Pooler Power On

No Xmas is complete without a rugby derby match on Boxing Day. The awful weather had relented enough to allow Pontypool to take on their long-time arch rivals from Newbridge at Pontypool Park. The pitch was in surprisingly good condition but yet again, although the rain had stopped, there was a strong breeze blowing mostly across the pitch but if anything helping the team playing down the slope. The bad weather had brought with it the inevitable list of postponements so it was vital that Pooler maintained the pressure at the top of the Championship with a win.

Pontypool played up the slope in the first half and the first quarter of the match turned out to be pretty forgettable. Both sides seemed to struggle to put any patterns of play together – indeed they played a bit like the way I felt after my hearty consumption the previous day. It was the home side who drew first blood when they finally managed to put together a concerted series of plays for Usher to cross for a try in the corner. Gullis converted expertly from near the touchline.

Newbridge responded with some good play of their own and it was only good defence from Pooler that prevented them from scoring a try. In the end they had to settle for a penalty goal to close the gap to 7-3. Pontypool looked the more likely to score in the last ten minutes of the first half and they eventually worked their way up to the Newbridge line. The pressure began to tell and Newbridge were reduced to fourteen men when No 8 Blacker was given a yellow card after a series of penalties. The home side’s scrum gained the ascendancy and on the stroke of halftime Pontypool were awarded a penalty try after Newbridge were judged to have illegally stopped a scrum that was destined to end in a pushover try. The half time score of 14-3 was slightly flattering for the home side but it provided a sound platform for what surely had to be a better second half.

Pontypool started the second half strongly and within a few minutes scored a really good try. In the best passage of play of the match up to that point, backs and forwards combined and finally created an overlap for Bishop to score in the corner. The conversion failed but the home side had opened up a useful lead at 19-3.

The switching on of the floodlights seemed to energise both sides and the standard of play improved. Newbridge enjoyed their best period when Pontypool lost lock Ferriman to a yellow card after he infringed at a lineout. After a strong assault on the Pooler line, they eventually came away with a well-deserved try to leave the score at 19-8.  

From then on it was all Pontypool as they went in search of the fourth try and the valuable bonus point. The introduction of a number of replacements increased the tempo of the Pooler game and it proved to be too much for a tiring Newbridge team. Highly promising centre Lewis scythed through the Newbridge defence to score the all important try and open up a surely unassailable 24-8 lead.

 Pooler were far from finished as the piled on the pressure in the remainder of the match. They were rewarded with two more tries - one from Parry after a series of forward drives and a second penalty try from a scrum close to the Newbridge line. The two successful conversions left the final score at 38-8 which sent at least the Pooler section of the large crowd home with smiles on their faces.

This was by no means an easy match and it was important for Pontypool to gain five points as none of their closest rivals were playing due to postponements. This lifts them to second place in the Championship and puts them twenty points ahead of Bargoed in fifth place. Bargoed, however, now have three games in hand so could close the gap significantly with three bonus point wins. RGC 1404 in fourth place are fourteen points behind Pooler but also have three games in hand. There is no doubt that the forthcoming matches between these three teams will go a long way to deciding who misses out on promotion.

Well next up for Pontypool is none other than Bargoed at Bargoed! It is clear that this is very important encounter for both sides. Pontypool were rather fortunate to get away with a draw in the home fixture earlier in the season and the reigning champions are certainly a tough and uncompromising outfit. Pooler will really have to be at the top of their game to stand up to what is sure to be a stern test of their resolve. It is hard to assess whether the fact that Pooler have had played two tough matches over the last couple of weeks while Bargoed have not played is an advantage. Let’s hope so!

Unfortunately I will miss this crunch match and also the cup match against Bedwas but I shall be using the power of the social media to keep in touch.

Come on Pooler!