Overall a Disappointing Season for Pooler

When I look at the final league table for Super Rygbi Cymru it is with a heavy heart. It is so disappointing to see Pontypool RFC at the bottom of the pile. Pooler have by all measures been inconsistent this term.

The performances over the course of the season could be roughly divided into three: all too few great days, rather too many bad days and quite a few days where Pooler suffered agonising narrow defeats in games that could have gone either way. I missed the final game of the season which was the wildcard playoff against Carmarthen Quins which fell quite clearly into the third category with an injury time defeat. Towards the end of the season, Pooler were far more competitive particularly in the cup matches where the last minute loss at Llandovery in the semi-final was really hard to bear after a brilliant comeback in the second half.

On the positive side, Pooler have given a lot of young and upcoming players a chance to play competitive rugby which was one of the key objectives of SRC. This will surely stand them in good stead in the future. This coupled with a long injury list meant Pooler had difficulties fielding a settled team. Pooler could not be criticised for lack of effort and the Pooler Army was there in support through thick and thin.

I believe that the current situation is that the three year ringfencing of SRC comes to an end after next season so Pooler will need to put together a better season or face relegation. Of course, this is Welsh Rugby and no one really knows what is going to happen in the future. The future of regional rugby is far from settled let alone what happens to SRC as a consequence. I do believe that the ten team SRC league is too small and should be expanded by another two teams – there is just not enough league rugby.

God willing, I will be taking my place on the Bank next season with the usual degree of optimism. There is no better place to watch rugby. As always, we will say hello to new faces and goodbye to some current squad members on the pre-season merry-go-round.

I wish all involved the best of luck.

Come on Pooler!

More Heartache for Pooler in a Cracking Local Derby

Pontypool visited Rodney Parade to take on Newport in their last league game of the season. Rodney Parade always evokes memories of the glory days for Pooler when games against their neighbours were always bruising encounters but Pooler generally came out on top. Times have changed and how! It is difficult to remember the last time Pontypool won in Newport although a hard fought draw in the Cup earlier in the season might give them a cause for optimism. The league positions would indicate a home win but this was a local derby and Pooler would be sure to be motivated and an upset was entirely possible.

Pooler made the early running but it was clear that their scrum was under pressure and conceded three penalties. This gave Newport field position and after subjecting the Pontypool line to considerable pressure Westwood touched down for an unconverted try to open the scoring for Newport (5-0).

Pooler then monopolised possession and made good ground through aggressive ball carrying. A rolling maul inside the home twenty-two suddenly saw Pooler hooker Scarfe emerge from the blindside of the maul with no defenders to block his path. He touched down for a try but the conversion failed and the scores were now tied at 5-5.

Pooler continued to apply pressure and, as the first quarter drew to a close, Antrobus forced his way over for Pooler’s second try after strong work from the pack. Meek converted and Pooler had established a 5-12 lead.

Five minutes later Newport hit back with a try from Williams after the ball was spread wide after a series of forward drives. The try was converted and the scores were level again at 12-12. The bad news for Pooler was that skipper Herbert was shown a yellow card.

Early in the second quarter, Newport were also down to fourteen men after their open side flanker was shown a yellow card. Scarfe was proving a menace at the breakdown winning several turnovers and also carrying the ball well. Pooler again pressed hard and with five minutes remaining in the first half a crosskick from Meek was bravely fielded by Pooler right wing Duggan who beat two Newport defenders to get the touch down. The conversion failed but Pooler were back in the lead 12-17.

There had not been many scrums in the first half so Newport were not able to capitalise in this area of superiority. A late penalty in favour of Pooler at a scrum came to nothing but it was certainly encouraging for the away side.

So, at half time Pooler held a narrow five point lead which on the balance of play they deserved. They could expect Newport to emerge for the second half with all guns blazing.

Pooler started the second half with a bang. A neat kick ahead from Meek was gathered at pace by Pooler fullback Davies who steamed over for a try. Meek converted to increase Pooler’s lead to 12-24 with the try bonus point secured.

Pooler so nearly increased their lead when a long Pooler clearing kick was chased downfield. Pooler wing McDonough was leading the chase but tried to kick the ball on but missed it. Marcus Jones also chasing did manage to pick the ball up but his pass to the supporting Meek went astray with the try line begging.

There followed a period of Newport pressure with their backs finding some gaps in the Pooler defence. In ten minutes they brought the scores back level with two tries one of which was converted. It was 24-24 and Newport had secured their bonus point.

Pooler needed to respond quickly. As the third quarter came to an end Pooler won a scrum penalty and kicked to the corner. From the lineout Matthews on as a replacement emerged from a maul to force his way over for Pooler’s fifth try. The conversion failed but Pooler were back in the lead at 24-29 with twenty minutes to go.

Pooler continued to press and were awarded a penalty and elected to go for goal. Meek’s penalty attempt hit a post and stayed out which brought back memories of the drawn game in the Cup. How crucial would that be?

The answer was very. With ten minutes remaining a pass from the Newport threequarters went astray. A rather fortunate bounce saw the ball in Newport’s hands and with the defence flatfooted Ackerman headed for the line. Some great tackling stopped him just short but from the ruck that formed Leary was able to cross for a try. The try was converted and Newport now held a narrow lead 31-29.

Pooler were not about to give in and some great passing by the backs saw Duggan racing down the right wing. He almost made it to the line but was tackled just short. The referee ruled that a Pooler attempt to score was held up over the line and the chance had gone. A couple of minutes later an attempted dropped goal from Meek missed.

Pooler continued to attack but the Newport defence showed great discipline and did not concede a penalty which might have turned the game in Pooler’s favour.

Final score Newport 31 : Pontypool 29.

This was a great advert for SRC with both teams contributing to an exciting spectacle that could have gone either way. Pooler put in a tremendous performance with Scarfe quite outstanding and overall can consider themselves unlucky not to pull off a win. The bounce of the ball and some missed kicks made the difference in the end.

We now move on to the play offs where Pooler will start with a wild card game with the opponents yet to be confirmed. On this kind of form. they will be a difficult proposition for anybody.

Come on Pooler!

Pooler Spring into Life

Pontypool’s last home league match of the season was against Llandovery. This would be the third meeting of the season with Pooler having lost two encounters in West Wales. The last defeat in the semi-final of the cup had been particularly hard to bear as Pooler were leading with less than a minute remaining on the clock. There is no denying that Pooler have been in the doldrums of late but here was an opportunity to end the season with a home win to cheer us all up.

It was a grey breezy day with the wind blowing up the slope but seeming to swirl around a lot. Pooler started well playing up the slope and attacked the Llandovery line but could not open the scoring. Llandovery were awarded a couple of penalties and used them to good effect and took play down deep into the Pooler twenty-two.  A powerful lineout drive from the Drovers saw Gemine plunge over the line for a try. Maynard converted and it was first blood to the visitors at 0-7 after nine minutes.

Pooler were guilty of a missing too many tackles and that allowed the Llandovery attackers to make ground. As the first quarter drew to a close, powerful Llandovery left wing Aaron Warren scored two tries and on both occasions the Pooler defence seemed full of holes. The second was straight from the kick-off after the first with Maynard converting the second try. Pooler were already staring down the barrel of another defeat at 0-17.

Pooler did not quite see it that way and hit back on twenty minutes with a well-worked try of their own.  The backs moved the ball right and substitute full back Ellis Davies made a half break that allowed Duggan space to run and he scored Pooler’s first try. This was converted by Meek and brought the score to 17-7.

Llandovery resumed their offensive on the Pooler line and, after about half an hour played, they had a lineout a few yards out. This time they scored with a well-worked front peel from the lineout with hooker Lewis touching down in the left corner. An excellent conversion from Maynard in the tricky wind saw the Drovers regain their seventeen points lead at 7-24 and a bonus point in the bag.

Pooler did not take this lying down and attacked down the left flank. They were held up deep in the Llandovery twenty-two. This resulted in a yellow card for Llandovery and a great attacking position for Pooler. In the dying minutes of the first half, Pooler attacked through their forwards. After some near misses it was Randall who got the ball down over the line. Meek converted and Pooler had closed the gap to 14-24 with the second half to come.

Pooler were still well in the game and no doubt there would be some lively discussions in the confines of the changing room.

The second half began with Llandovery hammering away at the Pooler line. Some brilliant defending saw Pooler repel wave after wave of Llandovery forward surges. Pooler held out at the cost of a yellow card for Scarfe. This tremendous goal line stand seemed to represent a turning point in the match. From then on, Pooler seemed to grow in confidence and wrested control of the match from the visitors.

The tactical substitutions began and this seemed to further invigorate Pooler.  After about a quarter of an hour of the second half Pooler attacked spreading the ball left after a lineout. Fullback Ellis Davies jinked his way over the line for a try that Meek converted. The gap was down to just three points at 21-24.

The Pooler forwards took charge and it was great to see Mike Herbert back after a long injury layoff. It was all Pooler now and the crowd sensed that a victory was in sight. Scarfe touched down after a powerful drive by the forwards following a lineout near the Llandovery line. Meek again converted and Pooler were now in the lead at 28-24 and had secured their own try bonus point with almost a full quarter remaining.

Pooler continued to press and had the put-in at a scrum five metres from the visitors’ line. Number eight Matthews picked up from the base of the scrum and attacked the blindside. He scored virtually unopposed in the left corner. The conversion failed but it was now 33-24 and Pooler were two scores ahead with less than quarter of an hour remaining.

More was to follow for Pooler where a break by Pooler scum half Lewis saw him score their sixth try of the afternoon from twenty metres or so out. Meek converted and Pooler were now well clear at 40-24 and holding an extra bonus point.

The last five minutes saw Llandovery on the attack but Pooler were determined to hold on to the extra bonus point and defended as if their lives depended upon it. They succeeded in that ambition and there were scenes of jubilation in the Park at the final whistle that we have not seen for far too long.

Final score Pontypool 40 : Llandovery 24.

Wow! A brilliant second half performance from Pooler following a largely unpromising first half. Pooler seemed to be a team transformed after their tremendous defending at the beginning of the second half. To “win” the second half 26-0 against a strong team like Llandovery is some achievement. Hearty congratulations to everyone involved.

Next up for Pooler is a visit to Rodney Parade on Thursday evening to continue our longstanding rivalry with Newport. This victory will surely give Pooler a much-needed confidence boost for what will, no doubt, be a fierce encounter. This will be the last league match of the season and it looks like Pooler will finish bottom of the league so overall it what must go down as a disappointing season. From then we move into the play-offs and most likely a visit to RGC or Carmarthen Quins.

It would be great to finish off the league with a win at Newport though wouldn’t it!

Come on Pooler!