Pooler Turn Keys Over

A drizzly, mild Friday evening saw Pontypool take on Cross Keys at Pontypool Park.  The enthusiasm of a good crowd was certainly not dampened as Pooler took on the side occupying fourth place in the Championship table. It was like old times with the floodlights blazing which gives the Park a special atmosphere.
Pontypool played down the slope in the first half and from the off dominated proceedings. It took only four minutes for them to score their first try. Good passing by the backs produced a gap for  Langdon to force his way over. Jarvis converted and Pooler looked hungry for more (7-0).
More came soon after when a delicate kick by Walsh was grabbed by Powell and the winger crossed for a try in the right corner. An excellent conversion from Jarvis and Pooler were 14-0 to the good. Pooler were bossing the game and were playing with passion even if their handling let them down at times. Cross Keys were mostly on the defensive as their occasional forward drives were stopped on the gain line by an uncompromising home defence.

Pooler scored their third try as the first quarter ended. This time it was an unstoppable forward drive that saw Lloyd touch down. Jarvis again added the extras and the Pooler lead was now 21-0.

Pooler now went in search for the bonus point try and it came five minutes or so later when Powell was put in for his second try of the evening after some good offloading by the backs. The conversion from Jarvis gave Pooler an impressive 28-0 lead.

There was still time for Pooler to add a fifth try in a productive first half. Another powerful forward drive from a lineout saw Lloyd touch down for his second try of the evening. Jarvis continued his impeccable goal kicking and the score was 35-0 as the players made their way to the changing rooms.
The second half turned out to be a frustrating affair. Pontypool were guilty of making far too many handling errors to maintain continuity to their game. From a catalogue of such errors, Cross Keys got on the scoreboard with a try from Gregory that was converted by Tetley (35-7).
The game became far more even as Cross Keys stepped up their efforts as the home side continued to turn the ball over. It was with some relief that, after fifteen minutes, Pooler finally got their act together and Nove powered over after some forceful work by the forwards. Jarvis converted and Pooler had restored their large lead (42-7).
The game drifted on until the last ten minutes when the referee's pocket took a hammering as Cross Keys lost their discipline. Bartlett and, shortly afterwards, Lampard were shown yellow cards and Keys were down to thirteen men. Pooler took advantage of the situation when Lewis jinked his way over for their seventh try with Jarvis again successful from the kicking tee (49-7).
As the match drew to a close, there was further yellow card for the away team when Cornock received his marching orders after a late tackle. Not long after, Piper from Pontypool had a yellow card and Vaughn for Keys had a red card after a dust up. Shortly afterwards, the referee decided to call a halt on what was beginning to become a farce. Final score Pontypool 49 : Cross Keys 7.
A great first half display from Pontypool virtually put the game to bed as they secured a large lead and a bonus point. The second half proved to be an anticlimax as the error count grew alarmingly and Pooler were unable to press home their advantage. Cross Keys made it much more of a contest in the second half until their discipline really let them down in the final ten minutes. Still Pooler achieved their objective and earned five points which consolidated their position at the top of the Championship.
Next match for Pontypool will be Narberth at home next Saturday with an early kickoff as Wales will be playing in Scotland that afternoon. Wales, of course, will take on Ireland this afternoon and hopefully they can give the match full concentration in these troubled times for the WRU. They will certainly need to!
Come on Wales!
Come on Pooler!