Merthyr claimed a crushing 40-0 victory over Beddau in the Premier Shield on Saturday afternoon. The hosts dominated from start to finish, leaving their visitors with nothing to show for their efforts. It was a comprehensive result that reflected the gulf between two sides on the day.
And here's the thing — this wasn't the first time Merthyr have put up a big scoreline recently. They beat Cross Keys 31-7 just two weeks ago, then thrashed Bonnymaen 29-8 before that. Their form has been consistent, and Beddau simply couldn't handle the intensity.
To be fair, Beddau had been scoring goals themselves. They battered Narberth 47-12 and won against Nith 34-33 in their previous outings. But there's a difference between putting runs on the board and keeping a clean sheet. Merthyr did both in abundance.
By then, our prediction of a Merthyr win at 69 per cent confidence had come good. The home side's physicality and territorial dominance were too much. Beddau switched off at the back and paid the price for it.
The visitors couldn't string together any real passages of play. They lost their man in midfield repeatedly and gave the full-back a torrid evening. Every time they tried to build momentum, Merthyr's defence shut them down.
What the result means is straightforward. Merthyr extend their unbeaten run to eight games and move further clear at the top of the table. Beddau's hopes of a strong finish have taken a serious knock after this one-sided affair.
