It felt like the rugby season had started with rain
pouring down as I got out of the car in Pontypool. In fact, the season
proper had not started but it was Pooler’s second warm-up match this time
against Merthyr. Fortunately, I had an umbrella and managed to get to the
ground without getting too wet. Against my normal inclination, I decided to sit
in the stand and of course the rain stopped and I wished I was on the Bank but
it would cause too much disruption if I tried to leave my seat in the middle of
a row. Never mind, there was still some rugby to be watched.
Merthyr have established themselves as one of the
stronger Premiership sides after coming up through the leagues. This would be a
true test for Pooler despite the copious substitutions that would be expected
in a friendly.
Merthyr played down the slope in the first half and
set off in tremendous style. The aggression and pace with which they played rocked
Pooler back on their heels. Within ten minutes Merthyr had scored two tries
from Wiggins and Knoyle which were both converted by Thompson (0-14). The crowd
were stunned into silence by the ruthless way that Merthyr took their chances
and knocked Pooler back in the tackle.
Pooler found their feet and worked their way up to the
Merthyr line and pounded away but found the Merthyr defence difficult to crack.
A yellow card for Merthyr’s Lewis helped their cause and finally Pooler scrum
half Lloyd dummied his way over for a try. Jarvis converted and Pooler were
back in the game at 7-14 with fifteen minutes played.
This did not last long, however, as Merthyr hit back in
style. The away side’s backs then showed what they could do. A perfectly executed
move put Hoskins in for a try in the right corner with the Pooler defence split
asunder (7-19). Then just before half time Merthyr broke out from their own
half and this time Thomas scored in the left corner and with Thompson’s
conversion the lead increased to 7-26.
This had been a difficult half for Pooler with Merthyr
well on top with a well-deserved nineteen point lead. Never mind, Pooler were
playing down the slope in the second half and would be bolstered by a raft of
substitutions. There was still some hope of a comeback.
Pooler started the second half in positive fashion and
were soon bashing away at the Merthyr line. It was again scrum half Lloyd who
scored the try after plenty of grunt from the pack. Jarvis converted and the
gap had closed to 14-26.
The home side were soon back on the attack again but
struggled to breach the Merthyr defence close to the try line. Merthyr lost Gee
to a yellow card as Pooler pressed and finally, early in the fourth quarter,
they got their just reward when the referee awarded them a penalty try and sent
Bradbury from Merthyr to the sin-bin (21-26).
The momentum was with Pontypool and you sensed that
they could yet snatch the spoils. Sadly, Pooler made a hash of the kick-off reception
and conceded territory and possession to Merthyr. Merthyr put together a series
of powerful attacks and time after time they were stopped by tremendous Pooler
defence. Pooler conceded a string of penalties and lost Stratton to a yellow
card and then the inevitable happened - Wall scored a try for Merthyr in the
right corner after a tapped penalty. The try went unconverted but Merthyr were
two scores clear at 21-31 with just over five minutes remaining.
Pooler pressurised the Merthyr line in the last few
minutes but could not add to their tally. Final score Pontypool 21 : Merthyr
31.
It is always difficult to read too much into pre-season
friendlies but already Pontypool have been made aware of the much higher
standard that Premiership rugby brings. On the positive side, Pooler did well
to recover in the second half to turn around what was looking like a potential
drubbing. Yes, there is plenty to work on with a misfiring lineout near the top
of the list.
The first league game will be at Rodney Parade when Pooler
take on Newport on September 3rd. There will surely not be any need
to look for any further motivation than taking on the old enemy.
No sooner have Pontypool got into the Premiership but the
much-rumoured changes to the structure of Welsh rugby seem to be a reality. The
Elite League looks like starting next season with the ten members linked more
closely to the professional regions. I really do wish there could be some
stability instead of all this chopping and changing. Apparently, the selection
criteria for the new league will be little to do with results on the field – now
where have I heard that before? Whatever happens I am confident that the Pontypool
management will guide us in the right direction.
I read that South Africa thumped New Zealand in a warm
up game for the RWC. Perhaps this puts last week’s defeat for Wales in better
perspective. It will be interesting to see how Fiji get on against England.
This may give us a clue as to whether Wales can beat the South Sea Islanders in
a couple of weeks. Let us hope that Wales can find a way of getting past the
group stage – putting Eddie Jones’ nose out of joint would be brilliant.
Good luck to Pontypool in Newport.
Come on Pooler!
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