Pooler run out of puff

This has been a tough couple of weeks for Pontypool. The two longest away trips plus a challenging home game against the clear favourites for the league championship in quick succession has really tested their mettle. After performing well in the first two challenges, understandably they fell short at Narberth - never an easy place to get a win. The final score 24-11 to the home team was rather flattering with Pooler extremely competitive for the first 70 minutes. The last 10 minutes proved decisive with the rigours of the previous week catching up with the team. There was also the added problem of playing against the tricky wind. I don’t think we should be too disappointed as the team is still in its formative stage.

There is little respite with the next match at home against the very fit and well drilled students from Cardiff Met. Let’s hope we can bounce back with a win.

I started my rugby weekend with the All Blacks v Australia and it really was an incredible match played at tremendous speed. There was no milking of penalties but all out attacking rugby from both sides. Australia seem to have recovered their verve in time for their usual victory over Wales. The All Blacks, as we have come to expect, managed to keep their noses in front in an exhilarating encounter with some fantastic tries from both teams.

Everything that followed was like watching a different sport. The two French aristocrats from Toulon and Clermont seemed strangely off colour. Whilst Clermont were still able to account for the Harlequins, the Blues managed to upset Jonny’s boys with a try just before the final whistle. Fortunately for the Blues this put them more than a dropped goal ahead so they just about managed to survive an all-out onslaught on their try line. This was a tremendous result for the Blues after last week’s tribulations.

As for the other Welsh regions, the Ospreys were outgunned by Northampton and with two losses are effectively out of the competition. The Scarlets drew at home with Racing so are still very much in contention although the back-to-back matches with Clermont will certainly be challenging. The four Irish provinces all won as did Glasgow so overall not a bad weekend for the Celtic fringe. In the Amlin Cup the Dragons went down at Bath so have it all to do to qualify for the next stages.

I don’t really understand the British & Irish Cup but I think the Dragons’ second team aka Cross Keys won. I don’t know why the Welsh don’t go the whole hog and do as they Irish do and field a provincial/regional second team.

The Autumn internationals are just around the corner and the battle for the outside half spot for Wales is hotting up. Both Biggar and Priestland look to be playing well so it will be a tough call. If there are no injury worries the rest of the starting team virtually picks itself although the Warburton, Tuperic, Lydiate debate I’m sure will continue to rage. The selections for the bench are becoming more and more important in the professional game and we are still a bit lacking at prop and second row and there is no Olly Kohn to come to the rescue although Coombs is still about. I’m not clear who is the second choice scrum half assuming that Mike Phillips plays - is it Williams or Knoyle or someone else?

On the subject of substitutes, I find it strange that in the Welsh Championship teams are only allowed five when seven and even eight are allowed at higher levels. It has already led to forwards playing in the backs and vice versa. I suppose the Welsh Championship is a long way from international rugby.

Good luck against those pesky students Pooler!