A BATTLING display from Cross Keys ultimately proved not enough at the home of last season’s Principality Premiership champions Merthyr, as two late tries saw them fall agonisingly short of a shock win, writes Chris Smart.

Keys began the stronger and their early pressure told just five minutes in, Osian Davies feeding the ball into the path of Tom Riley to cross down the right-hand side.

Josh Prosser converted with a straightforward kick to put Keys 7-0 in front.

The opening try sparked an improvement from the home side however, and it did not take long for the Ironmen to register their opening score.

Number eight Phil Rees sold the Keys rearguard a cute dummy before crossing the line unopposed out wide.

Merthyr missed the chance to convert, but Keys’ lead failed to last must longer, with Merthyr adding a second try shortly after through Ben Jones.

As with the opener, the Keys defence were subjected to a sublime dummy 40 yards out, with Jones able to race home.

With the kick once again sailing wide, Keys remained in touching distance and looked a constant threat on the break, giving the title favourites a number of scares.

But it was the Ironmen who extended their lead shortly after the half-hour mark, Ben Murphy scrambling the ball over the line at the back of a driven maul.

Early replacement Matthew Jarvis added the extras, but Josh Prosser’s penalty shortly before the break helped keep Cross Keys in contention.

And Keys piled on the pressure following the restart, getting just reward for their efforts eight minutes in thanks to a try from captain Scott Matthews.

Prosser, who had earlier missed several penalty chances to reduce the deficit, this time added the extras.

Keys struck again on 57 minutes, taking the lead through winger Matthew Powell following a counter down the right, and a further try from Nathan Buck nine minutes from the end looked to have sealed it.

Prosser converted the second to give Keys a 12 point cushion.

But the visitors could not hold on to what would have been a famous victory, as Merthyr added two tries in the final five minutes through Matthew Dwyer, converted by Jarvis, and Edward Siggery to draw level.

And it was down to Jarvis to add one final heart-breaking kick to seal the win, leaving Cross Keys to wonder what might have been.

Merthyr: M Thomas (M Jarvis 14), S Andrews, T Riley, T Gee, R Carter, B Jones (J James 56), R Downes (R Powell 56); J Howe (N Travett 56), M Dwyer, P Edwards (J Rees 50), B Murphy, L Reed, N White (E Siggery 53), O Davies (J Bearman 50), P Rees.

Scorers: Tries: P Rhys, B Jones, B Murphy, M Dwyer, E Siggery; Cons: M Jarvis (3).

Cross Keys: D Richards, M Powell, L Barnett, B Nightingale, J Goodchild, J Prosser, O Leonard; C Hewlett (R Jones 41), D Hughes, R Cornock (N Buck 59), T Lampard, J Skinner, L Davies (B Shell 79), S Matthews (capt) (M George 74), A Powell.

Scorers: Tries: L Barnett, S Matthews, M Powell, N Buck; Cons: Josh Prosser (3); Pens: J Prosser.

Referee: Simon Rees (Ebbw Vale)

Star Man: Adam Powell