Pontypool Show Their Mettle

Two unbeaten records were on the line when the top two teams in the Championship clashed in Port Talbot. Tata Steel had started the season impressively and were sure to provide Pontypool’s sternest test of the season so far. A decent crowd had gathered and there was a roar of from the Eastern Valley faithful as the teams took to the field. Everyone knew that this was going to be one of the biggest games of the season. Conditions were perfect for rugby with a dry pitch and little wind for the players to contend with.

Pontypool started the stronger and really pressed hard in the opening ten minutes. Unfortunately, for all the pressure they exerted, they came away pointless. A combination of indiscipline from the away side coupled with some over-zealous refereeing led to a string of penalties being awarded and meant that Pooler’s early control of the match was wrested away from them. As Tata gained territory, the penalties became kickable and the home side took a 6-0 lead. Pooler did manage to respond with a penalty from Jones to close the gap to 6-3.

It was a fiercely contested game and the two sides were quite evenly matched at this stage with Tata giving the Pontypool plenty to think about at the scrum and at the breakdown. Hurley was rather harshly yellow carded for what looked like a fifty-fifty challenge in the air for a high ball and the away side were down to fourteen men. Worse was to follow when a Pontypool lineout close to their line went wrong and Hall gleefully gathered the loose ball to score the first try of the game. The successful conversion meant that Tata had opened up a substantial 13-3 lead.

It is at times like these that good sides respond although the odds are seemingly against them. Pooler responded brilliantly and took the game to Tata despite being short-handed. First Jones kicked a penalty and then, after a great drive from the forwards, the ball was moved out into the threequarters where a miss pass allowed Kent to gallop over for a try. The conversion from Jones tied the score up at 13-13 and Pooler were well and truly back in the match.

There was no further scoring before halftime and Pontypool must have felt mighty relieved to be on equal terms after a half that had been littered with penalties against them. It was going to take a big effort to overcome their opponents in the second half that was for sure.

Pontypool brought on the vastly experienced Nash as a replacement in the pack for the second half and started the stronger. They began to gain a measure of dominance in the scrum and Tata conceded penalties as a consequence. Jones converted two of them to ease the away side into a 13-19 lead.

Just as Pooler were beginning to assert a measure of control, a high tackle by Coundley led to a yellow card and they were reduced to fourteen men again. Tata yet again seized the opportunity and came back strongly with two penalties of their own to level the scores at 19-19. It was still anyone’s game as we went into the final quarter.

Tata were penalised and combative No8 Llewellyn yellow carded for an offence at a ruck on the Tata twenty two. Jones obliged with the kick to edge Pooler into a 19-22 lead. It was now Pooler’s chance to make numerical advantage pay and a powerful drive from a lineout close to the home line resulted in a try for Parry. Although the conversion went narrowly wide Pooler there was now daylight between the sides at 19-27. The away side continued to apply the pressure and a further penalty from Jones further increased the lead to 19-30.

The home side were far from finished and put together a storming finish which was given further impetus with Pooler’s third yellow card as a consequence of a deliberate knock-on by Kent. Pooler somehow managed to weather the storm despite Tata battering away at their line for the last five minutes or so. This prevented the home side gaining a losing bonus point which might turn out to be important in the latter stages of the season. Final score: Tata 19 Pontypool 30.

Make no mistake this was a really searching examination for Pontypool. Tata Steel were tough uncompromising opponents who never gave up. The turning point in the match was Pooler’s magnificent comeback in the last ten minutes of the first half when everything seemed to be against them. The whole team stood up to be counted and this will surely stand them in good stead as the season progresses. There were some great performances in the pack and with Matthew Jones controlling the game and kicking his goals this was an excellent win that takes Pontypool five points ahead at the top of the Championship.

There are still a few issues with discipline which need to be looked at with too many penalties and yellow cards. Not all the referees that we come across will have Nigel Owens’ sympathy for the game! I take my hat off to those who referee at this level. I certainly wouldn’t want to do it. Fortunately there are those who do and remember that without them we wouldn’t have a game.

I did watch Ospreys v Blues on the TV on Friday night and the Blues were brought well and truly down to earth. You have to be impressed with Sam Davies – there must surely be a place for him in the Welsh squad. At prop Arhip is a real handful – shame he’s not Welsh. I also saw the tail end of the Springboks v the All Blacks. There is no doubt that NZ are taking rugby to a new level and the rest of the world is some distance behind. The Lions are certainly going to find it very tough next summer.

For Pooler, next up is Skewen who visit Pontypool Park next Saturday. They have certainly made an encouraging start to their first season as Championship level winning three of their six matches to date.

Great win boys let’s keep it going. Come on Pooler!