Normal Service Is Resumed

It was a joy to get away from the angst and over-analysis that characterises the Autumn internationals and return to normality. Normality in this case is watching Pontypool locking horns with Tondu at Pontypool Park. We didn’t have to worry whether our defence was blitz, drift, or scramble and fret about gain line success and tackle counts. Here we just had two sides going at each other with all out attacking intent and it was all the more enjoyable for that. The quality of the game was certainly improved by an excellent referee on an exchange visit from England who helped the game to flow. All too often in rugby these days the referee has the ability to kill a game as a spectacle.

Pooler playing up the slope started the match with attacking verve and looked set to blow Tondu away. They quickly established a 13 point lead through a well executed converted try and two penalties. The home half backs were controlling the game skilfully and it looked ominous for the visitors. As often happens though, Pooler relaxed and Tondu seized the opportunity to show what they could do. Whilst Pooler’s attacking threat came from the backs, for Tondu it was a strong driving maul. The second 20 minutes really belonged to the away side and they dominated territory and possession. It was no more than they deserved that they closed the gap to 3 points with a converted try and a penalty. With the score 13-10 at the end of an enjoyable first half, the result seemed to be very much in the balance.

The second half, however, turned out to be a pretty one-sided affair with Pontypool firmly in control. At times they played some scintillating rugby with Mills, having one of his best games for Pontypool, at the heart of things. Their most potent attacking weapon was the strong attacking thrusts by Taylor from full back who really was too hot for Tondu to handle. An early yellow card for Tondu seemed to give Pooler all the impetus they needed and they ran in three more converted tries and a penalty to run out convincing victors 40-10. Tondu never gave up and deserved something for their efforts but the home defence held firm despite some late pressure.

It was good to see Pontypool back to their best after a shaky period and let’s hope that they can carry it forward to next week when they take on the “Blue Pigs” of Newbridge in what is sure to be a tough local derby.

The Heineken Cup saga goes on and on and it now seems inevitable that it will be Welsh rugby that will suffer most. I cannot think for one moment that a court case will help anyone except perhaps the lawyers. It is almost unbelievable that the most successful club rugby tournament ever is likely to be grossly devalued next year by greed and pig-headedness. It’s a wonder that anyone would want to sponsor a rugby tournament going forward.

I haven’t seen much of the current round of Heineken Cup matches but I did catch a bit of Northampton v Leinster and it now seems quite obvious why the English teams want to avoid the Irish next year. The Irish players certainly look strong this season and I think I might put a few quid on them to win the Six Nations.

They say that Heineken reaches the parts that others don’t - what price Pooler representing Wales in the Heineken Cup next season?