Pooler’s Backs Run Riot

There are few certainties in life but and the result of Pontypool’s return match against Tata Steel was as near as you could get to one of them. After Pooler had defeated Tata 0-63 away last weekend, another overwhelming victory was surely on the cards. There was none of the teeming rain of the previous encounter but there was a strong breeze across the ground to contend with. It was top versus bottom on a dry pitch with a dry ball though so a points fest was likely. You never know though!

If there had been any doubt about the result it quickly disappeared as the Pooler threequarters cut loose and were clearly too hot for Tata to handle. In about ten minutes Pooler had run in three good tries from Powell , Smith and Nove as Pooler moved the ball wide as quickly as they could. This marked a considerable change from the last few outings where the scoring was very much dominated by the pack. All three tries were scored wide out but in tricky conditions Langdon converted two of them to give Pooler and early 19-0 lead.

One of the biggest cheers of the day came when Tata steel managed to get on the scoreboard with a penalty from Bamford (19-3). The visitors were hopelessly outgunned but they were certainly not going to go down without a fight.

Pooler got their fourth and bonus point try as the first quarter ended. Scrum half Jones pounced on a loose ball near the Tata line. The conversion attempt hit the post but stayed out (24-3).

The next ten minutes belonged to Pooler fullback Anderson who underlined his enormous potential as he scored two excellent tries. For the first he cut a great angle to burst through for a try and for the second he showed his pace to sprint in from the halfway line. Both tries were in the right corner and both went unconverted (34-3).

There were still ten minutes to go before halftime in this very one-sided competition. A couple of minutes later, left wing Nove crossed for his second try in the corner after a break and a good pass from Mahoney. All seven tries scored thus far had been near the corners and had made goal kicking difficult to say the least and Langdon’s conversion attempt went wide (39-3).

As half time approached, Pooler charged down an attempted clearance kick by Tata and the ball was moved to Powell who scored in the corner. This time the conversion from Langdon went over off a post (46-3).

I am sure Tata Steel were delighted to have a few minutes respite after a difficult forty minutes. Pontypool had recorded eight tries with no forwards on the scoresheet. Of course, the forwards had played their part and were dominant in set piece and breakdown with the backs supplying the cutting edge.

The second half was more of the same with Tata Steel continuing to be put to the sword. Jarvis came on as outside half and took over the kicking duties. He was quickly in action as Anderson put Nove in for his hat trick try which Jarvis converted from wide out (53-3). A couple of minutes later some slick inter-passing amongst the threequarters saw Smith score his second try which was again converted by Jarvis (60-3)

Some positional rejigging by Pooler saw Nove playing flanker as they used up their bench. Babos had come on at scrumhalf and quickly made his mark with a try as he popped up in support after a race for a kick ahead that Powell had won. The conversion attempt from Jarvis hit the post but stayed out (65-3).

There was still a quarter to go and speculation started as to whether Pooler could get to a hundred points. Three quick converted tries seemed to make this a distinct possibility. The forwards finally got a look in with wing cum flanker Nove crossing for his fourth try as he supported a Jarvis break. Normal service was resumed when Smith made a searing break and put Powell over for his third try of the afternoon. No 8 Ieuan Jones had been prominent all afternoon with his powerful carrying and he got his just rewards as he charged over for a try. These three converted tries brough the score to 86-3 with ten minutes or so remaining.

Pontypool got into the nineties when Langdon scored their fifteenth try which Jarvis converted (93-3). Could Pooler bring up the century in the last few minutes? To their enormous credit it was Tata Steel who looked the more likely to score as they kept the home side pinned in their own half. Sadly there were unable to get any reward for their valiant efforts but did avoid conceded a triple figure of points. Final score Pontypool 93 : Tata Steel 3.

As expected, this really was a mismatch and despite Tata Steel’s efforts it was a trouncing. For Pontypool it was an opportunity to play expansive rugby and the backs made hay as they ruthlessly exposed the away team’s defensive frailties. There will much harder challenges to come for Pooler that is for sure.

Speaking of which. Pontypool will take on Neath in the semi-final of the Championship Cup at Ebbw Vale next Saturday. This promises to be an exciting tussle if the two previous encounters between the two sides this season are anything to go by. Pooler managed to win both narrowly and so they will hope that this continues and they get to meet Ystrad Rhondda in the final in late April.

Pontypool still have a heavy workload to complete by the end of the season and still have not managed to reschedule all the fixtures yet. It would be a disaster if all the matches are not played.

Today sees the crucial vote for the clubs which could determine the future of Welsh rugby. It seems pretty certain that the WRU will get the result they want and wrest control away from the clubs. Of course, no one actually knows exactly what this will mean in the future as Welsh rugby struggles to reinvent itself. Everyone agrees with the need to stamp out discrimination in all its forms but as to how to restructure the game in Wales there are many different opinions. For once, I hope that out of this we can manage to get a measure of stability so that everyone knows where they stand for an extended period. I do hope that those in charge realise you need more than seven home games a season to keep a club going. I do also worry that there seems to be an assumption that everyone involved in the community game is incapable of managing a business.

I think I will just look forward to Ebbw Vale next weekend and the challenge of Neath and dismiss all thoughts of Turkeys and Christmas from my mind.

Come on Pooler!