Pooler Get Their Mojo Back

Things are very tight at the top of the Championship with Pontypool, Neath and Bargoed currently setting the pace in the race for the two promotion places to the Premiership that are available. Pontypool have a slight edge as they have yet to face defeat although they came mighty close to that against Ystrad Rhondda last weekend. You really do get the feeling that the current top three sides will be battling it out to the death until the end of the season. Of course, we can never rule out the WRU throwing a spanner in the works and changing the rules at the last moment.

It was in this context that Pontypool visited Glamorgan Wanderers knowing that they needed a convincing victory to keep the pressure on in the Championship race. A good sized crowd, with Pooler fans in the majority, had gathered at the Memorial Ground in Ely on a dull unseasonably warm afternoon.

Glamorgan Wanderers kicked off and exerted some early pressure but Pooler quickly gained control. Sweet opened Pooler’s account after five minutes or so when he brushed defenders aside to gallop over for a try. Jarvis converted and Pooler were looking hungry for more (0-7)

Pooler continued to attack for the rest of the first quarter but found the Wanderers defence difficult to crack. Their cause was not helped by a misfiring lineout and the odd mistake as they worked to get their high speed offloading game going. Towards the end of the quarter the Wanderers lost Wootton to a yellow card for an offence at a ruck.

As seems to be often the case, Pooler cut loose in the second quarter and played some scintillating rugby as the backs and forwards often weaved bewildering patterns with top class support play. They scored four converted tries to build an unassailable lead. Anderson scored a try to start the ball rolling (0-14). This was followed a few minutes later by Fleming-Jones touching down from a concerted forward drive (0-21).

There was scarcely time to draw beath before Smith was racing down the left wing. He kicked ahead just before he was tackled and Lewis won the chase to touch down for Pooler’s bonus point try (0-28). There was still time for a surging break by Lewis that found Babos, running the classic scrum half support line, to receive his pass and cross for Pooler’s fifth try. The remarkably accurate boot of Jarvis had converted all five of Pooler’s tries and at half time they held a comfortable 0-35 lead.

Pooler started the second half in a similar vein when after a couple of minutes Sweet rounded off an excellent team try that Jarvis converted (0-42) Ten minutes later Fleming-Jones scored his second try of the afternoon from a lineout close to the Wanderers’ line. A rare sight indeed saw the conversion from Jarvis just fail (0-47)

The next twenty minutes saw both teams emptying their benches and this seemed to have a positive effect on the home side who stepped up their defensive effort and managed to apply pressure on Pontypool in attack. Pooler’s attacking efforts became a little disjointed but their defence was still watertight.

With ten minutes to go Pooler finally broke out with another fine try started from within their own twenty two. Some great passing and support play saw Mahoney score and Jarvis convert to bring up the half century (0-54).

Shortly afterwards, Pooler’s Powell was sinbinned for a late tackle as the home side pressed. There then followed a series of inconclusive scrums to everyone’s frustration. The referee wisely chose that moment to blow for time a few minutes early on my watch. Final score Glamorgan Wanderers 0 : Pontypool 54.

This was much more like it from Pontypool with some superb open rugby that cut the Glamorgan Wanderers’ defence to ribbons at times. It is a timely return to form with the crunch game against Bargoed just two weeks away. Pontypool will have home advantage and must make that pay against key rivals.

There is no game for Pontypool next week as Wales will be taking on the All Blacks in Cardiff. The All Blacks have looked a little more vulnerable than normal but still set the benchmark for successful test rugby. The Wales team selection will be the subject of much debate but whoever plays let’s hope we can put on a good show and maybe, just maybe…..

Congratulations to the Dragons who look like they are managing to turn things around. Of course, they have had many false dawns but it would be nice to see them challenging to be the top Welsh Region – not that that is a particularly lofty aim at present.

Come on Pooler!

Come on Wales!

Pooler Squeeze Home by the Skin of their Teeth

There are few better places to see the trees in their autumn colours than Pontypool Park. Even though it was a grey day with rain threatening the Park looked a picture. Pontypool entertained Ystrad Rhondda in their latest Championship match and, on recent form, few expected other than a Pontypool victory. As we all know, in a two horse race it is often not as simple as that.

Pontypool kicked off playing up the slope in the first half and played some enterprising rugby for the opening minutes but failed to make any impact on the scoreboard. It was very soon evident that Ystrad Rhondda were a well-organised and highly motivated team who had come to Pontypool to take the spoils. Nevertheless, it was Pontypool who scored first when Ieuan Jones broke from a five metre scrum to power over after about a quarter an hour of highly competitive rugby. Jarvis converted to give the home side a 7-0 advantage.

Ystrad Rhondda had much the better of the rest of the first half. Pooler failed to make much impact on a well disciplined defence and the Ystrad Rhondda backs looked the livelier in attack. The scrums were a real thorn in the referee’s side as virtually every one of many had to be reset.

Ystrad’s kicking game was also more effective and it was from a loose Pontypool kick that the away team’s winger Webber ran the ball back from within his own twenty two. The cover finally got to him after a mazy run but he was able to kick ahead and the chasing Rowley got the ball down for a try. Although the try was unconverted, you could sense that Ystrad’s confidence had been boosted (7-5).

With Pooler unable to string much rugby together in the second quarter, Ystrad took full advantage with a penalty from Truelove and just before half time scored a well-constructed try by Morgan which was converted by Truelove. This gave the visitors a fully deserved 7-15 lead at the interval.

No doubt with the coaching team’s advice ringing in their ears, Pooler came out for the second half having made no less than four changes to their line up. The one thing they needed to do was to get off to a good start but exactly the opposite happened. The visitors ran back another loose Pontypool clearing kick and Morgan went over for his second try in the right corner. An excellent conversion from Truelove gave Ystrad a commanding 7-22 lead.

Pontypool had to respond quickly and that is exactly what they did. A few minutes later they were hammering away at the visitor’s try line. A yellow card for Ystrad’s Davies certainly helped as Pooler drove a lineout and Matthews plunged over for a try. The conversion from Jarvis sailed between the posts and Pooler were back in touch at 14-22 with more than half an hour remaining.

A few minutes later, however, Truelove landed another penalty to give the away side an eleven point lead at 14-25. This was going to hard going for a disjointed Pooler team.

The rest of the game was really dominated by Pooler’s increasingly desperate attempts to try and crack a strong Ystrad defence which gave them little breathing space. As the minutes clicked down, so Pooler’s efforts became more and more frantic and their error count increased. The Pooler supporters were beginning to give up hope as we got into the last ten minutes.

Pooler continued to attack and Ystrad began to leak penalties which Pooler used to keep the pressure on with kicks for the corner. After some powerful driving by the forwards, Matthews finally managed to touch the ball down for a try which Jarvis converted. The Ystrad lead had been cut to just four points with little time remaining.  They would, however, be without Williams who was yellow carded due to the high penalty count.

The crowd really got behind the home team and Pooler responded by taking play back to deep within the Ystrad twenty two. Pooler continued to use their forwards to drive and more penalties were awarded against the away team. Eventually, the referee had seen enough and awarded Pontypool a penalty try. Pooler had taken the lead in the dying minutes (28-25) when it looked like they had been heading for defeat.

The disappointment was all too much for Ystrad’s Morgan who argued just a little too vehemently with the referee and was shown a red card. The visitors were down to thirteen men but such had been their fighting qualities you would still not put it past them to sneak a draw with a last gasp penalty. Pooler however were not about to let this one slip. Full time Pontypool 28 : Ystrad Rhondda 25.

This was a real tough test for Pontypool against highly motivated and skilful opposition. For most of the match the visitors looked the better side and can consider themselves unlucky not to come away with a victory. The well prepared Ystrad defence did not allow Pooler any room to play the expansive rugby that they would like to play. No doubt there will plenty of analysis done on the whys and wherefores of a disappointing performance in the Pontypool training sessions.

Pooler can take solace from a fighting comeback and a bonus point victory in a league where every single point is precious in the race for promotion. So well done for that.

Next up for Pooler is a visit to Glamorgan Wanderers next Saturday. Pooler can expect another stern examination of their promotion credentials there.

Come on Pooler!

Pontypool Breeze Through in the Cup

I must confess that, due to domestic commitments, I did not make the trip down to Narberth to watch Pontypool in the first round of the WRU Championship Cup. It does seem a bit strange to have a cup competition that is limited to one division of a league. I understand that it is for health and safety reasons but it was always part of the romance of the cup that the smaller clubs got a chance to test their mettle against the big boys. Who can forget Penclawdd beating Newport? – not many of the older Pooler fans I warrant.

I kept in touch with proceedings in Narberth via the excellent flow of tweets and then read Ray’s comprehensive match report. By all accounts, this was a classic “wind game”. Pooler “won” the first half 3-38 playing with the wind and then Narberth “won” the second half 21-7 when they got their turn. This resulted in a final score of Narberth 24 Pontypool 45 with Pooler scoring seven tries. Any away win at Narberth is a great result and Pooler now find themselves in the quarter final.

I did watch a bit of rugby on the TV and really enjoyed the local derby between Gloucester and Bristol Bears. It was real nail-biting stuff with Gloucester just edging it. This was certainly a better watch than Cardiff v. the Dragons although admittedly I did know the final score in this match before I watched it. There was a decent win for the Scarlets in front of a sparse crowd and a hard fought draw for the Ospreys against the Sharks. Professional rugby is in turmoil in England and Wales with the finances just not adding up. Does that sound familiar? - perhaps we can get Kwasi Kwarteng in to help.

Times are also tough in the community game in Wales with many clubs not being able to raise a team on a Saturday. For Pontypool, this meant no game against Tata Steel last weekend which is a real shame. The sad reality is that consideration will have to be given to clubs in close proximity amalgamating. This will mean that a history of close rivalry may have to be laid aside. I can only imagine how difficult and emotive this might be.

The Welsh women had a narrow victory against Scotland in the World Cup but had a harsh reality check when New Zealand thumped them by fifty points overnight. The final pool game against Australia will be crucial if they are to progress.

Next Saturday Pooler are back in league action with Ystrad Rhondda the visitors to Pontypool Park. Ystrad have proved lively opponents over the years particularly on their own patch. Let us hope for decent weather and an entertaining encounter. The Championship is going to be a close run race and Pooler cannot afford to drop a single point even at this stage of the season.

Come on Pooler!

Pooler Pile up the Points

There was a different atmosphere at Pontypool Park from the battle against Neath the previous Saturday. Pooler were entertaining Trebanos one of the clubs at the bottom of the Championship. Few expected anything other than a convincing Pontypool victory but of course you never know. Pooler had taken the opportunity to make a number of changes so that other players in their talented squad got game time.

The weather could not quite decide whether it was hot or cool and dry or wet. I suppose a typical autumn day with the trees just starting to don their autumn hues. There cannot be many more picturesque grounds that Pontypool Park in the autumn.

Right, so to the match. Trebanos made a lively start as Pooler started in low gear playing up the slope. It was, however, Pooler who struck first after about a quarter of an hour with a try from a driving lineout. Debutant hooker Jenkins got the touchdown and the try was duly converted by Jarvis (7-0). Trebanos hit back with a fine long range penalty by Hawkins as the first quarter drew to a close (3-7). At this stage there were no obvious signs of the carnage that was to follow.

In the second quarter, Pontypool cut loose scoring no fewer than five tries as they ran the ball at every opportunity. Skipper Herbert started things off with a powerful break and the supporting players did the rest for Jarvis to touch down and then convert (14-3). Next it was the turn of Smith to show his power as he burst through the defence for a try again converted by Jarvis (21-3).

A few minutes later it was the complete Pooler back row that thundered down the field with Stratton crossing for the bonus point try which was converted by Jarvis (28-3). In a frenetic couple minutes at the end of the half, Pooler continued to pile on the agony for Trebanos as their backs showed their pace resulting in tries for Nove and Jarvis both of which were converted by Jarvis. With the half time score at 42-3 you wondered what the final score could be as this was a clear mismatch.

The second half continued in a much similar fashion with, despite the brave efforts of the Trebanos defence, the Pooler penalty count being the only brake on their scoring potential. Stratton scored his second try as he just about managed to get to the line after a thirty metre or so gallop which sadly resulted in him being injured (47-3) .

Points continued to pile up at the rate of a point a minute as Trebanos wilted and the strong home bench was utilised. An interception by Langdon saw him cruise in for Pooler’s eighth try that was again converted and brought up the half century (54-3).

An astute cross field kick over a bunch of players having a bit of an argument found Nove. He passed inside to the supporting Jenkins who tried to return the favour. Somehow the ball ended up in Jenkins’ arms and he dotted the ball down for his second try. The conversion brought the score to 61-3 at the end of the third quarter and if this was a boxing match the referee with stop the fight.

Pooler kept going relentlessly and piled on the agony with a further three tries. Nove grabbed his second and then Regan scored from a scrum five on the Trebanos line (75-3). There were players from both sides suffering from cramp as the match had been played at a high pace. One player who certainly did not have cramp was replacement back row forward Price who showed an excellent turn of speed when he received the ball on the right wing. His try from close to the half way line and the subsequent conversion brought proceedings to a close with the final score Pontypool 82 Trebanos 3.

Whilst Trebanos never stopped trying, this was a clear mis match and is the third time that Pontypool have topped fifty points in four outings this season. This puts them firmly at the top of the Championship table as the only undefeated team. There will be tougher matches down the road that is for sure but Pontypool can be well satisfied with their start to the season.

Next week Pooler are due to visit struggling Tata Steel. Tata Steel suffered the ignominy of losing by a hundred points to Cross Keys on Saturday. Since Pooler beat Cross keys by fifty points or more you have to wonder about what will happen in what appears to be another mismatch.

I did catch a bit of regional rugby over the weekend and witnessed disappointing displays from Cardiff and the Scarlets both of whom lost games they should probably be winning. The Dragons at least played with fire and not a little skill as they were narrowly beaten by the Sharks. Regional rugby is in turmoil – somebody needs to get a grip!

I look forward to my weekly dose of Pooler and let others argue the toss about the professional game which seems to be getting less and less appealing.

Come on Pooler!