish by Evans down the right despite the desperate effort of Morris.

Powell twisted the knife with a majestic conversion for 34-0 but Newport at least got on the scoreboard with a lovely try from deep with Haydn Palmer and Geraint O’Driscoll combining to put centre Chay Smith over for a try that O’Brien converted.

But there was still time for Merthyr deservedly to have the final say with a well-worked try for replacement scrum-half Adam Hoskins.

It was a great journey to Principality Stadium for Newport but they must wait to get their name engraved on the trophy for a third time.

Newport: G O’Driscoll, J Morris, C Smith, T Pascoe, E Frewen (Hayden Palmer 68), M O’Brien (captain), R James (O Davies 60), J Lavender (N Boyce 65), W Evans (Henry Palmer 51), T Piper (G Harris 51), J Bartlett (L Greggains 66), D Partridge, M Burgess (L Greggains 45, A Mann 63), K Tayler, A Everett (R Jenkins 51).

Scorers: try – C Smith, conversion – M O’Brien

Merthyr: M Jarvis (G Davies 65), R Carter, G Dacey (T Riley 53), A Pinches, K Evans, R Powell, J James (A Hoskins 68), N Trevett (L Jones 60), R Williams (M Dwyer 65), J Rees (R James 65), N White (B Sier 65), C Locke (captain), E Siggery (L Evans 68), O Davies, P Rees.

Scorers: tries – N Trevett, C Locke, K Evans (2), A Hoskins; conversions – M Jarvis (3), R Powell (2); penalties – M Jarvis (2)

Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)