I had been on holiday for the last couple of weeks and had missed the previous two Pooler matches - a predictable heavy defeat at Ebbw Vale and an unlucky last minute home defeat by Bridgend Athletic - so I was keen to see whether things had improved at all. I have to say it is difficult to find out anything about the Championship on the TV as it doesn't seem to exist according to all the teletext services. It seems to occupy some ghostly world between the premier League and the first divisions. Fortunately my season ticket informed me that we were away at our old rivals Newbridge (the Blue Pigs as they are affectionately known). Newbridge are one of the stronger sides in the league so would present a formidable challenge for a Pooler side still trying to find its way in the Ghost League.
It was a beautiful sunny afternoon afternoon as we took our places on the familiar old terrace and it was reassuring that nothing has really changed at the Welfare Ground even though significant construction has taken place around it. A good crowd had gathered and hoped for one for one of the classic encounters of yesteryear. The game was very even for the first fifteen minutes or so with both sides threatening to score. It was good to see that the Pooler scrum was solid with two chunky props keeping Newbridge at bay. The turning point in the match came when Pooler opted to run a kickable penalty. The subsequent move broke down and Newbridge seized on the loose ball and scored a try with some excellent combined play. Worse was to follow as Pooler's early assurance seemed to vanish and that together with a rather harsh yellow card led to a period where Newbridge seemed to score tries at will. Pooler did manage a try but the half-time whistle could not seem to come quickly enough and with the score at 35-5, the match was effectively over. We feared that a record defeat was in the offing.
Pooler, however, emerged with a new resolve after the break and dominated the early exchanges. After camping on the Newbridge line, they eventually scored an excellent try. Perhaps all was not lost and a bonus point was at least possible. Unfortunately the harder Pontypool tried, the more mistakes they made so they mad little impression from then on. Newbridge, for their part, could not find any continuity either and the second half degenerated into a whistle fest. Newbridge did manage to score a couple of tries when the Pontypool defence parted like the Red Sea did for Moses. This gave a final score of 45-10 and another afternoon to forget for the Pooler faithful.
Pooler again showed plenty of spirit and Luke Dyckhoff deserves special mention for his efforts as a ball carrier. The set piece seemed to have improved but the other teams seem to be quicker in thought and deed in seizing scoring opportunities. The first win of the season needs to come soon to boost the flagging confidence of the team. The recent defection of club captain Jamie Jeune to Newport will not have helped.
The one good thing about playing in a ghost league is that the taunting and teasing in the pub on a Saturday night is kept at reasonable levels as no one who didn't go to the match knows the score.
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