A BRACE of tries from centre Tom Pascoe and second half touchdowns from his midfield partner Chay Smith, flanker Joe Cullimore and replacement wing Curtis Ayling were not enough to stop brave Newport slipping to defeat against reigning champions Merthyr, but the visitors thoroughly deserved their bonus point.

Outside half and captain Matt O’Brien capped a good all-round display by converting four, while Smith’s try following a splendid 65-metres solo burst was the best of the free-flowing match.

The problem was that Merthyr scored seven tries themselves through Aaron Pinchers, skipper Craig Locke, Steffan Andrews, Matthew Dwyer, Joe Bearman, Kyle Evans and Osian Davies to notch up their bonus point win. Matthew Jarvis (3) and Ben Jones added the conversions.

Newport were hoping they would not be on the receiving end of a backlash from reigning champions Merthyr who had lost to Cardiff, Bedwas and Pontypridd after a 31-29 home win over Cross Keys in their opening fixture. The Black and Ambers had won, albeit narrowly, their last two matches against Pontypridd and Ebbw Vale after earlier reversals against Cardiff and Bedwas.

Merthyr included former Ospreys and Dragons player Joe Bearman in the back row against the visitors, who lost 50-26 when the sides last met at Rodney Parade a year ago.

Newport came close to scoring in the sixth minute. O’Brien’s raking kick to touch led to a lineout five metres from the home line which ended with the visitors’ forwards surging over, but the referee ruled the ball had been held up.

Back bounced Merthyr four minutes later with a sustained bout of passing for centre Pinchers to touch down at the posts. Jarvis converted to give the Ironmen a 7-0 lead.

Then came a flurry of scoring as both teams put together several enterprising attacks. Centre Pascoe grabbed a brace of tries in the 17th and 30th minutes, both converted by O’Brien, but Merthyr held the upper hand leading 29-14 at the interval by adding further tries from Locke (19th minute), Andrews three minutes later, Dwyer (33 minutes) and Bearman just before the break.

Newport fought back well in the final minutes but it was not enough to overhaul the Ironmen.

Scorers:

Merthyr: M Jarvis ( J Martin 66); K Evans, H Millard (T Riley 57), A Pinchers, S Andrews; B Jones, J James ( R Downes 59) ; L Jones ( J Howe 61), M Dwyer (D Watts 74) J Rees ( P Edwards 15), B Murphy, C Locke, capt., J Bearman N White 72), O Davies and P Rees ( E Siggery 69).

Scorers - Tries: A Pinchers, C Locke, S Andrews, M Dwyer, J Bearman, K Evans, O Davies. Cons: M Jarvis (3), B Jones.

Newport: G O’Driscoll; J Morris, C Smith, T Pascoe, H Lang (C Ayling 78); M O’Brien, capt, R James (O Davies 59); M Prosser (J Lavender 59), E Whitson (W Evans 59) T Piper (G Harris 59), G Bilton, R Cresswell, M Burgess (K Tayler 59), J Cullimore and A Everett.

Scorers - Tries: T Pascoe (2), C Smith, J Cullimore , C Ayling. Cons: M O’Brien (4)

Referee: Mr Craig Evans (WRU)

Newport Star Man: Tom Pascoe