Being a Pontypool and Wales fan is not for the faint hearted,
life is full of twists and turns some good and some bad. Saturday was one of
those days when we were tested to the full.
First came a visit to Pontypool Park for the visit of
Bargoed who last season carried everything before them in the Championship to
finish as champions by a street. By all rights, it should have meant promotion
to the Premiership but lack of the dreaded A licence prevented this from
happening. This season Bargoed have already lost two matches which as many as
they lost in total last term. We knew that Pontypool could expect a stern examination
as Bargoed attempted to right their ship.
It turned out to by a niggly and ugly Gwent derby with far
too many mistakes made by both sides. The opening stanzas all belonged to
Bargoed who completely monopolised possession for the first quarter of an hour.
It was no real surprise when they opened the scoring with an unconverted try
when Coombs drove over from a lineout close to the Pooler line. Pooler came
back strongly from this and Burke crossed for a well taken try after good
handling by the backs. The try went unconverted but the home side edged in
front 8-5 with a penalty from Gullis.
The niggle that had been evident from the start bubbled to
the surface as Bargoed managed to get under Pooler’s skin. After a bout of
fisticffs, Pizey from Bargoed and Mills from Pontypool were yellow carded. This
disrupted both sides but Bargoed began to exert a degree of dominance and were
rewarded with their second try when Humphries scored in the corner. This time
the conversion was successful and Bargoed led 8-12. Bargoed looked the more
likely to score in the remainder of the first half but it was Pontypool who
managed to close the gap with another Gullis penalty. At 11-12 at half time the
game was in the balance.
Bargoed playing down the slope, started the second half the stronger
and the Pontypool defence parted like the Red Sea for Moses to allow Dyer to
score near the posts opening up an eight point lead for the visitors. A yellow
card for the belligerent visiting captain Meades gave the home side a chance to
exert some pressure on the Bargoed line and eventually Quick darted over to
score in the corner. The conversion was missed but it brought Pooler back
within a score at 16-19.
The niggle continued amongst the forwards and Pooler prop Edwards
lost his rag and was given a red card for punching an opponent and became the
second prop in two weeks to receive his marching orders. The home side’s
discipline again failed them and a yellow card for Scanlon for an offence at a
ruck meant that they were reduced to thirteen men.
The stage was set for Bargoed to take charge and seal a
bonus point win. Fortunately for the home side, the visitors completely fluffed
their lines even though they were camped out near the Pooler goal line. Indeed Pontypool managed to break out of the stranglehold and in a rare sortie into the Bargoed
half they were awarded a penalty which Gullis duly converted to tie up the
scores at 19-19. Pooler held out relatively comfortably to earn a rather
unlikely draw.
Pontypool now face a daunting visit to Merthyr next
Saturday. Merthyr have carried all before them so far this season and look a
sure-fire bet for promotion on the back of a major squad strengthening exercise
and plenty of pies. Pooler will certainly need to improve their discipline if
they are get anything out of this game.
Rugby has become a complicated game and it is often difficult
for the spectators on the terrace to understand why penalties etc. are being
awarded. I think we should spare a thought for the referees in the lower
echelons of the game. To referee at the highest level it seems that the merry
whistle blower needs a considerable amount of assistance. He has two assistant
referees plus a fourth official connected to him via a radio link. If there is
any doubt, he has the benefit of replays and even someone else to make the
contentious decisions. Even then a partisan fan might think that a decision is
wrong. How then can we expect one poor dab with limited experience and no help
at all to make all the correct calls? I take my hat off to these brave souls
who stand out in the middle of the field every Saturday for without them we would
have no game at all.
The evening saw what was billed variously as “the most
important game ever” and “life or death” by the media. Yes it was a pool match
at Twickenham between England and Wales in the Rugby World Cup. England had
been made clear favourites by the bookies but spurred on by Pooler’s unlikely
draw I settled down with a glass of Magner’s to witness the event on the TV. I
pulled the couch out from the wall so I could hide behind it if things got ugly.
It certainly did look as if things were going to get ugly as
the England scrum dismantled the Wales scrum. Away from the scrum, Wales looked
pretty competitive although it looked like England were the more likely to
score a try. There were plenty of penalties for both sides and there was some
exemplary goal kicking from Biggar and Farrell. England scored the first try
when May skated through after a bouncing ball created confusion in the Welsh
defence. England looked pretty comfortable at 16-6 although a third Biggar
penalty closed the cap to 16-9 at half time.
England got the crucial first score of the second half and
at 19-9 things started looking bad for Wales. Their most penetrative back Scott
Williams had been stretchered off and it was hard to see how they would score
the try they would surely need especially as the scrum was still in dire
trouble. A further penalty from Biggar meant that hope still flickered. An
England attack left red-covered bodies strewn about the pitch in a scene
resembling Rorke’s Drift. The outcome was both Liam Williams and Amos leaving
the field and a major rejig of the Welsh backs. We now had a wing in the
centre. A fly half at full back and a scrum half on the wing. The game was
surely up and I a poured myself another Magner’s to drown my sorrows.
Astonishingly the game was not up at all and Wales scored a
brilliant try under the posts from nowhere. Lloyd Williams, a scrum half playing
on the wing, was set free by some good passing and his brilliant cross kick was
gathered by the scrum half Davies to score the try. Wales had drawn level
against all the odds and my heart was pounding. There was still time left and
that England scrum was still hanging over us. Wales seemed to find new energy
and belief from somewhere and were awarded a penalty virtually on the halfway
line. Up stepped Biggar and the ball sailed between the posts. Wales were
actually in the lead with time running out.
My heart sank as England were awarded a penalty deep in the
Welsh half but wide out. Farrell would surely kick it but at least we would
come out of the match with a draw. In a startling decision England kicked to
the corner anticipating that a driving lineout would deliver a try and victory.
It was time to go behind the couch and send for the crash trolley just in case.
Wales have never defended a lineout better and shoved the much vaunted England
pack into touch. Moments later we were bellowing in joy as Biggar booted the
ball into touch as time was up.
What a victory. All the talk in the studio was about how
England had lost the game rather than how Wales had won the game. Quite frankly
my dear I couldn’t give a damn. Wales had won against all the odds. Shades of
Wembley 1999. Wow!!
On reflection this morning, as the euphoria subsides, you realise
that for Wales the job is far from done. There is no doubt a hefty butcher’s bill
to consider and we really have to beat Fiji in a few days’ time to progress.
The way our backs have been going down like nine pins it is hard to see what
kind of team will take the field on Thursday. We need Paul James back to
bolster the forwards as the scrum was in real trouble and Fiji matched England
there in the first game. Will James Hook finally get the nod? Perhaps my
reference to Rorke’s Drift is an omen. He
must be the only back standing from the original squad who hasn’t been called
up yet! There isn’t much time to make the decisions that’s for sure.
In the meantime I will enjoy the sweet scent of victory
against the old enemy. Come on Wales!
Phew what a day!
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