Wales by a Whisker, Pooler by a Full Beard

It was a blustery Saturday at Pontypool Park and over the past few days the rain had been torrential at times. So much so that you almost thought that rugby might be off the menu. We needn’t have worried the pitch looked in fine condition and we fervently hoped that the rain would hold off for a couple of hours as we headed for the exposed expanses of the Bank. Pontypool were playing their old rivals Neath who had suffered the ignominy of relegation from the Premiership after financial woes had wrecked their previous season. Neath were in the process of rebuilding but had made a good start to the season and were reckoned to be a serious contender for promotion.

All the talk on the Bank was of Japan’s fabulous victory over Ireland in the Rugby World Cup that morning. The rather turgid kick-and-chase rugby that has proved so successful in the Northern Hemisphere had been undone by the agile, quick-witted and committed Japanese. The big men so important to the Northern style of play had been shown to be ponderous and had been cut down before they could gather any momentum by the swarming Japanese defence. When the Japanese had the ball they were happy to run from everywhere and play at a pace that left the Irish gasping. It was very refreshing and has certainly energised the RWC which had been rather predictable to date. We hoped for something similar from the Pooler.

Pontypool played up the slope in the first half in windy and damp conditions. The wind was mostly blowing across the pitch but, if anything, favoured Neath in the first half. Pontypool made a fast start. A Neath handling error led to the ball going loose. Pooler fullback, Walsh grabbed the ball and raced towards the Neath line. As the defence closed in on him he found Lloyd Lewis and there was only one result when the gasman got the ball – try for Pontypool. The conversion was wide but Pooler were up and running. A couple of minutes later and Pontypool were in for their second try. A clean break from Meek from his own twenty two was supported by the rest of the backs and Walsh cottoned on to his own kick ahead to score. The conversion was good and the visitors looked a bit shell-shocked as Pooler established a 12-0 lead in double quick time.

Pontypool were the dominant side in all aspects of the game and it was only a matter of time before they got on the scoresheet again. It was Meek and Walsh who did the damage again running the ball from deep. It was Lloyd Lewis who was the beneficiary of their good work as he galloped over for his second try. Meek converted and the lead had grown to 19-0.

It was time for the home forwards to get in on the try scoring act and on the half hour after some powerful forward surges, Pooler hooker Hughes obliged with a try near the posts. Meek again converted and the bonus point had been secured before half time (26-0). As the first half drew to a close Pooler conceded rather too many penalties for the referee’s liking and Matthews was given a yellow card.

It had been an excellent first forty minutes from Pontypool as they trooped off to the changing rooms with a seemingly unassailable 26-0 lead.

Despite being shorthanded, Pontypool got off to a flying start in the second half with flanker Stratton bursting through to score in the right corner. The try was expertly converted by Meek and the home side were 33-0 to the good.

Neath then had their best period of the game as Pontypool continued to concede penalties. The away side hammered away at the Pontypool line for ten minutes before they got their just reward with an unconverted try by Morgan (33-5).

Back came Pontypool with the forwards showing the way. Some good driving play saw skipper Matthews canter over for a try near the posts to add to his burgeoning try tally. The conversion was successful and any hopes of a Neath comeback were extinguished (40-5).

As the match entered the final quarter, tempers became a little frayed and a bout of pushing and shoving resulted in Coundley for Pooler and Ward for Neath receiving yellow cards. This led to the scrums being uncontested. Pontypool were determined to end on a high and applied more and more pressure. The pressure proved too much for Neath with Stratton scoring his second try as he chased down a nifty bit of footwork by the Pooler back row and showed amazing dexterity to gather the ball. The try was unconverted but Pooler were rapidly approaching the half century of points at 45-5.

There was more agony for Neath when a charged down kick was gathered by Pooler replacement scrum half Luckwell who spotted another replacement, Gullis, running at pace and timed his pass perfectly to put his team mate in for Pooler’s eighth try. The try was converted by Meek and the half century had been reached (52-5).

Pontypool finished the game with a flourish when another break from the back by the lively Walsh ended with another kick ahead. This time it was Luckwell who won the chase and scored the final try. Meek ended an excellent day’s work with the conversion. Final score Pontypool 59 Neath 5.

This was a brilliant performance by Pontypool with great support play an outstanding feature. Neath were by no means weak opposition but they were overwhelmed by the excellence of Pooler’s all-round game. Well done Pooler - you have certainly sent out a strong message to the other teams in the Championship!

Pontypool have no time to rest on their laurels as next week they travel to Narberth. Over the last few seasons this has proved to be one of Pooler’s toughest fixtures and there is no reason to suppose that this season it will be any different. Pontypool will need to be at their best to maintain their astonishing unbeaten record in the Championship.

I am now going to take a break as I make for the couch to watch Wales take on Australia in the RWC. I wish I could feel more optimistic but then I am Welsh! ……..

……Wow, Wales did it - just. Not really sure how they managed to keep the rampant Aussies out in the second half. There was a superhuman effort from Navidi and Tipuric who tackled like demons backed up by a spirited effort from the rest of the boys as the game turned on its head in the second half after Wales had built a handy lead in the first forty minutes. Wales have lost so many games at the death against Australia that I feared the worst as they closed to one point - a sixteen point lead had all but evaporated as the powerful Aussies made inroads into the Welsh defence. I do believe that Australia were lucky not to have a couple of yellow cards in the first half as the high tackle controversy continues to rage.

Still what a fantastic match – I need to lie down in a darkened room I think. What a weekend!

Well done Wales! Sake all round.

Well done Pooler! You did us proud.

Matches of the Days

You will be glad to know that my niece’s wedding went off very well on Saturday and my stomach was suitably acidic and my head suitably bilious the following morning. The weather was glorious which really is a bonus in late September. Enjoyable as the wedding was, it did mean that I was banned from watching Pontypool play at Ystalyfera. A shame really as the last time I was in that neck of the woods I was playing for Mountain Ash Grammar School Under 13s against Ystalyfera Grammar School Under 13s. In this wonderful modern technological age, however, I was able to covertly keep up with Pooler’s progress via twitter. After a tough tussle, I am glad to say Pooler ran out winners 15-38 securing that all important bonus point. I gather it was far from plain sailing with Pontypool having to work really hard for their win. 

So that is two wins out of two and the maximum ten points put Pooler at the top of the league. Even at this early stage, it is apparent that there are some tough cookies in the Championship if the scores are anything to go by. Pontypool will face two tough opponents over the next two Saturdays with Neath at home and Narberth away. These matches will give a clearer picture of just how competitive the league will be this season. I am sure everyone in the Championship will be gunning for Pontypool so it is definitely game on.

I have managed to watch a fair bit of rugby from the Rugby World Cup although I did miss the All Blacks victory over the Springboks which would appear to be the pick of the crop so far. I have just watched Wales vs Georgia and I am left not really knowing what to think about the performance. I guess before the game I would have been delighted to have been offered a 43-14 bonus point win for Wales against a tough Georgia side. Unusually for them, Wales did the damage in the first half with some smart rugby and then found the very physical Georgians a real handful in the second half. Still a win is a win and we don’t often score six tries these days. We should be happy even if Wales will need to raise their game a level or two if they are to overcome Australia on Sunday. There will be plenty of bumps and bruises for sure but hopefully no serious injuries to the players. My heart sank when Ken Owens went down in the second half but he seemed to be OK even if he left the field shortly afterwards. I think I would have made Tipuric man of the match rather than Ball – he was still going flat out in the last minutes with his distinctive blue scrum cap appearing all over the field.

The first set of matches in the RWC is now nearing completion and no real shock results to date with the winners being the teams most people would have predicted. The nearest thing to a surprise was just how poor Scotland were against a strong looking Irish team.  The closest match that I watched was France edging out Argentina in a match that could have gone either way as the Pumas stormed back after an indifferent opening half.

It is hard work for a retired man to have to get up so early in the morning and switch the TV on and it goes on for six weeks! Rest assured I will strive manfully to get through it. At least there is no clash with Pontypool matches.

Come on Pooler!

Come on Wales!

Pooler Power Past Swansea

It was a great day for rugby. Warm sunshine and a mere zephyr of a breeze together with a perfect playing surface at glorious Pontypool Park. This is how rugby was meant to be – no plastic pitch and miniscule in-goal area but real grass. We might change our minds in the depths of winter, but for now this was perfection as we basked in the sunshine on the Bank.

What was a little strange was that Pontypool were playing Swansea of the Premiership in the first round of the Welsh National Cup in September in their second match of the season. The other strange thing had all twenty six teams of the Premiership and Championship taking part. Ordinarily you would have expected there to be six teams getting a bye in the first round so that sixteen teams would be left in the next round instead of thirteen. Still these are debates for another day. Today was all about Pooler having another chance to show what they are made of against Premiership opposition.

Pontypool elected to play up the slope in the first half with the warm sunshine sure to test the early season fitness of both teams. From the outset, the Pontypool pack looked to impose themselves on their counterparts and relished the physical challenge. Pooler went straight on the offensive and looked sharp and focused and bristling with intent. Against the run of play, it was the visitors who scored first. Pooler gave away a series of penalties and surrendered field position as a consequence. After trying a driving lineout which was negated, Swansea opted for a kick at goal which Davies duly converted (0-3).

Pontypool responded with some powerful forward play that took them right up to the Swansea goal line. It was left to Pooler skipper Matthews to dive over the line for the opening try of the match. Powell converted and the home side were deservedly in the lead (7-3).

In the second quarter Pooler, fell foul of the referee which gave Swansea some respite. A series of penalties and a yellow card for hooker Hughes left the home side shorthanded with Swansea on the attack. Swansea spread the ball wide and wing Trowbridge outflanked the Pontypool defence to score in the corner. An excellent touchline conversion from Davies gave the visitors a narrow half time lead at 7-10.

Pontypool had every reason to feel confident at halftime as they seemed to be winning the physical encounters up front and Powell was controlling things at outside half.

The second half started well for Pontypool as they won a scrum penalty which Powell converted to bring the scores level (10-10). You felt a growing belief that if Pooler could maintain their discipline and not make too many errors they could take the spoils. Swansea had some slippery backs and now and then they squirmed through tackles so the result was still very much in the balance. This message was brought home when a Pooler kick was charged down and Swansea’s Trowbridge scooted over for his second try in the left corner. The conversion failed but Swansea had edged ahead again at 10-15.

Minutes later came the defining moment of the game. Pontypool had a lineout on the Swansea twenty two. The ball was won and a remarkable forward drive saw Matthews touch down for a try. The Swansea pack was left in disarray as the maul had travelled fully twenty metres. It was just like the good old days! The conversion failed but Pontypool were level again and momentum was most certainly with them. The Pooler Army upped the decibels and it was game on.

It was all Pontypool as the forwards thundered into the Swansea defence. The replacements came on to the field for both sides but it was the home side that was gaining dominance. Pontypool camped on the Swansea goal line and it was scrum half, Quick, who sniped to score the all important try near the posts. Powell converted and Pontypool were ahead by seven at 22-15.

Pontypool needed to score again to give themselves breathing space as the Swansea backs looked capable of a long range score at any time. That score came minutes later and what a try it was. Number 8 Jones ran an aggressive line from a feed by Powell on the Swansea twenty two and burst through the first line of defence. He found substitute centre, Meek, in support who after a hint of a dummy found substitute scrum half Luckwell on his shoulder. Luckwell touched down near the posts and with the conversion from Powell a formality Pontypool were 29-15 to the good with ten minutes or so remaining.

Swansea tried hard to respond but Pontypool comfortably snuffed out their attacking intentions. For their part, Pontypool continued to attack but there was no further scoring by either side. Final score Pontypool 29 Swansea 15.

This was a powerful and dominant performance form Pontypool who are making a bit of a habit of upsetting Premiership opposition in the National Cup. The forwards won the physical battle and laid the foundations of this excellent victory. Powell looked assured at outside half and all in all it was a hugely impressive display for only the second game of the season proper. On this form, Pooler would be a handful for any team in the next round of the Cup.

Next up for Pontypool will be up a visit to the Swansea Valley and Ystalyfera. Ystalyfera had a bit of drubbing at Llandovery in the Cup but will be looking to bounce back next week that is for sure. There will be no easy games in an ultra-competitive Championship this season. Unfortunately, I will not be there next week as I am attending my niece’s wedding – bah!

Next week the Rugby World Cup will get under way. I have to say I am heartily fed up of the endless previews and top tens and best ever teams in the media and will be mighty glad when it finally gets going. Wales are going to find it tough but barring injuries look to be competitive. It is Georgia first up and they will be sure to give the Welsh forwards a good workout.

Come on Wales. Come on Pooler!

Here Pooler Go Again

It’s great to be back! The rugby season proper has started at last. Considering that Wales were playing Ireland at the same time, a goodly band of supporters were at Pontypool Park to watch the league opener against Beddau in the early autumn sunshine. Conditions were ideal for rugby with little wind and the pitch looking like a billiard table. The Pontypool team featured a number of new recruits and we were all keen to see if they could enhance Pooler’s chances of promotion after the agony of last season. At least there will be no play-offs to contend with – unless of course the WRU change their minds. The Championship looks a lot stronger this season and it will take a monumental effort from Pontypool to prevail and achieve their ambition of a return to the Premiership. A good performance on the first day was therefore essential.

Pontypool played down the slope in the first half and looked powerful from the off. New captain Matthews and the centre pairing of Mahoney and Nove carried strongly and made inroads into the Beddau defences. A promising Pontypool attack down the right wing looked to have broken down but the ball was hacked on for Lewis to gather and with his searing pace there was only one outcome. Pontypool were up and running and with Meek’s conversion led 7-0.

Pontypool continued to dominate but a stubborn Beddau defence and early season rustiness saw them frustrated until the second quarter. A bust by Hughes was supported by Stratton and Meek was on hand to take the scoring pass. He converted the try to give Pontypool a 14-0 lead.

A couple of minutes later, it was Matthews who burst through the away team’s defence and this time the supporting Stratton did it all himself and galloped forty metres or so for the home side’s third try. It went unconverted but the lead was now beginning to look decisive at 22-0.

On the back of a series of penalties conceded by Pontypool, Beddau did work themselves into a number of promising positions but the home defence managed to keep them out. The last score of the half went to Pooler when powerful thrusts by Mahoney and Matthews set up a try for Hughes and with the conversion Pooler had a comfortable half time lead at 26-0 and had secured the four try bonus point.

The second half began badly for the home side with a yellow card for Clarke which gave Beddau great field position as well as numerical advantage. They made the most of it with Wells taking the ball at pace to score near the posts. Byard converted and the away side had closed the gap to 26-7.

Pontypool again asserted their dominance when Luckwell dived over for a try from short range after some good play from the home backs. Another conversion from Meek reinstated their twenty six point lead at 33-7. Almost immediately afterwards Beddau struck back when Paul ran a great angle to cross for an unconverted try (33-12).

As we reached the final quarter, both sides made copious substitutions as the effects of the first proper game of the season and the warm sun took their toll. Pontypool benefited from a yellow card for Beddau prop, Jones, for an offence at a ruck with the home side pressing hard.  A quickly taken tapped penalty saw the mighty Matthews power over for a well-deserved try. Meek converted and Pooler were well clear at 40-12.

As the game drew to a close, another yellow card for Beddau had Morgan sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle. Pooler kicked for the corner and their driving lineout finally bore fruit after many abortive attempts during the course of the game. Substitute hooker, Ball, was the beneficiary and Meek again added the extras (47-12).

The final minutes of the game so uncontested scrums but despite both teams getting themselves into promising positions there was no further scoring. Final score Pontypool 47 Beddau 12.

This was a convincing win for Pontypool as their league campaign gets under way. The players looked fit and strong with the set pieces looking in good order. Yes of course there was some rustiness and unfamiliarity with new squad members that led the occasional error but that is to be expected so early in the season. Overall a really encouraging performance with the new squad members showing up well. Matthews the new skipper certainly led from the front as Nash had done so well in the previous seasons.

There are tough encounters to come in the next few weeks that is for sure. It starts next week with the National Cup game against Swansea who kicked off their Premiership season with a big win against Llanelli. This is followed by a visit to Ystalyfera then Neath at home and Narberth away. A daunting schedule but I am sure Pooler are up to the challenge.

While we were sunning ourselves at Costa Pooler, Wales were playing Ireland in Dublin. Another defeat with Wales going down 19-10. They have lost three out of four of the warm-up matches surely not ideal preparation for the RWC in Japan. The butcher’s bill for the matches has not yet been finalised but it could be that Patchell may join Anscombe at home. I sincerely hope not but it was always the risk of playing such tough opponents.

Ireland have now become number one team in the world! Surely it would make much more sense if they published the rankings every three months.

All in all, I was mighty glad I was at Pontypool Park.

Come on Pooler!