Pooler Prevail in Another Gripping Contest

Wins for the away side at Bargoed are as rare as hen’s teeth these days so it was with a degree of trepidation that we made the trip to Bargoed Park to support Pontypool in their Welsh Championship Cup quarter final match. Pontypool and Bargoed have a powerful rivalry and are two of the main protagonists in the fight for promotion to the Premiership this season. This cup tie was a chance to gauge the relative strengths of the teams with an eye on the future league encounter.

Pontypool kicked off on a cool but dry afternoon with the pitch in decent condition considering the recent heavy frosts. Pooler had the better of the early exchanges but found the Bargoed defence strong and well-organised.  Eventually Pooler were penalised and it was Bargoed’s turn to try out the Pooler defence which was equally unyielding.

Matters changed after fifteen minutes, however, when Pooler captain Herbert was given a yellow card for a tip tackle. To the Pooler faithful this was a marginal decision but there were no slow motion replays for the referee to look at. Ironically with all the talk of tackling below the waist, this was the consequence of a powerful low tackle.

Bargoed took full advantage of their numerical supremacy and minutes later Thomas powered over for a try after strong driving from the home forwards. Jones converted and it was first blood to Bargoed (7-0). Bargoed continued to press and a speculative cross kick found Pooler fullback Anderson rather isolated near his try line. He tried to gather but only succeeded in knocking the ball on. This was seen as a deliberate knock-on which earned Anderson a yellow card and Bargoed a penalty try. Pooler were down 14-0 and for a short period down to thirteen men.

With the return of Herbert, Pooler found inspiration and responded strongly. With five minutes or so of the first half remaining strong work by the Pooler forwards saw Davies squirm his way through a pile of bodies to score. Leadbetter, the Bargoed scrumhalf, over reacted and was given a yellow card for his trouble. Jarvis converted the try and it was now 14-7 with Pooler sensing an opportunity to get back into the game.

Minutes later, a powerful scrum by Pooler put them on the front foot. The ball was spread wide for Anderson to score in the right corner. An excellent conversion from Jarvis tied the scores up at 14-14. Pooler had bounced back rather like in the home league game earlier in the season.

As  time ran out in the first half, Bargoed crept back into the lead with a well-taken penalty from Jones (17-14). This was proving to be another epic encounter between the two teams and it was anyone’s match.

The second half started with an exchange of penalties so Bargoed retained their slender lead (20-17). Not long after that the substitutions started – in a cup game eight substitutes were available so there were more choices available to the coaches.

Pontypool by now were getting the upper hand and looked the more likely team to score. As they pressed, they conceded rather too many penalties which gave the home side respite as Pooler ramped up the pressure. The Bargoed defence soaked up the pressure as time ticked on and this really was the tough, uncompromising battle that we had expected.

At last, with less than ten minutes to go, Pooler cracked the Bargoed defence . After tremendous pressure from the forwards, it was Lloyd who got the important touchdown. Jarvis converted and Pooler were in the lead for the first time (20-24).

Pontypool continued to press and, with five minutes or so left, declined a kickable penalty in favour of an attacking lineout. We wondered about the wisdom of this decision but Pooler proved us wrong when from the lineout Matthews scored a try as the forwards paved the way with a driving maul. Jarvis narrowly missed the conversion but still Pooler had a nine point lead and some breathing space at 20-29.

With little time left Pooler conceded a penalty and Bargoed chose to take the points with Jones converting (23-29). This left Bargoed a ghost of a chance of taking the spoils with a converted try but, despite an anxious moment or two, Pooler were able to see it through. Final score Bargoed 23 : Pontypool 29.

This was another titanic struggle between two sides who know each other well. Pontypool earned a deserved victory as they finished the stronger despite early setbacks. They will now move on to the semi-final and it doesn’t get any easier as they are drawn to play Neath at a neutral venue.

Talking of tough matches, next weekend Wales take on Ireland in the opening match of the Six Nations Championship. Ireland are very much the form team and, even with Gatland back at the helm, Ireland will be firm favourites to win. Team selection will be interesting as Gatland will be searching for the best combination in the back row and in the centres particularly.

Welsh rugby is certainly under a cloud at the moment with controversy abounding. I really don’t know where we go from here but something has to change and quickly. The basic structure of four professional teams and a separate league pyramid for semi-pro and amateurs seems right even if the number of teams may need to be adjusted to suit finances in future. What is wrong is how all this is governed and why there is constant change when stability is key. Don’t ask me how it should be resolved but there must be a model out there somewhere which would suit Wales.

I suppose what matters to me most at the moment is to be able to watch matches like the one yesterday on a Saturday afternoon come rain or shine . Of course, I will continue to support the Welsh team and fervently hope that can upset the odds against Ireland next Saturday.

Pontypool’s next match will be at home against Narberth in a couple of weeks as they continue their quest to gain promotion.

Come on Pooler!

Come on Wales!     

Pooler Make it a Perfect Ten

It had been raining cats and dogs most of the week and at times as I watched pictures of people suffering the misery of floods all over Wales on the TV. My heart went out to them but at the same time I rather selfishly began to wonder whether the Pooler game would be played on the Saturday.

As it turned out, the match was on and the pitch was in surprisingly good condition in Pontypool Park even though the Afon Llwyd was in full spate. Yes, the pitch was heavy and there was a biting breeze blowing down the ground but we were going to get a game of rugby. Pooler were playing Maesteg Quins and were hoping to keep their unbeaten record unblemished on a day when the other two main promotion contenders, Bargoed and Neath, were locking horns with each other.

Pontypool were playing in blue shirts and were playing up the slope in the first half with the wind in their faces and started brightly with some enterprising rugby. They burst into the Quins twenty two and after some well executed back play put right wing Powell in space and he galloped over for a try within five minutes of the kickoff. Jarvis converted and Pooler had the early score they wanted and a 7-0 lead.

Conditions were challenging but it was clear that Pooler had the upper hand but equally clear that the Quins were not about to make things easy. With the wind behind them, the away team’s lengthy clearing kicks made sure of that. The Quins were conceding a lot of penalties which meant that Pontypool were able to maintain the pressure. The Pooler forwards battered their way to the Quins line before releasing the backs for Anderson to put Nove in for a try in the left corner. The conversion failed but Ronan from the Quins collected a yellow card as the fall guy for the large number of penalties conceded. (12-0)

Try as they might Pooler could not make the extra man reap dividends on the scoreboard. Now it was Pooler who were giving away too many penalties. Indeed, it was Maesteg who scored next with a penalty from Howe on the half hour (12-3)

As the half drew to a close, a long-range penalty attempt by Howe missed and Pooler went on the attack from well within their own half. Sweet made a powerful surge and offloaded the ball to Stratton. The Pooler flanker showed a fine turn of speed to outpace the Quins defence and score a try in the right corner. Jarvis converted and Pooler went into the interval with a very satisfactory 19-3 lead and three tries in the bag.

Pooler started the second half with all guns blazing. A tremendous run by Powell found Herbert in support for the flanker to score Pooler’s bonus point try. Jarvis converted and Pooler had opened up a 26-3 lead. Shortly afterwards, the lively Sweet charged down an attempted Quins clearance kick and gathered the ball to score near the posts. With the Jarvis conversion Pooler now led 33-3 with more than half an hour remaining.

Pontypool playing in blue

Maesteg Quins certainly did not let their heads go down and maintained a solid defensive effort. The Pontypool backs, however, were getting a lot of good possession and were moving the ball as often as they could. Around the hour mark, Pooler struck with two tries in a couple of minutes. The first was scored by Nove in the left corner after some slick passing by the threequarters. The second saw a Jarvis grubber kick that bounced awkwardly over the Quins try line touched down by Langdon. Jarvis converted both and the score was now 47-3.

With ten minutes left Pooler scored their eighth try of the afternoon. Some powerful running from substitute centre Duon Thomas, allowed Nove to cross for his third try. Again, Jarvis converted and the half century was up (54-3).

The Quins had the better of the last few minutes as Pooler conceded too many penalties. The stingy Pooler defence was not about to concede a try so the Quins were unable to get the score that their gutsy performance perhaps deserved. Final score Pontypool 54- Maesteg Quins 3.

Another powerful display by Pontypool with the result never really in doubt. They scored some brilliant tries in testing conditions. Congratulations to everyone.

Thoughts immediately turned to affairs in Bargoed. It turned out that Bargoed had defeated Neath narrowly which puts Pontypool on top of the Championship table with a maximum fifty points from ten games played. They lead by two points with a game in hand over Neath. Bargoed are now twelve points behind Pooler having played the same number of games. Pooler are in pole position but cannot afford a slip up if they are to maintain their challenge for promotion. Pooler’s visits to Bargoed and Neath will surely be critical.

Talking of visits to Bargoed, Pooler take on Bargoed in the Championship Cup quarter final next weekend. It will be very interesting to see how the two teams see the Cup in the context of the rest of the season. Is it a chance to land a psychological blow or is it a bit of a distraction? I would hazard it is the former. It should make for an eventful afternoon.

I did watch the Ospreys play Montpellier on the TV in the evening and have to say I thoroughly enjoyed an absorbing encounter. Well done to the Ospreys in gaining a narrow victory with Tipuric in outstanding form. Good wins for Scarlets and Dragons too – you will have me believing that Welsh regional rugby has turned the corner. I fear not but well done anyway.

So, it’s off to Bargoed next weekend. Hold on to your hats!

Come on Pooler!     

Heavy Weather for Pontypool

It seems an age since Pontypool played their last game of rugby. In fact, it is five weeks and of course when they actually got back on the field they were going to be rusty. Playing in the Gwent equivalent of a monsoon was not the best cure for rust either. Anyway Pooler were at last taking the field and even though I took refuge in the stand it was good to be back in the familiar surroundings of Pontypool Park. Pontypool were taking on Cardiff Met University who had the advantage of playing in two competitions so had played more rugby and were sure to be a handful.

Pooler played up the slope in the first half and had a dream start when a speculative cross kick from Jarvis found Walsh and Smith in tandem against a lone Cardiff Met defender in the left corner.  After what looked like a header Smith grabbed the ball and went over for a try in the corner. Unsurprisingly in the terrible conditions the conversion attempt failed (5-0).

The rest of the first quarter was closely fought as both teams tried to come to terms with the conditions. There was an awful lot of kicking but, to their credit, neither side made too many errors despite a slippery ball. The teams looked evenly matched in most aspects and neither could make any impact on the scoreboard.

As the quarter ended, Cardiff Met wing Carrington fielded a ball and, rather than kick, set off at pace from inside his own half. With the help of what looked like a little bit of obstruction he burned off the Pooler defence to score an excellent solo try. Roderick-Evans converted and the students were in the lead at 5-7.

Pooler struck back almost immediately. After working their way into the opposition twenty two, the forwards went to work. It was left to Pooler skipper Matthews to add the final flourish with a powerful burst that saw him touch down under the posts. The conversion from Jarvis saw Pooler retake the lead (12-7).

The rest of the first half was end to end but neither side could add to their tally as well-organised defences and the conditions ruled the roost. With the half time lead just five points, there was much work for Pooler to do in the second half if they were to keep ahead and somehow contrive to get a bonus point.

Playing down the slope and with a breeze behind them, Pooler dominated territory in the second half and looked by far the more likely to score. After around ten minutes, Ieuan Jones picked up from a scrum in the Cardiff Met twenty two and brushed would-be tacklers aside to score Pooler’s third try. The conversion attempt from Jarvis hit the post but stayed out but the home side had stretched their lead to 17-7.

Pontypool were now hellbent on securing the bonus point for their fourth try. The students defended stoutly and forced Pooler into errors. As always, the benches were emptied and fresh legs were brought on to the field Despite the lion’s share of possession and territory, Pooler were still finding it difficult to put together a killer punch.

Time ticked inexorably on and we all knew that every point won in the Championship might be valuable in the battle for promotion. You could sense the home supporters getting more and more anxious and that feeling would surely be felt by the home team. Blessed relief came with just five minutes remaining. The Pooler forwards battered away at the Cardiff Met line and finally replacement prop Kelleher-Griffiths squeezed in at the right corner for the bonus point try. The touchline conversion just failed but Pooler were 22-7 to the good with extra point in the bag.

Cardiff Met were not done and, as time ran out, threw caution to the winds as they ran the ball from everywhere at a visibly tiring Pontypool team. Sadly for them, this led to an error that left Pooler centre Pat Lewis with a clear run in for a try. The conversion was missed but Pontypool had wrapped up a hard-earned victory at 27-7.

After a long lay-off, this was never going to be easy and the poor conditions and a spirited Cardiff Met team made it doubly difficult. It turned out to be a tense affair and both teams are to be congratulated on giving us such a gripping contest.

Pooler’s record in the Championship remains unblemished with the maximum forty five points after nine matches. Neath still lead by two points but have played a game more. Bargoed are lurking eleven points behind Pooler having played nine games. It is still very much all to play for with Pooler yet to play at Neath and Bargoed.

Next week Pontypool entertain Maesteg Quins at the Park and no doubt will have to work hard if they are to maintain their record.

Happy New Year everyone. It’s good to be back!

Come on Pooler!