Pooler Keep The Pressure On

Bright sunshine greeted us when we arrived at Port Talbot which did seem a little incongruous when you think about the clouds that have hung over the giant steel plant over the last couple of weeks. Pontypool’s opponents were Tata Steel who have been putting together some good results of late. As the end of season pressure builds, Pooler know how important it is to keep the pressure on their promotion rivals by keeping their winning run going. Nothing is going to be easy that is for sure.

There was a strong breeze blowing down the ground and Pontypool had the benefit of it in the first half. Pontypool had a dream start with Gullis slotting a penalty goal to give them a 0-3 lead within a couple of minutes of the kick off. Pooler were intent on playing at a high tempo and really took the game to their opponents. The backs and forwards were combining well and within the next ten minutes Pooler had scored two good tries. The first from Gullis who cut inside to score near the posts and the second from Williams. Gullis converted his try and Pooler had built up a 0-15 advantage.

Pooler’s purple patch continued and again it was Gullis who struck after a break by Mills. The conversion sailed over and things were looking good at 0-22 with a quarter of the match gone. Perhaps there was a little bit of overconfidence creeping in as Pooler pushed for the bonus point try and a floated pass from Mills was intercepted by Evans the Tata outside half who sped over for a try under the posts (7-22).

The try seemed to give Tata Steel some impetus and they started to put some pressure on the away side as the half progressed. Pooler had the benefit of the wind and were able to push them back with their kicking game. As half time approached, Pontypool gained the ascendancy again and scored two more tries in the last five minutes of the half. Williams scored his second when he appeared on the right wing to finish off a brilliant move and then Hurley scooted over from a ruck close to the Tata line. With the conversion of Hurley’s try Pontypool had built up a healthy 7-34 lead and had also secured the try bonus point.

This was a really good half of rugby from Pontypool and although the wind was going to be a factor in the second half they had surely built a winning lead.

The second half belonged to Tata Steel as they used the wind to pin Pooler back in their own half. The away side also seemed to get on the wrong side of the referee and conceded too many penalties. Pooler’s defence was strong but in the end something had to give and after holding out for almost fifteen minutes Tata scored their second try from a quickly taken tap penalty (14-34).

The pattern of the game continued with Pontypool on the defensive as the strong wind made it difficult for them to gain a foothold in the Tata half. They held out for another fifteen minutes or so before the home side drove over from a lineout. Fortunately for Pooler the conversion failed and they were still more than two scores clear at 19-34.

Shortly afterward,s the nerves of the travelling Pontypool fans were settled when Lewis was given the ball from a tap penalty. He still had a lot to do but outpaced the cover to score in the corner. The conversion failed but at 19-39 with less than ten minutes to go Pooler could breathe a little easier.

Tata certainly did not take things easier as they set off in pursuit of their own bonus point and continued to press. It was no less than they deserved when Phillips crossed in the last play of the match to leave the final score 24-39.

Another fine win for Pontypool with a scintillating first half performance. The wind proved challenging in the second half but in truth they never looked like losing. We all waited anxiously for the results from Bargoed and Swansea. Bargoed had duly got their bonus point win against Bridgend Athletic but, joy of joys, Swansea had pipped RGC 1404 with a last minute dropped goal 39-38. This gives Pontypool a lit bit more breathing space but it is till desperately tight at the top of the Championship.

Team               Played             Points

Merthyr              23                    103

Swansea           24                    103

Pontypool          23                    88

Bargoed             22                     82

RGC 1404         22                     78

Mathematically Pontypool need 10 points from their remaining three games to be certain of promotion but, since they are playing both RGC 1404 and Bargoed in their last two games, two wins would do. This is still a really tough challenge.

First and foremost though, Pooler need to concentrate fully on next week’s match at Bridgend Athletic which will certainly not be easy. “Take each game as it comes” as the football managers would have it.

Congratulations to the Dragons on their excellent victory at Gloucester. I didn’t really see that coming but at least someone is flying the Welsh flag in Europe – we have avoided a Wexit!

I had foolishly thought that the season would have ended for Pontypool yesterday and booked a week’s holiday so will miss the game at Bridgend. I will be nervously clutching my phone waiting for the news.

Come on Pooler!