Musings from the Couch

I usually write this before I have read the Sunday papers. It is then interesting to see what the pundits and reporters come up with. This is certainly the case today.

I read with some degree of disappointment that club rugby in Wales would be abandoned this season. This is not unexpected and I believe the correct decision in light of the circumstances that the country finds itself in. The all-pervading Corona Virus is doing far greater damage to society than the cancellation of rugby matches could ever do. Hopefully normal service can be resumed in September and that the vast majority of clubs are able to get back to playing matches on a Saturday afternoon. No doubt there will be a shuffling of the pack in terms of the team players end up turning out for. It will be almost like starting with a blank piece of canvas. I look forward to it and hope that Pontypool will finally get the job done and win a place in the Premiership.

Meanwhile back on the couch, I have been watching European rugby on the TV. Two really exciting matches with Munster and Ospreys both fighting back from large deficits to claim away victories. Sadly though, the tournaments are rapidly becoming farcical with the awarding of bonus point victories in matches cancelled due to Corona Virus infections. It would surely be better for a virtual panel of “experts” to be convened to predict what they think might have happened rather like the old Pools Panel did in football. In many of the cases so far, a team has been on the losing end of a comprehensive defeat through no fault of their own. Meanwhile other teams are sweating blood on the field to win valuable points. I do understand that the show must go on to gain income but winning on the basis of the other team’s misfortune off the field is somewhat unsatisfactory. So far, the Welsh Regions seemed to have fared well from cancellations so lucky them.

The Six Nations Championship is just around the corner. With a worsening situation with the Corona Virus in all the countries involved, surely this must now be postponed. If it were my decision, I would postpone it until the Autumn. I would then amalgamate it with the matches in Spring 2022 and have a “Super Six Nations” where the teams will have played each other home and away to determine the champions. If the situation with the virus improves, perhaps some matches against Southern Hemisphere teams could be arranged in May or September.

The other big issue hitting the headlines is the tragedy of early onset dementia for rugby players. I don’t know enough about the medical science involved but this is really eye-opening stuff. I did once go to a lecture in Cardiff University where they explained how they were working to redesign the American football helmet to reduce the effect of head impacts. Some of the illustrations of what happens to the brain in a collision were frightening. Their proposed design modifications to the helmet were encouraging. 

I don’t suppose we will see hard helmets used in rugby but you never know. All this will, of course, end up in the law courts but you do wonder how rugby can survive in its present form. My heart goes out to the players suffering the consequences of playing the sport they love and I wish them all well.

So, it’s back to the couch for another shift.

Have a safe Xmas everyone and let’s hope for a better 2021.

Grumpy Old Fan

Rugby is the game that I have enjoyed watching and playing the most over the years but I find myself falling out of love with it. A big part of this is not being able to watch Pontypool playing in the flesh which has been my staple Saturday afternoon diet for eight months or so every year. Of course, I can still get a fix from the countless matches that are available (if you are prepared to fork out) on the TV. It is not the same though is it? It’s like drinking a rather weak shandy when you want a good, strong pint of real ale. You want to feel a bond with your team rather than just just picking an underdog to support.

For all that, I did watch a couple of games that grabbed my attention on Saturday with both providing some exhilarating rugby and demonstrating that rugby can still provide great entertainment. Bristol Bears v Clement Auvergne was a try scoring master class while Bath v The Scarlets match was nail-biting but with some excellent running rugby to boot.

Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed these games, some of the other rugby was of the turgid type of European rugby that we have come to expect. It got me to thinking about what was bugging me about rugby at the moment. When you are watching dispassionately, these things really bubble to the surface and make you start channel hopping.

My top ten irritants are:

1. Collapsing and resetting scrums. It seems that no matter how much they tinker with the setting of scrums the game is plagued with this. Even as a veteran Pontypool fan it is frustrating and takes up far too much game time.
2. The wild celebrations that follow a penalty being awarded at a scrum when most people are bemused by the decision including the front rows themselves.
3. The breakdown and the jackal - who is doing what and what is illegal. It is far too complicated and with the benefit of the inevitable zoom lens and slow motion replays you can see just how difficult it is for the referees to make a decision. I don’t think the latest law changes have helped and it looks like an area where players are bound to get injured. The spectator on the terrace has no chance of knowing what is going and howls “holding” more in hope than anything else. Was rucking any better though?
4. Incessant box kicking and the emergence of the “caterpillar”. At least before the caterpillar there was the occasional kick charged down but now the box kick seems to be the most used tool in every team’s toolbox. The attempts to catch the kick often lead to contentious penalties and cards for tackling in the air and yet more delays.
5. Box kicking has led to more and more of the use of subtle yet cynical obstruction to prevent the potential catcher of the ball being challenged. England are the masters of this.
6. Miniscule in-goal areas. A pet hate of mine is the wide deviation in the size of in-goal areas and their impact on the game. Surely, they should be standard. I understand that the increasing use of football grounds has meant smaller playing areas but, in some cases, it seems barely four metres from try line to dead-ball line in others it can be ten metres or more.
7. Linked to 6 is the substitutes running on the pitch to celebrate a try. They are using the in-goal area to warm up when really they have no business being on the pitch at all.
8. The ruffling of the opposition player’s hair when a team gives away a penalty or knock-on. This coupled with the incessant pointing and carping at the referee is not really in the spirit of the game. Fortunately there is not yet as much “diving” as there is in football and long may that continue.
9. The refereeing of the game and the TMO. The game at the professional level is becoming more and more reliant on the TMO as it seems impossible for the on-field refereeing team to spot even 90% of the indiscretions. Referees are also so worried about making the wrong decision and feels the need to call for help knowing that the TV replays will hang them if they are shown to be wrong after forensic examination by the pundits. The TMO decisions often take far too long and, yes, result in more delays. I certainly don’t envy the task of the referee but they have far too much influence on the entertainment value of a game. It is no longer possible to not notice the referee.
10. There is a lack of joy and fun in the game. Players do not seem to be enjoying playing. Yes, it is a job but surely there is room for a bit of light-heartedness now and then. The coaches are turning players into robots who are slaves to “the pattern”. We will miss the refereeing of Nigel Owens who was the master of the one-liner that brought a smile to the face of many a grizzly rugby player.  

For all that, I will still be watching rugby and I can’t wait to get back to watching club rugby with Pontypool. Fortunately, a lot of my grouses above are not quite as apparent in the community game. We should, however, spare a thought for the referees who really are heroes at this level and, although we all moan and groan, there would be no rugby without them.

Come on everybody let’s be sensible and try and kick Covid 19 into touch. Let’s get back to watching the game we love in the place that we love.

The Old Guard See Wales Through

 The last game of the Autumn Series for Wales was a home match against Italy to determine who finishes fifth. It was a chance for Wales to shrug off a string of lack lustre performances and rekindle the fire in the rather cool relationship that had developed with the Welsh public. The match was again played in an empty Parc Y Scarlets so there was to be no help to be had from a fervent Welsh crowd.

The game startled well enough with a much-changed Wales on the rampage and playing with pace scoring two good converted tries. We sat back sipping our light refreshments expecting more of the same but that was not to be. The malaise that had affected Wales returned with the loss of lineouts and a string of penalties conceded at the breakdown. Wales quickly surrendered control of the match and were soon very much on the back foot as the Italians strutted their stuff. A fourteen point Welsh lead had shrunk to one by the interval and the light refreshments needed to be replaced by something much stronger. “This is the end for Pivac,” we muttered.

Liam Williams had gone off with an injury and the substitute Lloyd was looking out of his depth at full back. Despite some sterling work from Faletau and Tipuric, Wales looked vulnerable and an Italian victory seemed entirely possible. There was no mentoring from Sean Edwards available at half time either. Aargh!

It started reasonably well in the second half with a penalty from Sheedy taking the score to 17-13 but Wales kept giving away penalties. Then, disaster, a defensive mix up between North, Rees Zammit and Lloyd led to a try by Italian flanker Mayer. Italy had taken the lead albeit by only one point at 17-18.

Wales had to do something and they sent on the cavalry with a raft of substitutions. The most significant of these was the introduction of Gareth Davies at scrum half. Faletau was becoming more and more prominent as the match progressed. He was superb once he was freed from the duty of tackling juggernaut forwards all match. It was his break that changed the course of the match and, as of old, he found Gareth Davies in support who needed no second invitation to sprint to the line.

Italian resistance began to crumble and Wales began to gain the upper hand. Confidence grew and a good try by North after the three-quarters took full advantage of a turnover won in midfield put them well clear. Fittingly, the final flourish was a try from Tipuric after another powerful break from Faletau. Wales running out convincing winners in the end 38-18.

It was great to see Wales winning again and in some style but this was against opposition who we expect to beat reasonably comfortably. Even then, Wales lost their way in the second and third quarters of the match as lineouts and breakdowns continue to give problems. Having to use Tipuric, one of our better breakdown exponents, as a lineout jumper did not help.

The thing that stands out most in this game is the renaissance of Faletau. Whilst he is more than willing to take on a heavy tackling load it is with ball in hand that he is most effective. With Tipuric and Gareth Davies in support the Welsh attack become far more potent.

What have we learned from the Autumn Series? I guess we might have expected to beat Georgia and Italy and lose to England and Ireland so no surprises there. Add to that the loss to Scotland in the belated Six Nations fixture and to France in the warm-up game, however, and it becomes a sorry tale. The manner of our defeats where we were generally overpowered is a cause for concern. Fixing this has to be the priority before we can hope to compete at the highest level. We have to have a scrummaging front row, a solid lineout and ball carriers to give us some go forward.

On the plus side, Wales have tried out plenty of new players and new combinations. Some have worked some have not but the management team must surely have a good idea of their strongest team by now. All of this chopping and changing has not helped in the short term and we will wait with bated breath to see the team-sheet for the first game in the Six Nations Championship which is just a couple of months away.

I did watch the other two matches. The Fijians looked mighty impressive when they got hold of the ball as they defeated the plucky Georgians who have perhaps gained most from the Autumn Series. Given time together, the Fijians have shown that they can be a match for the best sides in the world.

Ireland beat Scotland in Dublin in a fairly typical Northern Hemisphere international match with neither side really setting the world alight. So, Ireland clinch third spot and it is left to England and France to decide on the winners of what has turned out to be a rather pale imitation of the Six Nations. France are fielding what looks to be a much-weakened team so we can expect to hear much gloating from Eddie Jones on Sunday evening. Oh joy!

It is not all doom and gloom for Wales and a win is always welcome. We are now firmly out of the Gatland era but we can surely be competitive again when we settle on the best combination of players and tactics. The talent is there for all to see.

Pob lwc Mr. Pivac.

Wales Labour, England Conservative

Rugby these days can be very much absorbed with defence and, while spectators look on in awe at the big collisions, it does rather stifle the entertainment value. So it was when Wales took on England in Parc Y Scarlets in what has become “a Son of the Six Nations” tournament. England duly won 13-24 in a match that never really got the pulse racing.

True, an early Welsh breakaway try by Williams from a charged down kick gave the Welsh some hope but once England had overhauled them there was only going to be one winner. The Welsh defence had become more Edwardsesque in its ferocity and England never managed to achieve the score-line that we had feared so there always a faint semblance of hope that a miracle might happen. But, rather like the England v Ireland match, England successfully managed to keep Wales at arm’s length.

Was this a good performance from Wales? Well it was certainly a step up from the previous matches in the tournament that is for sure. The scrum remains an Achille’s heel, although Wales did seem to be harshly judged by referee Poite. Far too many penalties were conceded and it both stifled the Welsh attacking intentions and gave England possession and field position. The only workable option in the lineout seemed to be front ball which is not ideal for attacking but at least we did get some possession from this source. The Welsh attacked in fits and starts but came up against an aggressive and well-organised English defence and did not look like scoring a try. No one could fault the Welsh defensive commitment and effort as, for the most part, they stood firm against the English juggernaut. Losing to England is never palatable for anyone associated with Wales and it really hurts but some good may come of it.

Yesterday, I thought that Rees Zammit and Johnny Williams looked the part and Wales should stick with them. Faletau is improving with every game and hopefully will be back to his best by the Six Nations. Alongside him, Botham and Lewis-Hughes are both athletic and strong and did all they could in the circumstances. As the current injury list shows, you can never have too many good backrow forwards and these two are now well placed in the queue for starting places.

Wales do need to settle on a scrum half as chopping and changing this crucial position is unsettling to say the least. I assume that Tomos Williams is the longer term first choice when he returns from injury but I am not at all clear who is next in line.  There is no doubt that we have missed Ken Owens and his longer-term replacement is also far from clear. None of the three hookers tried in this series has been truly convincing with Dee possibly shading it for me. It is a shame that Scott Baldwin is playing for Harlequins as he is showing good form at the moment.

Whilst sacrificing continuity, the Wales management team have at least had a chance to assess the capabilities of the squad and to blood some young players over the last few weeks. It has come at the cost of results but it may stand us in good stead in the future.

What of England? They have so much talent to choose from and when they move the ball they really do look dangerous. As always, they have plenty of big powerful forwards and are strong at the set piece. They do employ a very conservative approach with the box kick employed at nauseum. It is not pretty to watch but it is mighty difficult to get the better of.

It was with great sadness that I heard of the passing of Ray Prosser. If ever there was a larger than like character it was Pross. Along with Terry Cobner he masterminded an almost mindblowing transformation in the fortunes of Pontypool. I was fortunate enough to be there on the Bank as the beast from the east was unleashed. It was hardly a caterpillar turning into a butterfly but it was thrilling all the same. Pontypool’s style was criticised by many but it was mighty effective as they won championship after championship – didn’t I just say that about England? Perhaps Pross was ahead of his time.

I was working in Panteg Steelworks in the great days of Pontypool RFC. On a Monday morning Ray would often poke his head around my office door and ask me what I thought of Pontypool’s latest match. I would rather cautiously give my views. Ray would listen and then say “Now this it what really f*****g happened,” and proceed to dissect the game like a neurosurgeon. It was always entertaining and incisive. He had, on the face of it, the simple philosophy of having the fittest team around, a pack with six “man-handlers” and two “ball-handlers”, a scrum half to run the game, hard running backs and an expert goal kicker. Crucial to this was having the right players and Ray’s tough selection and coaching regime led to the development of a stream of international players.

Ray was the kind of man you would want by your side in times of trouble. Rest in Peace Pross.

At Least We Won

Phew Wales have done it! They ended their losing streak against Georgia with a scrappy but invaluable 18-0 victory in Llanelli. This very much had the feel of a second division match with Wales ranked nine taking on Georgia ranked twelve in the world rankings. Add to that a club ground with no spectators and it was hardly atmospheric. Wales, with an experimental side, knew to retain any form of credibility as a world force they simply had to win. In fairness, it was a match Wales never looked like losing but they never established sufficient lead to feel comfortable against a physical Georgian outfit. Just over a year ago Wales beat Georgia by over forty points in the RWC and at the moment we are happy to get any sort of win against them!

The good news was that the new boys did all right. Hardy and Sheedy were a decent half back pairing. Rees Zammit took his try well and had one storming run. Johnny Williams and James Botham battled hard and grew into the game. Whether they did enough to make the starting fifteen against England next week is debatable but the fact that there will need to be a debate at all is encouraging. Perhaps the most important aspect was the scrum which did really well against the renowned Georgian scrummaging. We really do need this to be a solid platform against England so I would go with the front row en bloc next week. The defence was solid although it was not severely tested by Georgia and it is always good to not give away any points.

The match itself was pretty forgettable with the conditions not really conducive to the open style of play we believe Wales are trying to adopt. A couple of decent tries from Rees Zammit and Webb (on as a substitute) were the highlights of a low quality, mistake-ridden affair. If the England team were watching they would hardly be quaking in their boots.

What of England? They dismissed the challenge posed by Ireland with a formidable defensive display at Twickenham. Despite being physically dominant, England did not really fire in attack which meant that the Irish just about managed to stay in touch throughout the game. Two opportunist tries from May, the second a brilliant solo effort from his own goal line, were all England had to show in an 18-7 victory. The Irish try from a chip kick over the onrushing England defensive line might be a clue for Wales next week.

Can Wales beat England? Of course they can but the need to go up a couple of levels in intensity and physicality and not give away too many penalties. Have we got the players to achieve this? It depends very much on match fitness and injuries.

In my view, the front five should be the same as yesterday with the exception of Alun Wyn Jones coming back in to replace Davies. The back row selection is entirely dependent on injuries but I do think Faletau should play. At half back, I would pair Dan Biggar with Lloyd Williams who has looked the sharpest scrum half in the recent matches. I would have Liam Williams at full back with North and Adams on the wings. The pairing Jon Davies and Owen Watkin is the safe option in the centre although hardly likely to set the world alight on current form.

I know you will say that we should give the younger players a chance but against a rampant England experience could count for a lot. The bench should be filled with the younger players apart from Tomas Francis. It might be advisable to have a six-two split in favour of forwards on the bench.

Well done Wales on your victory. We need to be thankful for small mercies these days.

Good luck to Wales against England

PS I hope Wales play in red jerseys. Perhaps the black jerseys yesterday reflected the country’s mood. 

Wales Pay the Penalty in Dublin

 I held my breath as the ball was put into the very first Welsh scrum. I let out a large sigh/curse as Carre was penalised and even that early in the game you felt the writing was on the wall for Wales. When it was closely followed by the Irish stealing a couple of Welsh lineouts and a couple of penalties against Wales at the breakdown, I knew that this was going to be a miserable evening. The same problems that Wales had against Scotland were clearly visible. It was no surprise then that Ireland dominated the first half with seventy odd percent of the possession and Wales did not show in attack. Ireland are a much stronger and more physical side than Scotland and it was only down to tremendous Welsh defence that the game was not over by half time. Wales were only 16-6 down and it certainly could have been a lot worse but all that tackling was sure to take its toll later. In the last minute of the half, thankfully Carre was replaced by Wyn Jones for a crucial scrum on the Welsh line. The Welsh scrum was solid and Wales escaped from what would have been a truer reflection of the balance of play on the scoreboard. The game was being playing at a higher pace than the Scotland game and the collisions were ferocious. Unfortunately, Wales seemed to come off worse in most of the impacts. On reflection, if you pick virtually the same team why would you expect the outcome to be any different when you play against tougher opposition?

Wales did enjoy better fortunes at the start of the second half as they won a few penalties and gained some reasonable possession. Lloyd Williams came on at scrum half and got the ball away quicker than Gareth Davies and the backs could stretch their legs. The highly motivated Irish defence was not going to let Wales back into the match and the Welsh period of dominance petered out as a 3-3 draw.

As the second half wore on, things went back to normal with the Irish regaining control. A series of penalties and a last minute try saw the home team stretch out to a comfortable 32-9 victory. Wales have now lost six matches on the bounce against European opposition. Hopefully they can beat Georgia to bring the grisly run to an end.

Winning in Dublin was probably not a realistic prospect for a Wales side lacking in self-belief but a losing bonus point must surely have been within their grasp. In the end, there were few positives to take away from the loss. The key areas that need to be fixed are still the set pieces and finding a way to contest the breakdown without being penalised. Selection has a big bearing on all these areas so the management team can expect justifiable criticism. Sweeping changes can be expected for the Georgia fixture but with a match against England looming we need to settle on our strongest team and a modus operandi quickly or it could be embarrassing.

It is, of course, easy for us armchair critics to criticise but the fall from grace by Wales has been spectacular since Gatland departed what was certainly not a sinking ship. Yes, there have been injuries to key players and there are no vociferous supporters, but that has been the case for all the other teams too. Do we need to do what the French did and give youth a chance while suffering the short-term consequences during their learning curve? The Welsh public will need to be understanding but it might be a good idea.

Come on Wales give us something to cheer!

Wales Hopes Go West

 A windswept Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli with empty stands was no way to mark two special moments in Welsh Rugby history. The first the sad passing of Welsh legend J.J.Williams  and the second Alun Wyn Jones running out against Scotland to win the world record number of international caps. Both would have deserved the full pomp of a packed Principality Stadium. These are difficult times for everyone.

The Scots clearly had no fear about playing in the all but silent stadium. There was no Welsh hwyl for the Welsh team to extract from the crowd so they would have to generate themselves. It’s at times like this that you need your experienced British Lions to come to the fore. Wales had no less than five Lions’ test players in their ranks. Three: Faletau, Liam Williams and Jon Davies were on their way back from long injury breaks with Alun Wyn Jones and Halfpenny the other two. Faletau and Davies had what one could euphemistically say were “quiet” games and had little impact on proceedings. Liam Williams was typically aggressive but never really had enough ball to show what he can do in attack. Halfpenny, on a difficult day to be playing fullback, stood up reasonably well but I bet he wished the Scottish kicking had put as little pressure on him as the Welsh kicking did to, Hogg, his Scottish counterpart. Alun Wyn Jones was his usual fully-committed, confrontational self but he and his pack had the utmost difficulty in containing the well-knit Scottish eight.

For all that, it was a close game with never more than a few points in it. For the record the Scots won 10-14 with both teams scoring one try. The weather had a major impact with the visitors managing to cope with the swirling wind a bit better. Scotland deserved to win and looked the more likely to score a try although even they created few chances.

Where did it go wrong for Wales? The biggest issue was the penalty count with Wales transgressing far too often at the breakdown. This coupled with a shaky lineout and too many handling errors scuppered their chances of creating any meaningful pressure. It was a disjointed performance from Wales and it is still difficult to discern what they are trying to do tactically. Losing midfield general, Biggar, quite early on didn’t help things that is for sure. Scotland were hardly rampant but at least you can see what they are trying to do and they do seem to be on an improving trend. Wales unfortunately look to be heading the opposite way with the worrying run of defeats continuing.

Were there any positives for Wales?   Well the defence certainly seemed to be a bit stiffer and the choke tackle created a turnover on the odd occasion. The scrum held up until the substitution of Francis. Lewis-Hughes won his first cap and looks like a good prospect for the future. I am clutching at straws I think.

Where do Wales go to from here? Some might say that Wales never play well in the Autumn internationals and everything will be all right by February and the Six Nations. That was normally the case against Southern hemisphere opposition. A starting point for Wales must be to get everyone super fit. There was a time when Wales were the fittest team in Europe – it doesn’t look like that any more to the tubby observer on the couch! The coaching team have to be given a fair crack of the whip and they now have a run of games and a good chance to show what they can do with what is a talented group of players. They must be ruthless in selection and pick in-form players rather than relying on past reputations. I will support Wales through thick and thin but I really don’t want the thin to last too long.

England ended up winning the Six Nations on points difference from France in second place. France has been my team of the tournament and, barring a stupid red card for a French prop that probably cost them the match against Scotland, would surely have won the Grand Slam. The French look to be on a really positive trajectory with the Sean Edwards’ steel starting to stiffen their resolve. The young halfbacks Dupont and Ntamack are a class act and have the priceless ability to change games. I would be amazed if Dupont is not named Player of the Tournament.

Wales ended up in a dismal 5^th place with only Italy below them. They lost four matches out of five. It has to get better than this doesn’t it?

Come on Wales!

French Leave Wales Floundering

Wales continued their recent dismal run with against Six Nations opposition with France winning convincingly 38-21 in Paris yesterday. Yes, it was a “friendly” but the gulf in class and power was there for all to see. It was quite reminiscent of those European Champions Cup encounters between the Welsh regions and the French, English and Irish teams.

As always, Wales tried their damnedest till the end but this French side with Sean Edwards glowering in the wings was not about to let this slip as they might of in the past.  Wales did get off to a dream start with an early try and penalty giving them a ten point lead. The rest of the first half was given up to the French showing what they can do once they get a bit of momentum in attack. The speed and power left the Welsh defence floundering as they scored three converted tries to lead 21-10.

The second half was quite scrappy with both sides being guilty of losing possession through handling errors and penalties. Wales briefly closed the gap but, with Biggar missing a few crucial kicks at goal, never got within touching distance. Wales did manage a close range try from Smith but the French countered with two further tries to run out clear winners at 38-21.

So where did it all go wrong? France are clearly a much improved team and have managed to combine flair and power in attack with a strong defence. They will give any side in the world a run for their money as they build up to their home Rugby World Cup. Wales seemed a bit undercooked and are still appear to be searching for a style that suits them under the new coaching regime. The once virtually impregnable Sean Edwards defence has gone and Wales are leaking points alarmingly. In attack they are not firing despite having some fine attacking players in their ranks. With Halfpenny running into brick walls from defence, and the ball being passed on like a hot potato it all seems a bit chaotic.

Yesterday Wales were overpowered at the breakdown and fallible under the high ball which led to their downfall against a French team that seized their opportunities with glee. Of course, the players have not played much since the lockdown and they will surely improve against Scotland next week but the signs are not good. A losing streak is notoriously difficult to end and Scotland look to be building a strong squad. They will surely fancy their chances of beating Wales.

The Welsh management have some serious thinking to do if they are to arrest the decline in the Welsh fortunes. I cannot imagine that there will be wholesale changes but I think a bit more bulk in the pack is essential.

Wales and Scotland are not in contention for the Six Nations Championship nor thankfully for the Wooden Spoon. France, Ireland and England will be battling out for the spoils next weekend. While England can be expected to secure a bonus point win against Italy, the game between France and Ireland should be a cracker. A bonus point win for Ireland will secure the title but other than that it will be down to the mathematicians to decide the champions. The Barbarians’ shenanigans have denied England a run out this weekend but I still think they will crowned Six Nations Champions.

I did watch Ireland v Italy and Exeter v Wasps but did not feel particularly inspired by either. Exeter did what they do in a close encounter and ground out a win. Ireland brushed Italy aside just as Scotland brushed Georgia aside the previous evening. A match between Italy and Georgia would be interesting.

So on to next weekend. Can Wales pick themselves up and end this pesky losing streak? I certainly hope so.

Come on Wales!  

The Best in the West

Congratulations to Exeter Chiefs on lifting the European Champions Cup. There is no doubt that they were the most powerful and effective team in the competition. Racing did show some flashes of brilliance but that was, in the end, not quite a match for the cohesion and nous of Exeter. I am sure that Exeter will remain a dominant force in rugby if they continue to recruit a limited number of top-class players judiciously whilst retaining their identity.

Unusually for a major final, the game was entertaining with the contrast in styles adding to the spice of the occasion. The result was in doubt until the final whistle. I am sure that Tomas Francis was mightily relieved that his indiscretion towards the end did not cost Exeter the match.

I do sometimes wonder about the countless phases that the better teams manage to put together as they relentlessly pound away at the goal line. The opposition to a large extent finds it virtually impossible to legally relieve the pressure and concede a series of penalties and often a yellow card. I suppose this is why Rugby League and US Football restricted the number of phases thus enabling the defending side a way to regain possession. It is at its most galling when a team in the lead can wind down the clock for five minutes or more towards the end of a close game and effectively kill the game when the neutral would like the other team to have one last chance to save the day. I shouldn’t complain really as Pontypool and Wales have both benefited from this approach in close games.

The other thing that struck me was how incredibly short the distance from the goal line to the dead ball line was. I have mentioned this problem before as I cannot imagine any other sport having such a disparity as there is between say Murrayfield and Bristol. I understand that this is due to the increasing use of football pitches but it does have an impact on the tactics employed.

In the absence of any Pontypool action, I am relieved that Wales will be playing soon. I need rugby where I really care about who wins. Being a neutral observer is all very well but nothing can take the place of that feeling when your team runs out on to the pitch. Yes, I won’t be there in person but the couch is a good second best.

This Brutiful Game

 

Saturday was a bit of a rugby marathon as I watched three live games on the TV. At the end of it all, I gained little satisfaction and it only served to reinforce just how much I am missing rugby in the flesh and Pontypool in particular.

On paper, the two English semi-finals looked likely to be close and competitive but for the impartial observer sadly this was not the case. In both cases it was power rather than artistry that won the day.

The Wasps’ pack, backed up by a canny scrum half and excellent goalkicking, was too strong for Bristol. In particular the Wasps’ back row was outstanding and I am pleased to say that Wales hopeful, lock Will Rowlands, also contributed forcefully. Jack Willis is some player that is for sure.

At Exeter, it was a similar story where Exeter’s cohesive power play eventually wore down Bath. This was real “rope-a-dope” stuff with Exeter soaking up Bath’s best punches before landing some killer blows themselves to pull well clear. I know it sounds fanciful but Exeter do put me in mind of Pooler in their pomp with their devastating last quarter in matches and their ability to be unstoppable from five metres from the opposition try line. They do like a Garryowen or two too!

That was two down and the final stanza was Cardiff Blues v. Connacht from the unusual venue of Rodney Parade. Cardiff did look pretty lively early doors playing with plenty of pace. They did not really capitalise fully on their initial dominance and slowly but surely Connacht came strongly into the match. This meant it became a close fought affair as Connacht monopolised possession and territory in the third quarter. Cardiff’s slender lead was all but wiped out and it began to look like an Irish victory. All credit to Cardiff Blues, they found the necessary inspiration and, with Josh Adams prominent, bounced back with a flurry of tries to take the spoils.

When I compare the Cardiff Blues with the top English sides there seems to be a definite power gap in the pack and this is also likely to be the case when Wales face England. The English Premiership is brutal battleground unlike the Pro 14. Wales can of course call on players such as Francis, Faletau and Rowlands who ply their trade in England and I think it would be wise to select all three.

Congratulations to Alun Wyn Jones, Warren Gatland and Gareth Thomas on their honours. All have been great servants to Welsh rugby and beyond. Rugby is a team game but there is still room for the recognition of outstanding contributions. There are still plenty of unsung heroes who give so much to the sport as I am sure the three gentlemen would be only too willing to admit. We should never forget them as rugby would not survive without them.

Wales will be embarking on their Autumn tests soon enough but this still won’t make up for the severe Pooler withdrawal symptoms.

When Will I See You Again?

Last night I had my first dose of Welsh rugby for many moons. I tuned in to watch the Dragons take on Leinster in Dublin on the S4C. I have to admit that despite the weather I would have far preferred to be on the bank at Pontypool Park watching a team I am passionate about. There does not seem to be any real prospect of the Pooler donning the red, white and black in the near future sadly so needs must.

My score prediction prior to the kick off in Dublin was the Dragons to lose by around forty points despite their recruitment drive. Sadly, my prediction almost came true as the Dragons failed to make much impression on the Leinster defensive wall despite the presence of a host of Welsh internationals in the backline. The Leinster defence seemed to be within a micron or two of being offside as they rushed up and stifled the Dragons’ attacks. The Dragons also contrived to lose a few attacking lineouts when they go close to the Leinster line which certainly didn’t help their cause.

The Leinster attack was far more productive and seized their chances with glee running in five tries. The Dragons could not be faulted for commitment and effort and made a better fist of things in the second half but were distinctly second best.

I have been watching quite a lot of English club rugby on the TV. It has been strangely unfulfilling with few games taking place where both sides fielded a full-strength team. This was obviously a result of the fixture congestion as they rushed to complete the 2019-20 season in a few weeks. From an England perspective, at least their players will be match fit ahead of the forthcoming Autumn international programme. Judging from what I saw of the Dragons their Welsh counterparts may well be off the pace. The downside of all those fixtures will be injured players with Tuilagi and Lawes both looking to be long term absentees.

English rugby is brutal with the emphasis on power rather than guile and defence rather than attack. Lots of box kicks to attack and defend and only scattered moments of inspiration which normally come from the seemingly endless band of South Sea Islanders plying their trade in the English league.

From a spectator perspective, the scrum is still the major downer and we still have to watch far too many resets as the scrum collapses. The penalty count associated with the scrummage often determines the result of a match. The scrum was important to Pooler in their glory years but it never took up so much game time.

The other area of note is the breakdown. The day of the jackal would seem to be over. The scavenger is now a much bigger beast - more like a hyena. The short squat guys have been replaced by much bigger and taller men like Curry of Sale and Willis of Wasps. The supporting of one’s own weight, once so crucial, seems to be far less important than before with these taller men using their longer reach to get a grip on the ball. It results in far more penalties and the loss of many good attacking positions.  I suppose it is early days yet but it looks like the coaches everywhere will be desperately seeking ways to get an edge in this area by fair means or foul.

The topic of money was never far from the headlines in Welsh rugby with the Regions in particular struggling to compete with their wealthier opponents. The Covid 19 pandemic has made things far worse of course and the true fallout is yet to be seen. Rugby at all levels is severely impacted and you have to wonder what the “new normal” will become.  There may well be many causalities amongst clubs in the community game. I certainly hope not but things are unlikely to return to the way they were which even then were far from rosy.

I was really saddened to hear of the passing of Pontypool stalwart Pat Shepphard. Pat was the kind of volunteer that every community club needs with her unstinting work largely unseen but extremely valuable. We shall miss her ready smile. Pontypool is all the poorer for her untimely loss.

There is much rugby available over the next few months but little chance of watching it from the stands and terraces. Wales will have it all to do win more than they lose after their rather disappointing showing in the Six Nations. We were a bit fortunate that the draw for the next Rugby World Cup seed the four semi finalists (including Wales) in the first group which means that Wales will avoid New Zealand, South Africa and England in the group stages. I guess we will end up with Australia as usual though.

Not being able to watch Pontypool has been a bind but there are lives at risk and that is of course much more important than rugby. I thank all those who have posted many fascinating Pontypool memories on social media. It is not quite the same a watching a match but it certainly helps.

In the words of the Three Degrees, “When will I see you again?”

That’s It For Now Folks

The inevitable has happened and the 2019-20 rugby season has come to an abrupt end. There is no doubt that this is the right decision with the corona virus gripping the country tighter and tighter as each day passes. As we expected, the status quo in the leagues will remain so there will be no promotion and relegation.

It is another great disappointment for Pontypool RFC who yet again who miss out on promotion to the Premiership and yet again it is due to matters off the field of play. This time there is no argument - as I said in my last post, there are things that are much more important rugby. Lives were at stake here.

Congratulations to everyone at the club for another unbeaten campaign. You continue to make an old man happy.

God willing there is always next season when we can have another crack.

Stay safe everyone.

There are More Important Things in Life than Rugby

It is not until it is taken away that you realise how big a part sport plays in your life. Yes, rugby is top of the bill but golf, cricket and even football aren’t far behind. Not to mention all the other sports - as long as they involve a ball. I have never been keen on horseracing and even less so on show jumping so it has been a pretty barren weekend. It isn’t just the weekend of course but for the foreseeable future. Huge gaps have suddenly appeared in my timeline and the challenge is how to fill them.

There are more important things in life than sport as the life-threatening coronavirus is clearly demonstrating. It has brought with it a fear and uncertainty that we are not used to dealing with on a day to day basis. Lack of sport has been the first thing that has impacted upon my life but the reality is that this is just the beginning. On Friday, I agonised over whether I should go to Cardiff for the Wales v. Scotland match and I was actually glad when it was called off as it took the onus off me. The postponement was managed pretty badly but I am sure in my own mind that it was the right one.

Next came the decision that really impacts on me - the suspension of all rugby in Wales. "Bah! No Pooler games", was my immediate reaction. In the bigger picture, the decision to suspend surely is the right one but still…. So, the next question is what bearing will this have on Pooler’s promotion prospects? Again, a pretty small issue in the wider context, but for a club that has worked so hard to try and achieve this burning ambition very important. The answer is, of course, that we don’t know. The decision will obviously need to be made further down the road by the WRU.

If I were in charge “and thank the Lord I’m not sir” to quote the old song, I would advocate the following. Promote the two top sides from the Championship whenever the season is deemed to have ended. I would increase the size of the Premiership to fourteen clubs so there would be no need for relegation. The extra games in the Premiership next season would help to counteract the revenue for the lost matches this season. This action would work its way through the league pyramid but with a positive effect. Sadly, I expect the decision to be that the season will be, in effect, written off with the status quo retained. Yet again Pooler would miss out on promotion due to outside influences.

Whatever happens, it will be a disappointing end to the season as the battle between Pooler and Bargoed for promotion was set to be a real humdinger. It is not life and death though and we need to remember that.

I guess I won’t have much to write about in the coming weeks. It's box sets and jigsaws for me I fear. Then there's that novel I keep meaning to finish.

I wish you and your families well and please stay safe.

Hard Times at HQ

I had taken the precaution of moving the couch forward on Saturday evening. I had to make sure there was room behind it if the going in the England v Wales game got tough. Strong drink was also near at hand. Yes, I feared that things could go badly for Wales. In the sweep I had Wales to lose by ten points. Of course, we Welsh do tend towards pessimism – it is a national pastime. It is only a two horse race and in sport anything can happen. If we can but only stay in touch, we can sneak it at the end as we have done before. Here was a welcome ripple of optimism from the room as I settled down.

From the first whistle, it was clear that England were going to bring brutality to the game. Dan Biggar was public enemy number one and the kick off was perfectly judged for him to receive the ball along with a posse of fired-up large men in white. The video ref probably hadn’t had time to take his seat and get the TV warmed up as it looked mightily like a few no hands tackles were involved.

This set the tone for the first half with the fearsome English defence rocking the Welsh players back at every opportunity. This coupled with expert box kicking from Youngs which meant that the Welsh catchers were receiving man and ball was making me wince. England got the early try they wanted when Watson jinked his way over and I was all but heading for my haven behind the couch. England’s try meister May had to leave the field with a head injury. Rather cynically, England kept the clearly injured May on the field while they got Slade ready to come on as a replacement.

Wales to their great credit stuck to their task manfully and kicked a couple of penalties to stay in the game. England continued to dominate the collisions though and it was no great surprise when they scored their second try when Daly outflanked the Welsh defence. Fortunately for Wales while England have a potent back division, they seem reluctant to use it unless they have a penalty advantage.

A 40^th minute penalty from Biggar meant that at half time Wales were 20-9 behind but still in touch. It could have been a lot worse! In fact, if North had held on to a ball on the English line it could even have been better.

Wales needed a fast start after the interval and by George they got it. Straight from the kick-off some lovely running from Tompkins, scrum half Williams and Tipuric saw Tipuric score under the posts within thirty seconds of the restart. 20-16 and Wales were flying.

Pragmatic England used their forward power to gain a couple of penalties that were duly converted and soon Wales were back to square one at 26-16 with a mountain to climb. Worse was to come as the substitutes’ benches were emptied and England added fresh beef. A powerful surge from England saw Tuilagi score unopposed and England were well clear at 33-16 with twenty minutes to go.

From then on, it was mostly Wales on the offensive with the England defence looking to negate their frenzied attacks. Time was running out as England gave away a raft of penalties with Wales hammering away at their line. The referee lost patience and a yellow card was shown to Genge. Worse still for England, moments later, Tuilagi was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on North. England were down to thirteen men with five minutes or so left. Too little time for a miraculous win but Wales seized the opportunity to run in two tries from Biggar and Tipuric and gain the losing bonus point with the final score 33-30.

In truth, England were the dominant force and, while Wales played some great rugby at times, English power and pragmatism won the day. They win the Triple Crown so congratulations to them. After a brutal encounter, Wales will be battered and bruised and with the Scotland game only a week away there will be some enforced changes that is for sure. The coaching team will have a busy week but I must say there are some encouraging signs that their approach is beginning to look effective.

The two main topics of conversation after the game seemed to be the Marler “bag snatching” incident on Alun Wyn Jones and Eddie’s rant about the red card. True to form, Marler and Eddie are never far from controversy.

Well done to the Wales Under 20’s on their fine victory over their English counterparts. Wales outside half Costelow certainly looks a great prospect.

I was really sad to hear of the passing of Matthew J Watkins. My condolences to his family and friends.

As for Pontypool, my withdrawal symptoms are getting worse. The next match is not until the 21^st March when we take on Tata Steel. With the Six Nations over it will be back down to the important stuff and the battle for promotion with Bargoed. Bargoed’s bonus point victory at Neath in the week leaves then just five points behind Pooler with both having played sixteen games. There is still a lot of rugby to be played with ten games left including “le Crunch” -the Bargoed v Pontypool match. Hold on to your hats it’s going to be some ride!  

Come on Pooler!

Come on Wales!

Wales Wails

After Wales had suffered a rare home defeat to a revitalised French team, emotions ran high amongst the Welsh. There were plenty of “if onlys” and an incredulous “how could the ref only give a knock on” or two hundred as we made our way through the streets of Cardiff. Yes, Wales had lost 23-27 to France in a frantic game with its fair share of controversy.

In the cold light of a windy Sunday morning, you realise that France probably deserved to win. Their defence was strong and their kicking game actually put the Welsh players under pressure. These were the planks of their victory. In contrast, the Welsh kicking game just seemed to present the ball to the French on a plate - the occasional Dan Biggar special apart. It was difficult to discern a game plan for Wales but for France it was plain to see. It seemed that France were becoming old Wales and Wales were becoming a mixture of Scotland and old France before our very eyes. Not a pretty sight!

In truth, France did not create very much but relied on pressure to force Welsh mistakes and the home side duly obliged. A spilt ball from a high kick and an interception accounted for two of the French tries.  The French pack, as always, was strong and aggressive while for some reason Wales’ toughest and most abrasive forward Alun Wyn Jones was seen roaming out on the wing on several occasions.

Yet Wales still could have won this game as they certainly had enough possession and territory but found the French defence, a la Edwards, in their faces making things very difficult. It was all too frantic for Wales with seemingly little control. They ran the ball from their own twenty two but persisted in using countless forward drives when they got near the French line.

The major turning point in the game was probably the interception by Ntamack. It came when Wales had closed the gap to one point at 16-17 and were in the ascendancy in the third quarter. Wales were on the attack and looking dangerous and the next thing you knew Ntamack was sprinting eighty metres or so to score. Wales will also point to the moment when a French knock on denied Adams a try – was it deliberate? If so, it was a penalty try. The officials ruled it was accidental and that was that.

The game ended in disappointment after a promising last gasp attack from Wales fizzled out when Wales were penalised at a ruck. A scuffle broke out amongst the players as the final whistle went – not really what you want to see.

Wales had their share of injuries with North and Adams both needing to be replaced. North seemed to suffer yet another head injury and I wish him and Josh a speedy recovery.

I suspect we will hear the phrase " no need to panic" a few times over the next few days. Pivac and co will have to work some magic to get the team ready and competitive for the visit to Twickenham in a fortnight's time.

There was, however, some good news on a disappointing day. Pontypool had a 0-45 victory at near neighbours Pontypool United in the quarter final of the Ben Francis Cup. Next week Pooler return to league action with the visit of Ystrad Rhondda to Pontypool Park. Neath’s win over Bedwas yesterday means that the race for the Championship title probably now has only two runners: Pontypool and Bargoed. It promises to be tremendous run in from here on in.

All too many rugby clubs were affected by Storm Dennis with horrendous scenes of flooded clubhouses and grounds. I wish you all well on the road to recovery. Indeed, my good wishes goes to everyone who suffered flood damage. It has only happened to me once and I know how just how heartbreaking it is.

So it’s back to the important stuff next weekend while the Welsh team lick their wounds.

Come on Pooler!

Wales Overpowered by Green Energy

Wales travelled to Dublin off the back of a convincing home win against Italy while Ireland had rather scraped home against Scotland. This was an entirely different kettle of fish for Wales and I was mentally prepared for Wales to come down to earth with a bump. I had Ireland to win 26-12 in the sweep before the game and in blustery conditions I saw no reason to think any different on the day. It is not that I am disloyal but I had felt some concerns with the scrum and also the defence in the Italian game as I watched from behind the posts.

So to the match. Ireland proceeded to dominate the first half in terms of territory and possession and Wales had to put in an extraordinary defensive stint to restrict the Irish to just twelve points. Ireland scored two tries both through Welsh defensive lapses – the first by Tompkins allowed Larmour to slip through and the second a knock on from Williams close to the Welsh line with Furlong ploughing over from the resulting scrum. Sandwiched between the two Irish tries, Wales scored a try against the run of play through Williams after some excellent offloading. For Wales to go in at half time only 12-7 down was something of a triumph. They had, however, lost Adams their main try scoring weapon through injury but at least they were still in touch.

Wales needed to start well in the second half but failed to do so. Van der Flier was credited with a try for Ireland after a forward drive close to the Welsh line. The mystery is how the ball ended up over the line when it was clearly grounded short. Wales were now 19-7 down with it all to do.

As we hoped, at last Wales rolled up their sleeves and went to work. It was their turn to dominate territory and possession and they hammered away at the Irish line for ten minutes or more. Parkes got over the line but was adjudged to have lost the ball as he touched it down. Then came the moment that sealed the Welsh fate. They opted for a scrum from a penalty under the Irish posts and were penalised for collapsing the scrum. As momentum changers go, this was as big as it gets. The Irish were elated and the Welsh deflated and there was no way back for Wales. A rejuvenated Ireland marched back down the field and minutes later Conway was crossing for a try in the corner to make it 24-7.

The Irish relaxed with the bonus point secured. Stander was shown a rather belated yellow card for an offence at the ruck. With the last play of the game, Wales salvaged some pride when Tipuric touched down for a try from a forward drive that was converted by Halfpenny. The final score at 24-14 slightly flattered Wales.

This match was much more reminiscent of an Irish Province playing a Welsh Region than the recent internationals. Aside from about ten minutes or so in the second half and the occasional flash here and there, the Irish put a stranglehold on Wales and fully deserved their bonus point win. The Welsh coaching team will have some thinking to do before the next match against the resurgent French in a couple of weeks.

Terrible conditions at Murrayfield led to an awful spectacle as England just managed to beat the Scots 6-13. If ever there was an advertisement for the benefits of a stadium with a roof this was it. France play Italy in Paris today and it is difficult to envisage anything other than a resounding French victory.

Next week we are back to the important stuff! Pontypool travel to Trebanos as they continue their quest to secure promotion to the Premiership. With ten games left and Bargoed hot on their heels they cannot afford to slip up.

Come on Pooler!

Wales Back in the Swim

A great start for Wales with a resounding 42-0 win over the hapless Italians. The Italians were hugely disappointing and made life easy for Wales under their new coaching regime. This makes it really hard to judge where Wales are in terms of preparation for the much tougher games to come.

From my seat at the end of the ground, the Welsh defence did not seem quite so watertight as when Sean Edwards was in charge but, nevertheless, they didn’t concede a single point which speaks for itself.

In attack, Josh Adams continues to collect tries whenever there is a sniff of a chance. New boy Tompkins showed some nice touches and Halfpenny hurried and scurried as he ran the ball back at every opportunity. There were still periods of the game when the attack looked a bit toothless but five tries scored, again, speaks for itself.

The most worrying part of the game was the scrummage which creaked and conceded penalties. This is probably the only area where the Italians gave Wales any trouble. The other teams in the Six Nations would certainly exploit this so perhaps we need to consider a larger tight head prop.

So, all in all, an encouraging start but there will be much sterner tests to come.

I only saw flashes of the Ireland v Scotland across a crowded room but the Scots seemed to be a little unlucky to lose 19-12. Their cause wasn’t helped by Hogg making a pig’s breakfast of touching the ball down over the line with a crucial try up for grabs.

France v. England on Sunday was a full-blooded affair with the French dominating the first half and just about managing to hold out the English in the second half. The French defence was much improved and Sean Edwards has surely had a major part to play in that. The French took their chances to score while a rather cumbersome English attack on the whole did not as the aggressive French defence knocked them back. That England got anywhere close was due to two pieces of individual brilliance from Jonny May.

The first round of matches sees Wales on top having had a far easier ride than the other the other teams. With a quick turnaround before the next matches this should surely be an advantage. On the evidence of the first round, France now look to be favourites and should brush Italy aside next week. Scotland will be really up for it against England at Murrayfield and will be hoping to send the English home to think again. Of course, my focus will be on Dublin where the Welsh will have it all to do. This will be the first real test for Wayne Pivac and wales will need to go up a couple of levels if they are to get anything out of their visit to the Irish capital.

Come on Wales!

Pooler Squeeze Home

A Friday night fixture under floodlights at Pontypool Park is normally something to look forward especially when it is first playing third in the league. Pontypool were entertaining Gwent rivals Bedwas but the weather had misbehaved. Rain was being swept down the pitch by a strong gusting wind. You could tell how bad it was as I took no persuading to make a rare visit to the stand. There were still some hardy souls stationed on the Bank  - they must have had good waterproofs!

Pontypool lost the toss in this vitally important league match and kicked off playing with the elements in the first half. This was one of those games where you really wanted to get a decent lead in the first half and then try and protect it in the second half.  Pontypool needed a good start and, whether it was a consequence of the quick turn around after last Saturday’s titanic struggle against Carmarthen Quins or the absence of a few wise words from absent coach Leighton Jones, they had completely the opposite. The first fifteen minutes or so was a catalogue of errors from the home side. Lineouts went awry, penalties were given away at the scrum and breakdown, the ball was knocked on as Pooler struggled to get to grips with a lively Bedwas outfit. Bedwas looked the more likely to score as they fed off Pooler’s mistakes. This was going to be a tough night for Pontypool as the rain continued to fall.

Pontypool started to play a bit better in the second quarter and worked their way into promising field positions but the crucial pass always seemed to go astray as the awful conditions made any sort of back play high risk. To make matters worse, Pooler lock Gregory received a yellow card on the half hour for an offence at a maul. This was certainly not the first half that the Pontypool faithful wanted and there were plenty of concerned looks as Bedwas continued to play exactly the right tactics against the elements.

As the half drew to a close, strong running Bedwas wing Rees was sin-binned for a high tackle. Powell kicking the ensuing penalty and at least Pooler had some points on the board (3-0). Powell had a chance to double Pooler’s lead with a penalty in injury time but missed narrowly. The narrow half time lead looked very vulnerable with Bedwas playing down the slope with the wind behind them in the second half. This was going to take something special from Pontypool.

The early exchanges in the second half saw Bedwas on the attack but, rather like Pontypool in the first half, they found it difficult to capitalise on good field position. Pontypool brought Leonard on at scrum half and this seemed to inject some energy into their game.  A powerful surge from Coundley in midfield ignited Pontypool’s best passage of play of the night. Good support play and multiple phases resulted in No 8 Ieuan Jones squeezing in for a try in the left corner. The conversion failed but Pontypool were two scores ahead at 8-0.

Both sides made substitutions to bring on fresh legs on this energy-sapping night. Pontypool could be grateful that conditions improved with far less rain as we entered the third quarter. Pontypool seemed to be gaining the ascendancy but conceded two penalties in succession which transformed a promising attacking position into desperate defence. Bedwas were not to be denied and after a series of forward drives flanker Jones crossed for a try under the posts. McIntosh converted and Pooler’s lead had all but disappeared at 8-7.  

The tension mounted as the next score would be vital. Bedwas kicked the ball field using the following wind to gain field position. Pontypool tried to run the ball back at them which often led to errors and much angst in the crowd. Pooler fullback fielded such a kick from Bedwas and put up an up and under. The chase was good and Bedwas knocked on. Substitute home wing Nove grabbed the loose ball and burst clear and sprinted from almost halfway to score near the posts. Powell converted and Pooler had re-established their eight point cushion as we entered the last ten minutes (15-7).

There was a long break in play as Pontypool hooker Ball received treatment. I am pleased to say that he that he managed to walk off the field. When play resumed, the home side looked a little subdued and Bedwas seized the opportunity to attack. Their initial thrusts were repulsed but finally Bedwas wing, Rees, who had been a thorn in Pooler’s side all night, scored a great individual try from a well-judged kick ahead. The conversion failed but Bedwas were back within touching distance at 15-12.

There were a few anxious moments as the game drew to a close but Pooler managed to see them out and we were all delighted to hear the final whistle. Final score: Pontypool 15 Bedwas 12.

This was a gutsy performance from Pontypool who were far from their best at times against a streetwise Bedwas side. The conditions played a big part in the high level of errors but the penalty count against Pontypool remains a cause for concern. Pontypool had to dig deep especially when the after effects of last week’s cup match are considered. Well done boys - a truly hard-earned victory.

Pontypool’s lead over Bargoed is now ten points with Bargoed having a game in hand. It is tight at the top and Pooler’s tough away games at Bedwas and Bargoed will surely decide who wins promotion. The league programme during the Six Nations Championship is nothing like as intensive and Pontypool will be able to recover their mojo in time for the crucial fixtures to come.

Speaking of the Six Nations, I am just about to set off for Cardiff to see what Wales can do against Italy. The first big decision is it brunch or lunch?

Come on Wales!

Come on Pooler!

Pooler Go Agonisingly Close

What a miserable night for a long-anticipated cup tie. A heavy drizzle and a dank mist greeted us at Pontypool Park as we filed into the ground. Pontypool of the Championship were taking on Premiership high fliers Carmarthen Quins in a National Cup quarter final. Both teams were doing well in their respective leagues and it was a classic cup tie – could the team from the lower league use home advantage to topple their higher ranked opponents?

In previous encounters against Premiership opposition Pooler have sometimes had a slow start as they got up to Premiership speed. This was certainly not the case here – a sliced clearance kick by Carmarthen following Pontypool’s kick-off gave the home side good field condition. The lineout was won and the Pontypool backs took over. An excellent strike move saw left wing Thomas join the line at speed and the ball was then shipped out to Lloyd Lewis on the right wing in space. He almost made the line himself but was able to offload the ball to the supporting Pat Lewis who scored in the corner. The conversion failed but Pooler had struck within a minute or so of the start to lead 5-0 – wow!

Almost before Carmarthen could draw breath, Pooler were at it again. An excellent chase by Thomas following an up-and-under from Walsh saw the wing wrestle the ball clear and head for the line. He didn’t quite make it but Meek was on hand to take his offload and score in the left corner. The conversion again was missed but the Pooler faithful were in dreamland with a 10-0 lead in just over five minutes.

The Pooler army was in full voice but there was a more worrying sound and that was the sound of the referee’s whistle as Pontypool started to concede penalties at the breakdown. This allowed the Quins to get a foothold in the game and use their powerful driving lineout to good effect. The Pooler pack did remarkably well to stop the visitors from scoring a try but continued to get on the wrong side of the referee. Two penalties from Carmarthen’s Marshall for Pontypool offences at the ruck meant that, as the first quarter ended, the home side’s lead had shrunk to just four points at 10-6.

This game was going to be close with the visitors’ pragmatic forward dominated kicking game in contrast to Pooler’s desire to run the ball even though conditions were far from ideal. It was role reversal from those classic games between Pooler and Llanelli in years gone by! The Pontypool scrum held up well and the steam rose as the two packs locked horns. It almost looked if the forwards were all vaping!

On the half hour, a kick ahead by Pooler outside half Powell was gathered by Quins. Lock Clarke managed to charge down the attempted clearance kick. Not only that but he also won the race to get to the loose ball and touched down for Pooler’s third try. This time Meek nailed the conversion and Pooler had taken a useful 17-6 lead.

The remaining ten minutes of the first half were nip and tuck with both sides playing at full throttle. Neither side managed to add to their tally and the sides trooped off for a well-earned rest. Half time Pontypool 17 Carmarthen Quins 6.

A great first half from Pontypool playing down the slope but we all knew the game was still very much in the balance. I was certain that the Pontypool team would miss the wise words of Leighton Jones during the half time break. Sadly, Leighton was admitted to hospital a couple of days before the match. We all wish him a speedy recovery.

We knew that Carmarthen would come out firing after the break and that the first ten minutes of the second half would be critical. Pontypool were a little slow to get up to speed and the visitors capitalised on that. A Pontypool lineout on their own twenty two went wrong and the Quins took full toll. For almost the first time in the match, they spread the ball wide which ultimately led to a try for No8 Millin. Marshall converted and, five minutes or so into the second half, the Quins were back within touching distance at 17-13.

The momentum had shifted and Pontypool were suddenly very much on the defensive as Carmarthen’s confidence grew. The Pontypool defence had to work overtime to keep the powerful visitors out as they continued to use tactical kicking and their pack to make ground. The mist thickened and it was difficult to see the width of the field as the two fully committed sides went at each other hammer and tongs. Worryingly, Pontypool continued to leak penalties and the penalty count must have been at least 2:1 in Quins favour. As we approached the hour mark, one such penalty was converted by Marshall and the game was agonisingly poised at 17-16.

Pontypool started to empty their bench. It was a great luxury to have eight replacements instead of the usual five in the Championship. The fresh legs energised the home team and they began to break the Carmarthen stranglehold and go on the attack. We felt that Pontypool needed to score again as Carmarthen would surely create another opportunity. Pooler managed to force Carmarthen into conceding a couple of kickable penalties as the clock wound down to ten minutes to go. Both went close with one even hitting a post but a valuable opportunity to create some breathing space was lost.

Pontypool gave everything that they had left to keep the Quins penned in their own half but with the finishing line in sight Quins finally managed to break out. The visitors powered down the field and a well-judged cross kick was gathered by left wing Newman who crossed for the match winning try. The conversion missed but there was not enough time left for Pontypool to hit back. Final score Pontypool 17 Carmarthen Quins 21.

This was heartbreaking for Pontypool who were in the lead until virtually the last minute. Nevertheless, Pooler gave an excellent account of themselves and gave the powerful Quins a thorough examination. They outscored the Quins three tries to two and but for some wayward kicking could have won. Congratulations to Carmarthen Quins who scored fifteen unanswered points in the second half and showed why they are near the top of the Premiership.

Pontypool now need to regroup and focus on their main objective which is to secure promotion to the Premiership. Next Friday evening will see a vital home game against Bedwas who have started the season well. Pooler know that Bargoed are breathing down their necks in second place and that they cannot afford any slip-ups. Let us hope that the bruised and battered bodies from tonight’s titanic encounter will recover in time. Our thoughts are also with Leighton Jones and praying that he makes a full and speedy recovery.

The Six Nations Championship has crept up on us and kicks off next weekend. Wales take on Italy in Cardiff and all eyes will be on the team that Pivac selects as a new era commences. The back row is where we have an embarrassment of riches and in the centre the situation is the polar opposite. I for one would like to see Faletau back at No8 with Tipuric and Navidi. Popular opinion is that North will play in the centre with Parks – not really my favourite combination but needs must I guess.

Anyway before that we have Pontypool v. Bedwas to look forward to on Friday.

Come on Pooler!

Come on Wales!