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!

The Pooler Points Machine Rolls On

For various reasons, I have missed the last three Pooler games which has been hard to bear. Of course, I kept up with the scores and I knew that they had recorded three victories but when I asked I was told that Pooler had been playing “pretty well”. If “pretty well” means three fifty point plus victories scoring 29 tries and amassing 193 points what would they do if we played really well? For the record, the scores were Cross Keys 3 Pontypool 54, Beddau 12  Pontypool 62 and Pontypool 77 Ystalyfera 8. A fantastic set of results that keeps the Pooler points machine rolling on.

My return to the fold was to watch Pontypool play Neath at the Gnoll. This was never a place for the faint hearted and I have watched many fine Pooler teams come unstuck against the Welsh All Blacks in the past. Times have changed of course and both teams find themselves in the Championship and facing a tough battle to return to the Premiership. Neath’s financial problems are well-documented and they are very much in a rebuilding phase after relegation last season. Nevertheless, table-topping Pontypool were expecting a tough examination.

On a bright sunny afternoon, things started well for Pontypool when after five minutes or so right wing, Lloyd Lewis, popped up in mid field to make good ground. The ball was moved right and there was hooker Hughes on the right wing to receive the scoring pass and touch down in the corner. Meek converted and Pooler had drawn first blood at 0-7.

Pontypool were looking lively and moving the ball at every opportunity. After a quarter of an hour they added to their tally and this time it was Hughes who made the bust. The predatory Herbert was on his shoulder and received the off-load to canter the twenty metres to the line. Meek converted and Pooler had doubled their lead to 0-14.

Hughes breaks, Herbert in support

Everything in the garden looked rosy for Pontypool apart from the scrums. The scrums were a shambles with virtually every scrum ending up in a pile-up on the ground. It was not helped by the disparity in the height of the two front rows but still the referee did not seem to have a solution apart from to penalise one team or the other after a series of resets. It certainly did not add to the afternoon’s entertainment that is for sure. From such a scrum penalty, Neath gained good field position and after a series of lineout drives managed to get on the scoreboard when Griggs powered over near the posts. Rees converted and Neath had clearly signalled that they were not about to go away (7-14).

On the half hour, Pontypool hit back with Walsh crossing for a try after some brilliant running and handling by backs and forwards. The conversion was good and Pooler were back in command at 7-21.

A few minutes later Pooler lost the services of influential lock, Clarke, through injury and brought on flanker Stratton as a replacement with No 8 Jones moving to the second row. As the first half drew to a close Pontypool were awarded a penalty. Powell kicked for the corner and the Pontypool driving lineout came up trumps with Jones getting the try. Another excellent conversion by Meek saw Pontypool go to the half time break with a substantial lead and the try bonus point secured. HT score: Neath 7 Pontypool 28.

Pontypool were on the attack at the start of the second half and battered away at the Neath line for five minutes or so until centre, Pat Lewis, found the way through the hardworking Neath defence. Meek converted to give Pontypool what was surely a match winning lead at 7-35.

The scrums continued to be a problem for both sides and the referee seemed to be awarding alternating penalties as he struggled to make the scrums work. Neath again got good field position and showed what they could do with a period of sustained pressure. The Pontypool defence was finally breached when left wing, Roberts, squeezed in for a try in the left corner. The conversion failed but Neath were into double figures at 12-35.

An all too familiar sight

Any thoughts of a Neath comeback were scuppered by a yellow card for Barley and two bits of great play from Meek. With a quarter of an hour to go, he made a neat break on the Neath twenty two and fed his fellow centre Barnett who scored Pontypool’s sixth try which Meek converted (12-42). Minutes later Meek made a scything break on the halfway line. The cover defence got back to tackle him before he got to the line but the support arrived for replacement scrum half, Quick, to score a try in the corner. Although the conversion missed narrowly, Pooler were approaching the half-century at 12-47.

With the last play of the game, Pontypool broke the fifty point barrier yet again. Brilliant interpassing between the back row and Quick saw Quick score his second try of the match. Meek converted giving a final score of Neath 12 Pontypool 54.

Another good victory for Pontypool against doughty opposition. It keeps them at the top of the Championship and maintains the unbeaten run. Bargoed in second place are keeping up the pressure, however, and every point is precious for both sides as they move towards an end of season showdown. While Pooler currently have an eleven point lead, Bargoed have a game in hand and with Pooler yet to visit Bargoed it is still very much nip and tuck. There is no room for even a missed bonus point!

Next week Pontypool face the daunting challenge of high-flying Premiership team Carmarthen Quins in the National Cup. Those of us who watched the Quins, playing with fourteen men for most of the game, demolish Premiership leaders Cardiff RFC on the TV on Friday evening could see what a threat they pose. A strong pack and a great kick and chase game kept Cardiff under pressure for long periods in difficult conditions. This is a big step up for Pooler despite having home advantage.

The Six Nations Championship is just around the corner and it is good to see some new faces in the Welsh Squad. Italy at home as the first match is probably the best chance for Pivac to get off to a winning start with tough games in Dublin and Twickenham on the horizon. His first selection will be illuminating.

Congratulations to the Dragons and Scarlets for getting through to the quarter finals of the European Challenge Cup. The Champions Cup remains out of reach for our regions unless some of the Saracens players fancy a change of scenery.

So on to the cup quarter final for Pontypool next Saturday evening in a televised game. Of course, the most important thing this season is the battle for promotion, but wouldn’t it be nice……

Come on Pooler!