Pontypool’s first
warm up game before the start of what should be a really competitive new season
was at Bristol based Dings Crusaders. The Crusaders have a magnificent set up
with large modern clubhouse and three rugby pitches on the outskirts of
Bristol. It was a really warm summer afternoon and the match was played on an
artificial pitch so all was set for an entertaining encounter. The game was
played as three periods with copious substitutions which were quite difficult
to keep track of.
The first twenty minutes
were scrappy as both sides found their feet. Pontypool took time to acclimatize
to the conditions and the foibles of the referee and gave away too many
penalties. Dings were probably looking the more likely to score but the Pontypool
defence was strong and rebuffed all their efforts.
All this changed
when Pooler scored a brilliant try from their own twenty two when good passing
gave the threequarters a chance to run. After some excellent support play, it
was Garin Price who got the touch down for a try that was converted by Jarvis
(0-7). A few minutes later the Pooler backs again found the left edge and this
time it was Lewis who scored after a dummy following excellent running (0-12).
The forwards were also
beginning to get the upper hand and the first period ended with two tries from
the pack with Scarfe and Matthews touching down. Neither try was converted but
Pooler were well on top at 0-22.
The second period
saw much of the same from a now completely dominant Pontypool side. Both sides
made substitutions but the outcome remained the same. Pooler continued to rack
up the points as the home side struggled to contain their all-action style. It
really was brilliant stuff at times from Pooler as they hit their straps after
the long lay off. Forward power led to tries by Sweet and Price. Excellent offloading
and linking between forwards and backs led to tries for Davies, Stratton and
Thomas. Jarvis found his kicking boots and converted four of the five tries and
the score had sped to 0-55.
Understandably in
the third period on such a hot day Pooler’s performance fell away a bit and let
the home side back into the game. Substitutes came and went and the game became
much more of a contest. Dings scored two converted tries as their pack gained a
foothold in the Pooler twenty two and closed the gap to 14-55.
This stung Pooler
into action and they responded with tries from Babos and a second for Davies
both converted by Jarvis to stretch the lead to 14-69. It was left to the home
side to bring the curtain down on proceedings with a try from a driving maul.
Final score Dings Crusaders 21 Pontypool 69.
This really was a
fantastic opening salvo from Pontypool with new and existing squad members joining
together to play rugby that was breathtaking at times. Yes, there are far
tougher encounters coming up down the line when conditions will be far more
difficult but this was a great start.
The next test will
be a friendly at Llandovery next Saturday who will surely prove to be much stiffer
opposition.
It’s great to be
back!
Come on Pooler!
