The Strife of Brian

As we motored down the M4 towards Port Talbot being battered by storm Brian, we could have easily been forgiven for thinking that no one in their right mind would play (or watch) rugby in the prevailing conditions. Strong winds and teeming rain did not make our trip to watch Pontypool play Tata Steel a particularly attractive prospect. But we are hardy souls and we pressed on regardless.

When we arrived, it was clear that the game was going to go ahead although there was not the usual enthusiasm from the players to get out on to the pitch for their warm-up. Despite the dismal weather, the pitch looked in good condition and the players were just going to have to find a way to combat the elements. This was going to be a classic “wind game” with the wind howling down the pitch bringing with it a faint whiff of sulphur from the coke ovens of Margam Works. Playing against the wind in the first half, it was all about keeping the opposition out and trying to sneak a few points. Playing with the wind you needed to build a substantial lead in order to hold off the expected onslaught in the second half. This was a 15-20 point wind in our estimation and Pooler were playing with the wind in the first half so they had some work to do.

The first quarter of hour of play almost exclusively took place inside the home twenty two. Pontypool pressed hard but the home defence was tough and restricted the visitors to just two penalties by Jones (0-6). From the kick off after the second penalty, Pooler failed to secure the ball and ended up giving away a penalty and the big boot of Bradley managed to propel the ball successfully over the bar (3-6).

A few minutes later, Watkins, the lively Tata scrum half, scooted away from a lineout and found his team mates in support for flanker Lewis to cross under the posts. Bradley took the conversion rather too close to the posts and Pontypool managed to charge it down. This was not going to plan with Pooler losing 8-6 even though they were playing with the elements.

Pooler had twenty minutes to build a lead and they went about their task with gusto. The forwards were on top in the scrums and put together some impressive driving lineouts as they went in search of points. After a strong forward surge, scrum half Quick darted over for a try. This was converted by Jones to put Pooler back into the lead (8-13).

Tata were proving hard to break down and made things difficult by slowing down Pooler’s ball at the rucks. Eventually they transgressed once too often and they were reduced to fourteen men by a yellow card. As the first half came to a close, the Pooler scrum were heading for a pushover try when the scrum disintegrated. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try (8-20). Half time followed shortly afterwards and we doubted whether a twelve point lead was enough as the wind and rain continued unabated.

The second half was pretty similar to the first but this time it was Tata camped in the Pooler twenty two as they tried to close the gap in the scores. Pontypool held on grimly for the first quarter with their defence scrambling to keep out the powerful surges of the home team. The one area that the away side had a distinct edge was in the scrum and a number of penalties awarded against Tata gave the occasional chance for a relieving kick.

Pontypool held Tata out for twenty minutes or so but then Nash was sin binned for a high tackle. This gave the Tata pack numerical supremacy and they capitalised on it when Llewellyn barged over for a try. The successful conversion from Bradley put the home side in touching distance at 15-20. Things were looking distinctly ominous for Pontypool but they continued to defend as if their lives depended upon it.  Things got even more precarious when Bradley closed the gap to just two points with ten minutes left when he blasted over a penalty from well inside the Tata half (18-20).

Pontypool were restored to their full complement when Nash returned and a series of substitutions brought some much needed fresh legs on to the field. The Pontypool scrum took charge and gained a series of penalties which allowed Pontypool to work their way into the home twenty two for the first time in the second half and also wind down the clock. As the final whistle went, Pooler were just short of the Tata line. The Pooler fans sigh of relief was almost as strong as the wind. Final score 18-20. That charged down conversion proved vital in the end!

This was by far Pooler’s most difficult encounter of the season and to come out of it with a victory speaks volumes for the courage and commitment of the team. It was certainly not a day for attractive running rugby but one for dogged forward effort in attack and defence. Well done Pooler!

I did watch a bit of European rugby on the TV and sadly both the Scarlets and Ospreys lost in the Champions Cup and may well be heading for a Wexit at the group stage. The Scarlets were undone by Bath’s superior game plan in awful conditions with the Bath forwards and half backs controlling the game in the second half. Ospreys really gave the mighty Saracens a fright or two in a pulsating game which saw them come away with two bonus points – maybe they have turned the corner after a poor start to the season. We are at that stage of the Challenge Cup when no one knows which teams are taking it seriously. Still there were good away wins for Dragons and Blues to boost their hopes of progressing.

I also watched the Australia v All Blacks test on Saturday morning. Worryingly for Wales’ prospects in the Autumn Series, both sides look to be playing a far superior brand of rugby to that we have been seeing in Wales so far this season.  We have such a small pool of international class players that you wonder at any measures that are introduced which weaken the coaching team’s hand it terms of selection. I didn’t much care for Gatland’s law and I am not sure that the latest idea is going to do us (and especially Rhys Webb) any favours either. Of course, as most things in life these days, it is all about money and we in Wales just haven’t got enough of it to compete with the deep pockets in England and France. It’s easy to criticise but I don’t know what the answer is to make the underperforming regions competitive. Stifling the development of young players by stopping them playing in a more competitive and higher standard of rugby may not be it though.

Next Saturday Pontypool entertain Cardiff Met University at the Park. Let us hope that we can steer clear of storm Brian’s children and have a more entertaining and less harrowing encounter.

Come on Pooler!