Rumney : 15.M.O'Neill14.H.Amadife 13.M.Maclean 12.P.Niblett (Capt) 11.M.Lloyd 10.D.Clark  9.B.Morris 1.C.Gale 2.N.Ritchie 3.N.Trevett 4.L.Egan 5.M.Kelly 6.R.Sutton 7.R.Fenton 8.C.Jones  Replacements : R.Hanmer G.Tattersall T.Gee P.Bull

Scorer for Rumney : M.Maclean penalty

Scorers for Merthyr : R.Coombes try, J.Price 2 tries, G.Jones try, W.Booth conversion, M.Davies conversion

The heavy conditions favoured the big and experienced Merthyr pack but Rumney started the game with plenty of fire and took the lead after five minutes with a Matthew Maclean penalty. After a number of early errors Merthyr slowly gained more control at forward and moved into the visitors' territory with a series of controlled drives and moves off the back of the scrum using No8 Jason Price. Initially the stern Rumney defence held but after thirty minutes a patient build up by the Ironmen took play to the opposition five metre line where clean possession in the line led to Ross Coombes crossing for their first try. More relentless forward pressure kept play mostly in the Rumney half of the field with Price continuing to impress and although Paul Niblett, Maclean and Paddy O'Neill made powerful breaks out of defence, strong Merthyr tackling prevented any scores.

A similar pattern of play continued throughout the second half as the home pack put an even tighter grip on the game and after fifty minutes Price completed another forward drive with his side's second try. Further pressure kept play mostly in the Rumney twenty two and except for a spectacular forty metre dash by second row Michael Kelly, Merthyr continued to press and force turnovers. Rumney scrum half Ben Morris and winger Gethin Tattersall frequently relieved the situation with good clearance work but in the seventieth minute Price again picked up at the base of a scrum and drove over for another well constructed try which Wayne Booth converted. In the last minute of injury time centre Gavin Jones finished another forward drive with a try under the posts and Martin Davies's conversion confirmed Merthyr's decisive 24 - 3 victory.

Danny Wilson, Coach Rumney 1st XV : "A week of disrupted preparations meant that we did not have a structure to beat Merthyr, though the side showed a great deal of character and plenty of heart. Danny Clark did well in defence, Ryan Fenton showed lots of guts, Ryan Sutton controlled the line out and Ben Morris adapted his play briliantly to the conditions. This is a young side and we have some special training sessions planned this week and Rumney squad members Tom Dickens and Gareth Williams-Davies are playing for the Welsh FIRA Under 19s in Scotland on Thursday."

Terry Gee, second row Rumney 1st XV : "It was an impressive first half, we held our own against a very strong pack. A lot of the work we have been doing in training paid off especially the moves in tight play. Rhodri Hamner made a big impact and Paddy O'Neill and Ben Morris had very good games."

Terry Gee