Pooler Dig for Victory

Unfortunately, I couldn’t make the trip to Narberth yesterday for Pontypool’s match. It has always been a trip that I have enjoyed and the matches against Narberth have normally been close and high scoring affairs. After making a visit to a hospital, I sat at home fretting as the clock moved on to 2.30pm. Fortunately there are the excellent twitter feeds coming in to keep us updated.

This was a really tense and exciting match that was clear. I am not sure that the tension is even worse as you stare at the phone waiting for news. The lead seemed to be changing every few minutes and Pontypool were up against it if they were to get the win they craved. Pooler led 18-19 at half time but then suddenly Narberth were back in the lead and Pooler had a man in the bin. I was trying to visualise what was going on – pure agony!

Anyway, everything turned out OK in the end with Pooler triumphing with a late flurry of scoring to win 28-36 and gain the all-important bonus point. Mission accomplished after what sounds like one hell of a match.

My roving reporter tells me that the smart Narberth backs gave Pooler a tough time while the Pooler forwards were on top. Sounds like the traditional East v West Wales encounter of yesteryear.

It has been a brilliant week for Pontypool with the cup win last Sunday and five points by default on Wednesday when Ystalyfera cried off capped off with this win at Narberth.

The Championship table shows that Bargoed can now only get a maximum of 112 points so Pooler have to muster another 14 points from their remaining six games to be sure of promotion if two teams are to be promoted.

Pontypool have two home games scheduled for next week. Bedwas on Wednesday and Beddau on Saturday. It really is a frenetic end to the season and it makes you wonder about the wisdom of the big gap in fixtures during the Autumn Internationals. Sadly, the pile up of fixtures and injuries has seen far too many games forfeited across Welsh rugby which will have an effect on the final league tables. It is shocking to see that Llanelli, a Premiership outfit, have failed to raise a team again.

As I have said before, all Pooler can do is take each game as it comes and keep their winning ways going.

Come on Pooler!