Ebbw Vale Edge Fourteen Try Thriller

Well, here we go again! Pontypool had a chance to redeem last week’s heavy defeat as their conquerors Ebbw Vale visited Pontypool Park. Ebbw Vale had reinforced their position at the top of the SRC while Pooler remained at the bottom. Conditions were similar to last weekend with it being cold with a blustery wind but at least the sun was shining.

As we took our place on the Bank, it seemed as if half of Ebbw Vale had surrounded us and one thing was for sure they were not going to watch the game in silence.  The Pooler faithful were there in numbers too so it was going to be a lively afternoon on the Bank. Exactly how local derbies should be.

Pooler played down the slope in the first half and for the first seven minutes Ebbw Vale camped in the Pooler twenty-two as their forwards applied pressure with a seemingly endless series of mauls. This had been the pattern the previous weekend and bravely as Pooler defended in the end their barrier was breached and Parry score the opening try with Lloyd converting (0-7).

Pooler sparked into life and for about twenty minutes took control of the match playing some of their best rugby of the season. The period started when a break by Ford just outside the visitors’ twenty-two was supported by Minto who showed a tremendous turn of foot to score under the posts. Ford converted and it was 7-7. Pooler looked very determined and the pace they put on the game seemed to take Ebbw Vale by surprise. More good attacking play saw Lewis score Pooler’s second try and with the conversion from Ford it was 14-7.

At the start of the second quarter, Matthews won possession and his little kick forward was gathered by Marcus Jones who sped off down the left wing. He still had a lot to do but brushed off would be tacklers to score in the corner. The conversion failed but Pooler were building a healthy lead (19-7). Just a couple of minutes later McDonough scored after some quick thinking and Ford converted. Pooler were in dreamland – the try bonus point had been secured and they were leading the top side in the league 26-7.

Ebbw Vale were sure not to take this lying down and a penalty conceded by Pooler saw them back in the Pooler twenty-two and we were back to their mauling game. Pooler did very well to stop them from scoring but a bit of an argument between Matthews and Garret saw both players receive yellow cards. The loss of Matthews was a big blow to Pooler as the skipper had been in fine form. It did mark a turning point in the game as the visitors scored two quick tries in his absence. Both were from forward pressure following mistakes from Pooler. The tries were scored by Jenkins and Morris and both were converted by Lloyd. Ebbw were back in business and they were back within a score (26-21).

There was no more scoring in the last few minutes of a tumultuous first half but Pooler did butcher a really good chance when the final pass went astray.  Nevertheless, it did seem that the momentum had switched to the away team. The first score of the second half would surely be pivotal.

Both sides were still down to fourteen men at the start of the second half and again it was Ebbw Vale who took the initiative. More forward pressure saw Pooler unable to stop their surge to the line with Richards touching down. Lloyd again converted and Ebbw Vale were back in the lead at 26-28.

Both sides were back to full complements and Pooler attacked down the left touch line. Bowden for Ebbw Vale was judged to have illegally blocked a player as Pooler went for the line in pursuit of a kick ahead. Bowden was shown a yellow card and shortly afterwards Mahoney who had only just joined the fray from the bench touched down in the left corner as Pooler made full use of an overlap. The conversion from wide out failed but Pooler were back in the lead (31-28) with almost half an hour left to play.

Ebbw responded with more forward pressure following a penalty against Pontypool. Yet another driving maul saw substitute hooker Franchi score their fifth try which was unconverted but the visitors had taken a narrow 31-33 lead in this see-saw match.

As we entered the fourth quarter, there was more forward pressure from Ebbw Vale and Pooler conceded too many penalties for the referee’s liking. Kelvin Williams was shown a yellow card and Pooler were under the cosh. A minute or so later, Ebbw Vale scrum half Gruff spotted a gap from a five metre scrum and scooted around the blindside to score in the left corner. The conversion failed but Ebbw were seven points clear at 31-38.

With around ten minutes remaining, Ebbw looked to have scored the decisive try. They gained good field position and set up for yet another series of forward drives. This time they spotted Bowden in space on the right wing and a precision crosskick was gathered and touched down for a try. Jones converted and it looked all up for Pooler at 31-45.

Pooler were not done, however, and went on the attack themselves.  This time the boot was on the other foot when a crosskick from Ford to the left wing saw Pooler score a try in the corner. An excellent conversion from Ford saw Pooler back within a score with little time left (38-45).

Pooler made a complete hash of fielding the kick-off and found themselves defending a five-metre scrum. In a repeat performance, it was again Bowden who was the beneficiary of an accurate Ebbw crosskick as he touched down for his second try in the right corner. Jones converted and the visitors were back to a fourteen point lead at 38-52 with no time remaining.

Final score Pontypool 38: Ebbw Vale 52.

This was a compelling match that saw fourteen tries scored with the result was in doubt right up to the end. It marks a tremendous effort from Pooler who bounced back well from the heavy defeat the previous weekend. In the end, the deciding factor was the power of the Ebbw Vale mauling game which capitalised on Pooler’s mistakes. Pooler did play some great rugby at times and certainly have something to build on. It is not often that a team scores six tries and loses. It was a real shame that the last minute try from the visitors saw Pooler lose the second bonus point which was the least that they deserved.

No rugby for Pooler next weekend but they visit Bridgend the following weekend in a basement battle. Let us hope that they can break this disappointing run of defeats – on today’s form they must have a good chance.

Come on Pooler!