THIS thrilling all Championship encounter produced a standard of rugby from both sides that some Premiership clubs would envy.

Ultimately, it was Merthyr who took the honours aided by a hat trick for full back Dan Parry. Newbridge may lie close to the bottom of the championship table, some six places behind Merthyr but a determined performance ensured that their hosts had to work for the whole 80 minutes before claiming their quarter final place.

Merthyr made the most of their first clear cut scoring opportunity, Tom Daley who had come on in the third minute as blood replacement for flanker Matthew Rees crossing for a seventh minute try that was converted by outside half Josh Flye Newbridge’s response came ten minute later, the pack forcing their way over the Merthyr line for second row Dan Mock to touch down, outside half Connor Goode converting.

Merthyr regained the lead five minutes later with a try in the corner for full back Dan Parry but went on to squander a couple of other scoring opportunities before the interval, ending the half leading 12-7.

An enterprising tap and run from a kickable penalty opportunity looked like it might produce rewards but some brave Newbridge defending saw the Merthyr advance halted inside the Newbridge five metre line.

Those wasted chances looked as if they might be crucial when the visitors claimed the firsts score of the second half, a try from full back Haydn Palmer levelling things up.

There followed some desperate defending from both sides in turn, a prolonged spell of Newbridge defence in particular frustrating repeated Merthyr efforts to get over the line.

Finally, it was Dan Parry who broke the deadlock, claiming his second try of the game in the 65th minute. Two minutes later he completed his hat-trick to extend Merthyr’s lead but they were still unable to relax.

Newbridge launched repeated attacks but were unable to break through the Merthyr deadline, a penalty from scrum half Liam Davies their only reward before the final whistle went with them once again close to the Merthyr five-metre line.

Merthyr D Perry (R Bow 75) M Trowbridge (A Howard 68) H Millard A Jackson R Walker J Flye M Luckwell L Jones J Popple 62) J Page R James (J Elly 62) B Murphy RVerley (R East 62) J Bull (E Williams 43) M Rees H Barnes (T Daley 43).

Newbridge Haydn Palmer Duane Dyer Nathan Brew (Rhys Humphries 40) Scot Williams (capt) Andy Evans Connor Goode Liam Davies Mike Kavanagh (Ian George ) 2 Jonny Bowen Geraint Weaver Leon Burgess Dan Mock Pat James Stuart Volkes (Kyle Taylor 59) Louis Blacker

Scorers- Merthyr : Tries - D. Parry (3)T.Daley. Con: J.Flye.

Newbridge : Tries - D.Mock,H.Palmer.Con. C.Goode. Pen ; L.Davies.