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!