Pontypool Edge Gripping Contest

This is what Welsh club rugby is all about. Two teams going at it toe to toe with nothing left in the tank at the end of the contest. So it was that Pontypool entertained Neath in their latest Championship match on a glorious afternoon in Pontypool Park. The recently mown pitch looked perfect and a gentle breeze blew across the pitch. A good crowd had gathered to watch two teams who would surely be slugging it for promotion to the Premiership. You could feel the nervous tension as the kick-off approached.

A poignant minute’s applause for Eddie Butler and ardent Pooler supporter Alan Gwatkin only served to rack up the tension. I think we all knew that, even this early in the season, this was going to be a key fixture.

Neath played down the slope in the first half and, after a brief attacking flurry from Pooler, exerted control on proceedings through their powerful forwards. The visitors dominated the contest both in terms of possession and territory with their set piece looking strong. It took a tremendous effort from the home defence to prevent them from scoring a try. At the end of the first quarter all Neath had to show for all their hard work was a solitary penalty from Williams (0-3).

Tactically there was a striking contrast between the two sides with Neath using a kicking game from their own half and then using their powerful runners to set up scoring opportunities in the Pooler half. On the other hand, Pontypool were looking to put pace on the game and use their three quarters to run at Neath whenever they could. Of course, Pooler needed the ball to do this and possession was in short supply.

Early in the second quarter Pooler drew level from a penalty kicked by Jarvis (3-3) and then attacked from the Neath kick off. The result was a quite brilliant try with well-timed passing by the backs putting runners in space. Smith got to the Neath twenty two before kicking ahead and beating the cover to the touchdown for a try. Jarvis converted from wide out and Pooler held a rather unlikely 10-3 lead.

This lead was short-lived as Neath came storming back. Their forwards rampaged down the field as if they had had been stung by a swarm of wasps. Pontypool could not stop them and scrum half Griffiths dived over for the try that was converted by Williams (10-10).

For the rest of the half, it was again Pooler on the defensive and they held out until the last minute when Neath were awarded a penalty that Williams converted. Neath held a narrow lead at 10-13 when the teams left the field for the half time break.

It was clear that Pontypool would have to step it up if they were going to turn things around in the second half. Whilst they had defended stoutly, they had made too many errors and conceded too many penalties to trouble the well-organised Neath outfit in attack. The coaching staff will have called for a big effort in the second half that was for sure.

Straight from the kick-off, Pontypool went on the attack with the forwards almost taking Neath by surprise with the ferocity of their attacking play. This was what the home fans had been waiting for and they roared their approval. Pooler hammered away at the Neath line and finally Nove plunged over for their second try. The conversion from Jarvis put Pooler back in the lead at 17-13.

Pontypool continued to attack strongly but were hamstrung to an extent by an ever-increasing penalty count as they got on the wrong side of the referee. Eventually their attacking play bore fruit as Jones powered over for a try after a long period camped in the Neath twenty two. Pooler had opened up a 24-13 lead with twenty five minutes remaining.

A loss of concentration from the kick-off lead to a tremendous Neath counterattack. They were stopped just short of the line but it led to a yellow card for Pooler substitute flanker Herbert. Neath continued to press through their forwards and Pooler were repeatedly penalised as they tried to keep them out. In the end the pressure told and Neath scored a try through Crocker that was converted by Crocker (24-20).

The momentum was now clearly with the visitors and soon they were back in the Pooler twenty two. Another flurry of penalties conceded and Pooler were down to thirteen men with a yellow card for Brown. A tremendous defensive effort was ultimately to no avail as Crocker crossed for Neath’s third try for the afternoon. The conversion failed but Neath had stormed back to hold a one point lead with less than fifteen minutes remaining (24-25).

Herbert returned to the field and this was the cue for Pontypool to go on the attack - and how! A huge response followed from the home team roared on by the supporters and Pooler were quickly back on the Neath line. Mahoney crossed for the all important fourth try. The conversion from Jarvis followed and Pontypool were back in front at 31-25.

Pontypool continued to attack and were awarded a penalty which Jarvis failed to convert. Fortunately, from the ensuing drop out he was given another go and this time he did not miss and Pooler now had a nine point lead (34-25) with a few minutes left on the clock.

Neath are made of stern stuff and were soon back on the attack and were rewarded with a try by Welsh international wing Brew in the left corner. The conversion missed narrowly but Neath still had a glimmer of a chance with the score 34-30.

A couple of minutes later, the referee blew the final whistle to the relief of the home fans and Pooler had held on for a hard-earned victory. Final score Pontypool 34 Neath 30.

What a tremendous game of rugby with both sides contributing to a closely fought contest. Pontypool will be mighty glad to come way with a victory that looked unlikely in the first half. They will reflect on their high penalty count and the two yellow cards which could have turned a narrow victory into defeat. This was indeed Welsh club rugby at its best and a fitting epitaph for Eddie Butler who had been involved in many such tussles with Neath over the years. Well done to everyone involved.

I was sad to hear that Ben Jeffreys was stepping down as CEO of Pontypool. He has been a tremendous asset to the club during his tenure. The Jeffreys family have brought stability and success to the club when it was in its darkest hour and Ben has been at the heart of it. He leaves with Pontypool in a good place. Let us hope Pontypool can go the extra mile and gain promotion to the Premiership that has been denied for so long. Best wishes and thanks Ben.

Next week Pontypool entertain Trebanos so there will be no time to relax.

Come on Pooler!

Neon Deon Lights Up Pandy Park

For once it was not pouring with rain when Pontypool visited Cross Keys for their second league match of the season. The sun was shining and Pandy Park was looking a picture nestled under the hillside. Before the game kicked off, there was two minutes silence to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth that was impeccably observed. The silence was also used to mark the passing of Messrs Gladwyn and Horler from Cross Keys and the Pooler stalwart Eddie Butler.

Cross Keys kicked off and got the better of the early exchanges but could not penetrate the Pooler defence. Pooler were penalised several times in kickable positions but the home side opted to kick for the corner. Finally, Pooler broke out and went close on a number of occasions but found the Cross Keys defence in determined mood.

As the first quarter was drawing to a close, Pontypool burst into life with left wing Deon Smith the catalyst. His strong running and intelligent support play played a major part in three tries in the space of five minutes. He bagged the first himself and Lewis was the beneficiary for the second and third. The third try was actually scored straight from a Cross keys kick off when a rampant Pooler threw caution to the wind and ran the ball back. All three tries were ably converted by Jarvis and Pooler had scorched to a 0-21 lead with some brilliant running rugby.

On the half hour, Pontypool added their fourth try when hooker Scarfe was rewarded for his industry when he touched down after some powerful combined play by the Pooler team that was now well in command. Jarvis converted and the score at half time was 0-28 with the bonus point already in the bag.

The second half had only just begun when there was a yellow card for Cross Keys lock Feeney. Shortly afterwards the depleted home scrum was shunted back in a scrum near their own line and conceded a penalty try (0-35).

The replacements started to come on to the field and the game seemed to lose its shape but it was Pooler who remained the dominant force. After a quarter of an hour of the second half Mahoney broke through to score Pooler’s sixth try which was converted by Jarvis (0-42).

Is this a portent of things to come? - we can dream!

The play became a bit scrappy and error strewn with both sides feeling frustrated until Pooler took advantage of the tiring home defence. With ten minutes to go, a try by skipper Herbert who supported a break from Mahoney was just desserts for his industry. The try was converted by substitute goal kicker Mahoney who suffered cramp in the act of kicking (0-49).

There were just a couple of minutes left when the powerful running Jones burst through the home defence and galloped over from thirty metres. Jarvis had returned to the field and converted and Pooler were past the half century (0-56).

In the dying moments, Pooler tried to run the ball from inside their twenty two and it all went horribly wrong. Smith the speedy home wing was on hand to pick up a consolation try for Keys that was converted by Berry. Final score Cross Keys 7 Pontypool 56.

This was another storming away win for Pontypool who at times are playing irresistible rugby. In the end they overwhelmed a Cross Keys side that never gave up trying. Next weekend they will face the challenge of Neath at Pontypool Park. Neath have also started the season in great style so this promises to be a real battle in the style of the matches played between these two powerhouses of Welsh rugby over the years.

It was with great sadness that I heard of the passing of Eddie Butler this week. Those of us of a certain age will remember him in his pomp as a key member of the Pontypool team that were serial winners of the Welsh league titles of the time. He was a fine player with his excellent reading of the game and exceptional handling skills. This brought him the recognition he deserved with Welsh caps and the cherished Welsh captaincy as well as appearing for the British and Irish Lions. More recently he won plaudits as an expert commentator on rugby and figured in many other TV productions. He will be greatly missed. Condolences to his family, rest in peace Eddie.

So next week Pooler go into battle against a resurgent Neath. I can’t wait!

Come on Pooler!   

Pooler Put a Marker Down

We’re off! The Welsh Championship kicked off at last for what may or may not be a season of opportunity for Pontypool. As is stands, there will be two clubs promoted into an expanded Premiership at the end of the season and Pooler have every intention of being one of them. The WRU, however, would like to make changes and reduce the Premiership to 10 clubs in a ring-fenced Premiership. Heigh ho, it always seems to be like this with last minute doubts hanging over the season. Hopefully everyone will see sense and we can proceed with the original plan and an exciting Championship season is in prospect.

Pontypool’s opening match was at Maesteg Quins. A match that was sure to test their mettle after impressive wins in their warm up matches.

There was rain in the air in the Llynfi Valley with a stiff breeze blowing across the pitch that looked like a green carpet as Pooler kicked off. The first ten minutes or so was evenly contested as the two sides took each other’s measure. The Quins looked well organised and as we would expect were highly motivated. Their scrum was powerful and a real test for the Pooler eight.

It was Pooler who broke the deadlock with a burst of scoring which saw them cross for three tries in less than ten minutes as the first quarter came to an end. The first try was scored by Pat Lewis after Pooler had applied huge pressure on the home defence with a series of powerful surges. A couple of minutes later Scarfe went over in the left corner after a planned move from a lineout near the Quins line. The third try was scored by Cochrane who bullocked his way over after more good attacking play from Pooler. The second of the three tries was converted by Jarvis and all of a sudden Pooler had a substantial lead of 0-17.

Quins needed to respond and respond they did. The second quarter was dominated by the home side who camped in the Pontypool twenty two. The Pontypool defence was solid but conceded penalty after penalty which ultimately led to a yellow card for Nove. Try as they may the Quins could not get the score that they deserved as the strong Pooler defence held out until half time.

Pontypool will have been glad to go into the break with their 0-17 lead intact. There was still much work to do.

Quins started the second half well and finally got some points on the scoreboard through a Howe penalty (3-17). Gradually the strength and fitness of the Pontypool players wore the home team down. Pooler managed to put more pace into the game and the gaps started to appear in the home defence. Pooler’s powerful bench was also going to make things difficult as the changes were rung.

After around ten minutes of the second half, Pooler got their bonus point try after crisp handling from the backs saw Nove put fellow wing Smith in in the left corner. The tricky wind was making place kicking difficult and the normally metronomic Jarvis missed his third conversion out of four attempts (3-22).

While the Quins never gave up trying, the final quarter belonged firmly to Pontypool. As the quarter began, powerful surges by Sweet and Jones saw the supporting replacement scrum half Babos grab a try. This was converted and the Pontypool lead was now stretched to 3-29.

Ten minutes later Price galloped thirty metres or so to score after a charged down kick. Jarvis had found his kicking boots and converted (3-36). Sadly, Price damaged his shoulder and was forced to leave the field.

With a few minutes left Mahoney burst through a tired defence for Pooler’s seventh try again converted by Jarvis (3-43). There was still time for Babos to score his second try from a tapped penalty and the Jarvis conversion brought up the half century as the final whistle blew. Final score Maesteg Quins 3: Pontypool 50.

Pontypool must be well satisfied with this opening salvo. An opening fixture at Maesteg Quins in the rain was never going to be easy and the final score is surely hard on the home side who for a substantial period of the game were on top. Pontypool did a lot of good things but will know there is room for improvement with even tougher assignments down the road. When Pooler manage to get their offloading game going they look formidable that’s for sure.

Well done to everyone for a great start to the season.

Come on Pooler!