2023 - A Glorious Year for Pontypool RFC

Due to a bout of lurgy, I was unable to get to Swansea for Pooler’s latest match. By all accounts, Pooler acquitted themselves brilliantly to record a 3-24 victory in tricky weather conditions. It is a real shame I was not there to witness it. As ever, I was thankful for the invaluable periodic tweets that kept me up to date as the match progressed. So well done to everyone involved. This was a much needed win for Pooler had been finding the going tough recently.

As it is now the last day of 2023, I paused to think back over what has been a momentous year for Pooler. In the first few months of the year Pooler completed the historic feat of an unbeaten Welsh Championship league season coupled with winning the Championship Cup. This of course was accompanied by achieving their long held desire to gain promotion to the Premiership after this had been denied for so long.

Most pundits thought that Pooler would struggle in their first season back in the Premiership but not a bit of it. True, Pooler have not set the world alight through their try scoring power but for sheer guts and determination they have been second to none. They have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat a number of times and their never say die attitude is a credit to this great club. So well done to the management and coaching team and of course the squad. A word also for the Pooler Army of supporters who have lit up the atmosphere with their passion for their team. December 31^st finds Pooler in fourth place in the Premiership having won nine of the thirteen matches played to date. Way beyond most people’s expectation.

A few words in support of the Premiership. I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed my rugby this season following Pooler in the Premiership. The matches have been competitive, of a decent standard and pretty well attended - particularly when Pooler are in town! There has been plenty of good young regional talent on view that must surely be benefiting from playing rugby alongside more experienced players. The number of fixtures is about right for both players and fans. The big question in my mind is why would anyone want to change this and introduce the so-called elite league between the Premiership and regional rugby? That someone of course is the WRU who have decided that it will solve all the problems of Welsh rugby by changing this as a first priority. I venture there are more pressing problems such as, have we go the right structure at the professional level, to look at first. This all seems to have gone quiet, however, since Cardiff, Merthyr and Pontypridd stated that they were not interested in joining the elite league in its current format. Maybe, just maybe it will be shelved.

Thanks to Pooler for making 2023 such a memorable year in my sixty odd years of watching rugby. It’s onwards and upwards from here.

2024 starts with a home match against Aberavon next Saturday- I can’t wait!

Come on Pooler!

I wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.

Newport Hold the Aces

It was fantastic to see such a large crowd gathering at Pontypool Park with Xmas fast approaching. The attraction was the visit of Pooler’s arch foes Newport one of the in-form teams in the Premiership. There was plenty of black and amber on view as the Newport fans mingled with the Pooler Army.  The team sheets revealed more than a smattering of Dragons’ experience in the Newport line-up so this was likely to be a tough examination for Pooler.

Pooler played down the slope in the first half and had the assistance of a swirling wind on a rather slippery surface. Rather like in recent defeats at Llandovery and Bridgend, the pace of the Newport backs seemed to stun Pooler as they apparently seemed to breach the home defence with ease. Within ten minutes, exhilarating back play from Newport had put them two converted tries to the good as O’Brien and Morris touched down with the Pooler defence left in their wake. O’Brien converted both tries making light of the tricky wind (0-14).

Pooler needed to respond and did so immediately. Scarfe charged down an attempted clearing kick by Newport from the restart and Lewis was on hand to grab the ball and score a much needed try for the home side. The conversion attempt by Jarvis missed narrowly but Pooler were back in the hunt at 5-14.

Only minutes later, Newport were on the attack again and only last ditch defence kept them out. Pooler however transgressed at an ensuing ruck and O’Brien slotted the penalty to increase the Newport lead to 5-17.

The Pontypool pack was giving their counterparts plenty to think about with an edge in the scrums and the lineout functioning better than it has all season. The battle at the breakdown was fiercely contested with more often than not the referee having the final say. The Newport backs were always a threat and half backs Hope and O’Brien classy operators.

On the half hour, Pooler worked their way down field and applied pressure on the Newport line through their forwards. As is so often the case, it was Matthews who showed the way with another try which was converted by Jarvis. Pooler were back within a score at 12-17 and it was game on.

The Newport backs favour flat passes when attacking and this was giving the Pooler defence headaches. As the first half drew to a close, Newport broke through yet again and were given the benefit of the doubt over a pass that the Pooler fans thought marginally forward while the Newport fans thought it flat. The upshot was that with some excellent support play Hope scored Newport’s third try. O’Brien converted with another well-judged kick and Pooler trooped off the field for the half time break trailing 12-24.

In the second half, Newport had the benefit of the slope and some help from the wind. The Newport half backs Hope and O’Brien rather took charge of the game with their astute tactical kicking. The first quarter of an hour was scoreless as Pooler with plenty of possession tried to make an impression on a well-organised Newport defence. Try as they might they could not get the vital score that would bring the home side back into the game.

Newport were awarded a penalty near touch on the Pooler ten metre line and, just when everyone thought it was going to be a kick for touch, they opted for a clever diagonal kick to the open pastures where only the two opposing wings were to be seen. Price for Pooler got to the ball first but unfortunately slipped as he was about to gather the ball. This left the way clear for Andrew to pick up the ball and canter in for a try. O’Brien converted and Newport were well clear at 12-31 and had secured a bonus point.

In the fourth quarter we had the usual mass substitutions with Pooler welcoming debutants Hill and Morris to bolster the efforts of the pack. The probing kicks from the Newport half backs were still causing Pooler plenty of grief. In the sixty fifth minute, it was Pooler fullback Bancroft who found himself engulfed by the Newport kick chase. The ball went loose and Newport centre Morris grabbed to score his second try. The conversion failed but Newport were out of sight at 12-36.

Pontypool did most of the attacking from then on as the went after they tried to salvage some pride. The forwards drove powerfully with Morris showing up particularly well with his bullocking runs. It was just reward for their efforts when Hill forced his way over for a try after Pooler had hammered away at the Newport line. Jarvis converted and the gap closed to 19-36 with ten minutes or so remaining.

Pooler went in search of a bonus point try but could not penetrate the Newport defence. Newport still looked dangerous on the break but seemed more than content to absorb Pooler’s attacks. In the end, a reasonably comfortable victory for the visitors. Final score Pontypool 19 : Newport 36.

Newport ran out deserved winners of this local derby. While the forward battle finished with honours even, behind the scrum Newport held all the aces. At times Pooler did look a little rusty after their three-week layoff. There is no disgrace in losing to Newport who are one of the top sides in the Premiership and to their credit Pooler never gave up trying.

Next week Pooler travel to Swansea who will be looking to avenge their defeat at Pontypool earlier in the season.

Come on Pooler!