A win at last

Nothing has gone right for Pontypool over the last six months and it came as a real tonic when we finally won our first game of the season after a string of defeats. The opposition was Whitland who have been struggling too and battled hard in a basement battle in the Championship at Pontypool Park.
The sun was shining brightly as then teams took the field. Pooler got off to a flier and scored two excellent tries in double quick time. Everything looked set fair for a good win but those of us who have watched Pontypool know it can never be that simple. A promising back move led to disaster when a loose pass was intercepted and resulted in a Whitland try under the posts. What should have been 17-0 turned into 10-7 and yet again Pontypool seemed to become deflated letting Whitland back into the game. Whitland pressed hard as their pack gained the ascendancy and Pooler were lucky to go in at half time at 13-10. With Whitland playing down the slope in the second half, things looked decidedly dodgy for the home side.
The second half started with Whitland on top through their more powerful pack and the lead changed hands. Whitland's scored a converted try and a dropped goal with Pooler only managing a Gullis penalty in response to be down 18-20 with time running out. The home crowd feared the worst but Pooler were not done and pressed hard. They got their reward with a fine individual try by wing Sandells that was converted from wide out to lead 25-20. We still knew that the game was far from over and Whitland pressed hard and, after an exchange of penalty goals, the game went into injury time at 28-23 and the nerves were jangling. Fortunately a good relieving kick from a penalty put us deep into Whitland territory and with the last move of the game Pontypool captain, Macey crashed over for his second try to seal victory for the home side. The conversion failed but Pooler rejoiced in a hard earned victory 33-23 and a bonus point for scoring four tries.
The Pontypool team and fans were elated but you had to feel a bit sorry for a dejected Whitland team as they trooped off the field - a feeling Pooler know only too well! Let us hope that this win lifts the Pooler team and brings some much needed confidence as we move into yet another tough local derby at Blackwood next week.
I watched quite a lot of Euopean rugby on the TV and overall it was disappointing from a Welsh perspective. The Ospreys did at least manage a bonus point win but Toulouse and Leicester are much tougher prospects than Treviso in the matches to come. The Blues should have won after taking a substantial lead but woeful tactical kicking let Sale pinch a win. Scarlets and Dragons were both well beaten away from home even though both managed to score some tries. Sam Warburton was off injured again and you have to worry about his durability in a very demanding position.
Anyway Pooler won - well done boys!