Cardiff secured top spot in the Indigo Premiership and a home semi-final against Newport next weekend.
The Blue & Blacks knew that they had a spot in the playoffs, but wanted home advantage by winning the last game of the season against Merthyr. But The Ironmen, however, looked like they wanted their own home draw in the first twenty minutes as they had all the territory and ball. What they didn’t have was a way through Cardiff’s fantastic defence. It was only breached when the home side were down to fourteen, Callum Lewis going over from close range for a converted try.
Cardiff were finding it tough to get going and several times they created chances in the first half but couldn’t finish them. Dan Fish scored the only other points of the half from a penalty close in. As the interval beckoned Fish had another opportunity to narrow the gap, but his kick cannoned back off the upright and the Blue & Blacks went in 7-3 down.
The second half was a different story. The home side burst out of the blocks. Dewi Cross was first on the scoresheet as Cardiff set about the Merthyr forwards. When the ball was turned over quick hands sent the wing over, near the posts, Fish converted. The forwards were responsible for the second as a catch and drive was shunted over the line, Evan Lloyd the man on hand to touch down.
The third came from an interception. With Cardiff now playing all of the rugby Merthyr went looking for a way back into the game. They only found the hands of Cross. He pounced on a pass wideout in the Cardiff twenty-two and there wasn’t anyone who was going to catch him as he went under the sticks. Fish was again on target with the extras.
Merthyr had no answer to the rugby that Cardiff were putting together. The squad were energised by the speed of ball and running from everywhere. Exactly where the energy for this was coming from we don’t know but it was some of Cardiff’s best rugby of the season. Fish extended the lead with a penalty before a flowing move ended in the bonus point try. Dafydd Tieuti bursting through to get near the line. Cardiff won a penalty and put the ball into the corner. From the ensuing line out Morgan Allen won the ball and crashed over. Prop Freddie Barnes added the icing as he was driven over from short range. Harrison James converted both to send the Blue & Blacks to another date with the Black and Ambers, next Sunday with a 5:15pm kick off.