Season Review – Merthyr RFC

Season Review – Merthyr RFC

Position – 6th

The men from the Wern who have won three consecutive Premiership titles after promotion from the Championship in 2016 suffered a disappointing campaign by their high standards, despite finishing in a respectable 6th place.

It was an indifferent campaign for the Ironmen who have been on a meteoric rise in recent years, going from Division 1 East Champions in 2013/14 to Premiership Champions in the space of three seasons.

Merthyr’s first three results of the season was an indication of how the season was to play out with losses to RGC (23-17) and Bridgend (17-12) sandwiched between a win at home to Ebbw Vale (42-21). Inconsistency was a problem for Merthyr with the team finding it hard to string a long run of wins together.

Despite the inconsistency, Merthyr gained some good results along the course of the season becoming the first away team to win away at Swansea in 13 months (10-17), and home wins over high flying Carmarthen Quins (22-18) and Llandovery (33-31)

The Indigo Premiership may have been a disappointment, but the Ironmen were in contention of winning the National Cup for the 2nd in time in three years before the Welsh club game was suspended due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Merthyr had defeated rivals Pontypridd, Bedwas and Neath to reach the Semi Finals of the Specsavers National Cup where they were due to meet Aberavon. Obviously, the Coronavirus outbreak put a stop to Merthyr avenging their National Cup heartbreak that they suffered in the Cup final against Cardiff last season. The Ironmen were also due to compete in the inaugural Welsh-Scottish Cup where they were due to meet Boroughmuir Bears, Southern Knights, Stirling County, Watsonians, Ayrshire Bulls and Heriots.

Merthyr will be looking to get back on track next season with more consistent performances needed if they’re to compete for the Premiership title.