Pooler blown off course

Pontypool made the trip to Bridgend to play Bridgend Athletic in good heart following their recent run of good form. The venue was a very windy Waterton Cross ground with the match being played under floodlights on a Wednesday evening. It certainly did not feel like a warm spring evening as the chill wind whipped across the pitch. These are certainly not the conditions that favour good rugby but to the credit of both teams they served up a hugely entertaining match.

Although the wind was virtually across the pitch it did slightly favour Pontypool in the first half. With an early yellow card for Athletic, Pontypool built up an 8 point lead with a penalty and a close range try. The home side quickly reduced the deficit to 5-8 with a try following a charged down kick. It soon became clear that the home side were cohesive and well-drilled and in their driving maul they had the most potent attacking weapon on view. They frequently drove the Pooler forwards back 20 yards and more and looked the more likely team to score. Somewhat against the run of play, it was Pontypool that scored next with an opportunist try by centre Norton who brushed aside the defence to gallop in from 25 yards. With the successful conversion the score was 5-15 approaching half time. Athletic attacked strongly through their pack and scored a try with the last play of the half to reduce the deficit to 10-15. The try was accompanied by more bad news for Pooler with the sin-binning of Macey.

After the break, the home side seized the initiative against the 14 men of Pontypool and scored two converted tries to make it 24-15. It looked bleak for Pooler as Athletic seemed to be well in control. This was when Pooler showed their new found grit and determination and literally threw caution to the wind. Assisted by another sin-binning for the home side, they attacked in scintillating fashion, running the ball from deep at every opportunity. Gullis was particularly prominent and ran the ball back with good effect. In the space of 10 minutes or so Pooler completely turned things around with two tries and a penalty. One of the tries from well inside their own 22 when Gullis made a break and fed Norton who sped down the touch line to score in the corner was surely Pooler’s try of the season. This left the score 24-30 with Pooler looking set for a victory. Then disaster struck, Pontypool failed to secure the ball from the kick off and from the ensuing scrum the home side number 8 ran in a try from 30 yards virtually unopposed. With the successful conversion, Athletic held a narrow 31-30 lead with time running out. Pooler tried hard but it was the home side that had the last say with another try. The conversion was unsuccessful giving a final score of 36-30. At least Pontypool had secured 2 bonus points which was the least they deserved in a see-saw match. 

(At least I think that was what happened as the lack of a scoreboard and announcer had certainly taxed our maths and sort-term memories.)

Although the winning streak came to an end, there was still much that was good in this match for Pontypool. The attacking potential of the backs was clear to see and the spirit remains strong.  Pooler could, however, learn a few lessons from the driving maul and support play of Bridgend Athletic which was as good as I have seen in the Championship this season. 

On a nostalgic note, whenever I watch a match under lights on a Wednesday I realise how much I miss it.