The Great Entertainers

A visit to the Cyncoed Campus of Cardiff Met University on a sunny spring day usually means that we can anticipate a high scoring and close game of rugby when the home team host Pontypool. A goodly crowd looked forward to the afternoon’s entertainment.

Things started badly for Pontypool with full back Davies sin binned in the first couple of minutes for a deliberate knock on. Despite being shorthanded Pontypool got the better of the early exchanges and in the eighth minute opened the scoring with a try from Price after sustained pressure in the Cardiff Met twenty two. Jarvis converted and Pooler had opened up a 0-7 lead.

It was now the home team’s turn to attack as they dominated territory and possession. The Pooler defence was made of stern stuff and managed to keep the students at bay despite several close calls. On the half hour Pooler finally managed to break the stranglehold and kicked for the left corner when they were awarded a penalty. A powerful lineout drive saw Hughes touch down for a try that was converted by Jarvis (0-14).

Just before halftime, some good interplay between forwards and backs saw Sweet power through a gap to score near the posts. Jarvis converted and Pooler had a rather flattering 0-21 half time lead against the lively students.

21-0 may seem a substantial lead but, against the students, past experience has shown that they can score quickly if they get some momentum. The game was far from over.

This was borne out when straight from the kick off the students grabbed the ball in their own half and with a couple of passes put McVeigh in for a try. A touchline conversion from Roderick-Evans and Cardiff Met were back in the game (7-21).

Pontypool’s response was immediate with flanker Herbert who was having a great game storming over from thirty metres when he appeared in the three quarters. The conversion from Jarvis restored Pooler’s twenty one point advantage at (7-28) with the bonus point in the bag.

Cardiff Met began to get on top and with their dangerous runners proving a real handful for Pontypool. Herbert was Pooler’s saviour on a number of occasions as he forced turnovers at the breakdown. After about quarter of an hour of the second half the Pooler defence was left spreadeagled by a dazzling fifty metre run by Met left wing Zheng. The try was converted from the touchline and the gap had closed to 14-28.

The Pontypool fans were starting to feel a little nervous as the home side continued to press. Cardiff Met used their bench to inject more energy while Pooler were content to stick with their starting fifteen. As we approached the end of the third quarter, Jarvis penalty put Pontypool more that two scores ahead at 14-31 and gave Pooler some breathing space.

This lead was cut a few minutes later when Met No8 Locke picked up and scored from a five metre scrum. The conversion was successful and it was now 21—31 with a quarter of the game left.  Cue more nail biting as the students continued to look dangerous every time they had the ball.

With around ten minutes to go Pooler hooker Hughes suffered a serious ankle injury and was carried off the field. My best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Finally Pontypool used their bench but a yellow card for Matthews certainly did not help their cause. Time was running out for the students when they attacked down the right wing and approached the Pooler line. Davies made a very timely interception and sprinted down the touchline to beat the chasing Met players and score in the corner. The conversion missed narrowly but this was the final play of an all action game and left the final score at 21-39.

As always this was an entertaining spectacle in ideal conditions. Cardiff Met never know when they are beaten and gave Pooler a scare as they pressed in the second half. Well done to both teams for a great game.

It looks like this will be Pooler’s last game of a strange season. It has been very much stop-start with the effects of Covid affecting it badly. Quite a few teams will not complete their fixtures including Pontypool so the league table is not a true reflection of the strength of the teams. I do think that Bargoed have shown themselves to be the best team with only one loss over the course of the season and a convincing win over Pontypool.

I won’t bring down the shutters on the season just yet as a rearranged fixture might yet be possible although time is running out.

Well done Pooler. We go again!