The late, late show

Pontypool travelled to Glynneath on sunny but breezy October’s day. Last week they had shown their best form of the season with a convincing win over Narberth so we were hoping for more of the same. An entertaining encounter was overshadowed by a delay of an hour or so towards the end of the game waiting for an ambulance to tend to a suspected neck injury to Pooler wing Rhodri Usher. I was delighted to hear that Rhodri was discharged from hospital later that evening.

As seems to be the pattern in most of the games this season, the opening exchanges were scrappy as the two sides assessed each other. It was clear right from the start that Glynneath were going to be lively and committed opponents and had every intention of sending Pooler home with their tails between their legs. Even Max Boyce on the touchline harboured no fear of the erstwhile Viet Gwent.

There was an exchange of penalties before the home side struck the first meaningful blow. Pontypool were reduced to 14 men after the sin-binning of Edwards and Glynneath scored from a lineout drive close to the Pooler line. The successful conversion gave them a 10-3 lead that they were good value for. The home side’s numerical advantage was lost when Pike, one of their centres, was given a yellow card for punching. Pontypool capitalised on this with some excellent passing that led to Hurley scoring a try that was converted by Hancock. Shortly afterwards Quick scored a fine individual try following a chip ahead and the successful conversion gave Pooler a rather flattering 10-17 lead at the interval.

Glynneath exerted tremendous pressure in the second half and certainly looked the more likely to score. The Pooler defence held firm and restricted the home side to just one penalty but it was tense stuff as the game went into the last quarter with the score at 13-17.

Pontypool had looked quite dangerous when they ran the ball from their own half following Glynneath turnovers. It was from such a situation that Pooler scored the game clinching score following good work by Blackmore and Haile. Usher was also involved and he was injured giving the scoring pass to Haile who scored in the corner. Usher was clearly badly hurt and the game was suspended for about an hour waiting for the ambulance with Pooler ahead 13-23.

The game eventually restarted and Pontypool seized the opportunity for a bonus point with a try from Guy converted by Hancock to give a final score of 13-29. The score line does not really reflect the effort and skill of a Glynneath side that pushed Pontypool all the way.

Rather like the win at Tondu, this was hard work for Pontypool but a combination of dogged defence and opportunism got them through in the end. It leaves them third in the table behind the pacesetters Bargoed and Swansea with all to play for.

On Friday evening I started to watch the Zebre v Ospreys game but soon turned over to watch the Bath v Saracens match. There was a quite astonishing contrast between the two matches. The match at Bath was a pulsating affair played with pace and power in front of a sell-out crowd whilst the match in Italy seemed low key in comparison with a pretty sparse attendance. It was good to see Paul James playing well for Bath and even Gavin Henson looking sharp and solid at fullback.

My boycotting of the Rugby World Cup due to the extortionate ticket prices does not seem to have had much effect. By all accounts most matches are oversubscribed but at least they haven’t got my money!

Next match for the Pooler is against the students of Cardiff Met. It is sure to be an entertaining spectacle as both sides like to run the ball. Come on Pooler!