Mission Accomplished for Pooler

From the sunny Gwent lowlands, we journeyed to Glynneath for Pontypool’s latest adventure in the Championship. In Glynneath it was grey and cold but the welcome was certainly warm. Although Pontypool sit proudly at the top of the Championship and Glynneath in the basement, nobody really expected and easy game for Pooler at Abernant park.

It was clear right from the start that the pitch, which had the consistency of a Xmas pudding, was going to have a major impact on the way the game was played. It was certainly not going to be a day for running rugby.

Pontypool started brightly enough and within five minutes Luckwell had scored a try when he finished off powerful approach work from Lampitt and Williams. Meek converted and Pooler looked to be on their way to a victory (0-7). Unfortunately this was a long way from the truth. The rest of the first half turned out to be a hard-fought, dour affair with Pontypool unable to find any continuity in their play and the Glynneath forwards relishing the battle. Pooler gave away far too many penalties as the home side harried them into mistakes.

Sadly the most notable incident was a nasty looking injury to Pontypool hooker Watkins which resulted in a long delay as he was stretchered off the pitch. It is good to hear that he has not suffered any serious effects from the accident. Glynneath did manage to narrow the deficit with a penalty just before half time to leave Pontypool with a narrow lead at 3-7.

From a spectator’s perspective the match was pretty frustrating to watch as it was quite difficult to differentiate between the two sets of players as their already similar coloured jerseys gradually took on a coating of black mud. To make matters worse, the ball got dirtier and dirtier and more and more difficult to see when it was on the ground. Hats off to the referee who did a good job in difficult circumstances.

The second half saw Pontypool try and up the pace and they did manage to put a few sets of phases together. After about quarter of an hour, they at last managed to breach the stubborn home defence with Williams barging over for an unconverted try (3-12).

Pooler continued to attack and the backs managed to make some good ground down the right flank and Robinson squeezed in in the corner. The conversion failed but Pontypool had opened up a significant gap with the score at 3-17.

Pontypool needed one more try for the bonus point but it was Glynneath who did the attacking for the next ten minutes or so. The hammered away at the Pooler line with wave after wave of forward drives but the defence just held out. Finally Pontypool broke out of the stranglehold and worked their way down the field as the final whistle approached. Replacement scum half Quick spotted a gap and raced twenty metres or so to score under the posts. With the conversion the score was 3-24 although the scoreboard operator had already left his post. Shortly afterwards the referee blew the final whistle to everyone’s relief.

Another tough outing for Pontypool who again proved that they are worthy pacesetters in the Championship. Glynneath belied their lowly position to present a real challenge in difficult conditions. Yet again the Pontypool set piece was the foundation of the victory. The lineout operated well with Gregory doing some great work and the scrum was powerful putting the Glynneath scrum under tremendous pressure.

The next match for Pontypool will be at home against local rivals Newbridge after Xmas. This is sure to be a close encounter of the hard kind.

I hope everyone has a great Xmas and we all have a successful and peaceful New Year.

Come on Pooler!  

Pooler get back in the saddle

Pontypool finally got back into competitive action on a cold, grey December day in Pontypool Park after a month of kicking their heels. Their opponents were Trebanos who have certainly created an impression in their first season in the Championship and were in the pack chasing Pontypool at the top of the league.

Pontypool played up the slope in the first half and it was immediately apparent that this was going to be a tough and bruising encounter. As might be expected after the lay-off, the game was littered with mistakes as both sides tried to assert a measure of control. The two things that were immediately apparent were that the Pooler scrum had an edge and the referee was going to have his work cut out controlling a niggly and scrappy game.

After ten minutes or so, Pooler finally earned a scrum close to the Trebanos line. They applied the necessary pressure and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try (7-0). He also gave a yellow card to the Trebanos loosehead prop.

The game reverted to a battle between the two twenty two lines with defences on top and neither set of backs managing to find any sparkle due to a combination of rustiness and cold fingers. It invariably ended in booting the ball down field and a kick chase on a sticky pitch. The game desperately needed a touch of inspiration and it came when Pooler took a quick tap penalty after about half an hour and, although the passing amongst the backs was hardly slick, Thomas was freed on the left wing. He was tackled just short of the line but managed to off load the ball for the supporting Gullis to score. The try went unconverted but Pooler had built a 12-0 lead on a day when points were going to be hard to come by.  There was no further scoring in what had been a hard fought first half.

The second half started well for the home side as they worked their way down field into the Trebanos twenty two. After a series of forward thrusts, Jones threaded a clever grubber through the away defence for Gullis to score. The conversion gave Pooler what looked to be a winning lead of 19-0 but still needing a further try to claim the bonus point.

The next twenty minutes was real attritional stuff with forwards and backs alike clattering into each other with some ferocity. There was a yellow card for either side and it was Trebanos who were the team that took advantage of their period of numerical superiority. After several minutes of sustained attacking, they scored a well-deserved try by Davies which was converted by Edwards to close the gap to 19-7 as the game went into the final quarter.

The Trebanos try plus a series of substitutions seemed to give both sides fresh impetus and the battle became even fiercer. Trebanos were certainly not about to lie down and Pooler were anxious to get their bonus point try. With ten minutes to go, Pooler earned a lineout close to the Trebanos line. An excellently constructed lineout drive saw Nash get the vital touch down. The conversion from wide out failed but at 24-7 Pooler were home and hosed. The final ten minutes did not deliver any more scoring even though both sides huffed and puffed. I for one was glad to return to the warmth of my car as my feet felt like blocks of ice.

While Pontypool could not find the form that they had before the lay-off, this was a solid hard-earned victory against doughty opponents. It keeps them firmly planted at the top of the Championship with eleven wins from eleven games at the halfway stage. The next match will be at Glynneath next Saturday. Glynneath have been struggling a little this season but are sure to give Pooler a warm welcome.

There are certainly a lot of rumours flying around about the Dragons’ recruitment drive. I don’t know where the money is coming from to fund it I am sure when we hear that Moriarty will be the highest paid player in Welsh rugby. It is difficult to imagine top players like Quade Cooper, George North and Taulupe Faletau coming cheap. I wish the Dragons well as their history of recruitment has certainly not been that impressive since the days of Teichmann and Montgomery.

I duly filled in the WRU questionnaire about the future of rugby in Wales. I must admit I do fear for the outcome following the report from the consultants if you believe the spin that has already started. The constant short term tinkering with the league structure and the various competitions has got us precisely nowhere so far. Whatever happens, there has to be some incentive for every club in the pyramid to excel and there has to be stability in the way competitions are run.

In the European Rugby Champions Cup it saddened me to see the rows of empty seats at the Scarlets while virtually every ground in the other countries was full. Nevertheless both Scarlets and Ospreys won as did the Dragons in the Challenge Cup with the only Welsh loss the Blues at Sale. It still seems likely that we will again see a Wexit in the Champions Cup.

Anyway let’s not get too depressed - Xmas is coming and we’re going to Glynneath to watch Pooler next Saturday.

Come on Pooler! 

Wales hang on – just!

The final leg of the Welsh Autumn Attrition Series saw Wales take on South Africa in the Principality Stadium. Both teams needed a win but neither were at anything like full strength with long injury lists and shorn of the gold diggers plying their trade in the rich feeding grounds of England and France.

Wales started brilliantly and had registered two converted tries before the Springboks had wiped the sleep out of their eyes. Two great kicks by Biggar led to tries for Williams and new cap Parkes. Wow! The spectators from both persuasions were completely stunned. This can’t be slow-starting Wales can it?

It got even better when Parkes scored his second try after a charged down kick to make Wales runaway leaders at 21-3. Wales had managed to keep the ball away from the bigger and stronger Springbok forwards and that surely couldn’t last could it? The answer, of course, was no it couldn’t. As we had feared before the match, the Welsh scrum was an Achilles heel. Wales seemed to give a penalty away at every scrum and of course their possession and territory statistics plummeted.

The period either side of half time saw the South Africans dominate proceedings and the Welsh lead shrink alarmingly. Tries by Gelant and Pollard left Wales looking very vulnerable as the Springbok forwards took control. Worse was to come when the Springboks deservedly took the lead at 21-22 after a converted try from Kriel.

The Welsh midfield general Biggar had left the field with an injury and it looked like the home side were heading for defeat as they seemed to lack direction. Wales were fortunate to be able to call upon the experienced Rhys Web from the bench and he together with the last vestiges of gas left in the Wyn Jones’ tank helped Wales to regroup. They worked their way down field and gleefully accepted a Halfpenny penalty which saw them regain the lead at 24-22.

The last minutes of the game were pure agony as the South Africans marched inexorably towards the Welsh line. Somehow Wales managed to turn the ball over in the nick of time but it still meant another trial for their creaking scrum. This time it just about held and an excellent relieving kick from Webb and a great kick chase saw Wales home. We must find a way to keep Webb in the fold!

If the quality of the match was patchy, the excitement level was high. A win was very important however it came and the Welsh fans went away happy. At the time it certainly didn’t matter that this Springboks team is a shadow of the powerhouses of yesteryear – a win is a win.

Gatland and his cohort will have plenty to think about before the Six Nations. First concern will be the injury list which will, of course, cut down the options available. With a clean bill of health there looks to be a highly competitive team in the making. Sadly the Lions’ tour and the taxing autumn programme are a big drain on resources. The bright spots in the autumn were the re-emergence of Hallam Amos, the ball handling of Rob Evans, the industry of Josh Navidi and the nous of Hadleigh Parkes and Owain Williams. First up in the Six Nations will be the visit of resurgent Scotland – sure to be a stern test. The second half in Murrayfield in last season’s match still gives me nightmares.

Pontypool get back down to business next weekend - thank goodness. Trebanos, the visitors to Pontypool Park, have made a great impression on the Championship after promotion last season. They certainly gave Pooler plenty to think about in the away fixture. On Friday, Pontypool were denied the opportunity of a run out against Talywain by the weather. Nevertheless they should be raring to go after the lay-off.

Come on Pooler!

Try, try, try again

Yet again Wales took on New Zealand with a certain degree of optimism. “If there is a time to beat the All Blacks this is it”, “They are tired at the end of a long season”, “They are missing key players due to injuries”, “Scotland should have beaten them”, etc., etc. Those of us who have been around a long time have heard this all before of course. Still you never know, I thought.

We got to the ground ridiculously early after the debacle before the Australia game. We heeded the warning of Mr Phillips the WRU Chief Executive who told us to get in at least two hours before kick-off. It was all right for him to say that of course when he knew he would be lunching in some private dining room in the bowels of the stadium. We had to queue for maybe fifteen minutes and found ourselves in the stadium with almost two hours to go before the kick off. Lots of other people had heeded Mr Phillip’s advice and the bars were doing a roaring trade. The cynic in me wonders whether this was the real reason for us being told to be there so early. Let us hope that a more efficient way of keeping us secure can be found before the Six Nations.

So to the match. Wales gave it their all and monopolised possession for the first quarter with scant reward. You always feel that New Zealand use the old Ali “rope-a- dope” tactic and wait for the opposition to punch themselves out and then strike ruthlessly and decisively. Despite some vibrant play from Wales, the All Blacks scored two tries through Naholo before half time in response to two penalties. Just as the half was drawing to a close, Wales scored a beautifully worked try when Amos broke the defensive line and crisp passing put Williams over – wonderful. The conversion failed but Wales were well in the game at 11-12.

Wales continued to apply pressure in the second half and the New Zealanders made more errors than they normally make in a year. Then came the surgical strikes – two converted tries by the All Blacks looked decisive. The first from powerful running by Ioane who off-loaded for Lienert-Brown to cross and the second was very much self-inflicted by Wales when Biggar’s pass was intercepted by Ioane.

Wales fought back well and pounded away at the New Zealand line. A yellow card for Sam Whitelock and a try for Wales by Davies – it was a bit like the Scotland game. Wales eight points behind and the All Blacks seemingly on the ropes. Then came a moment of pure class and tells you all you need to know about the world champions. Another surgical strike from a scrum put Ioane in the clear and he simply scorched over and that was that. Final score 18-33.

More disappointment but certainly a high tempo, upbeat performance form Wales. A great performance from Navidi and Amos looked sharp again but injuries to Webb and Ball. Now Wales must face the Springboks next week without the English-based players as well as a lengthy injury list. Opportunity beckons for some I am sure but you have to wonder at the sanity of the demands of the Welsh Autumn Series.

Before the match we managed to see the Scots work the Aussies over as part of the pre-match entertainment. Scotland certainly seem to have got something going and will surely be a force in the Six Nations. It is their turn to stop the English juggernaut this time.

In marked contrast on Friday night I watched Pontypool play a Torfaen XV in a very frosty Pontypool Park. I am glad to say the Pooler players had not forgotten how to play after their lay-off and won comfortably enough - by my calculation it was 64-0. Whilst it was a decent workout for the squad, the real reason for the match was to raise money for Scott Bessant’s Fighting Fund – a worthy cause and we wish Scott well. Pooler next play at Talywain on Friday in another refresher match before getting back to the Championship the week after.

Come on Pooler!

Next Saturday it is up at the crack of dawn to get to Cardiff for the Wales v Springboks game. Breakfast in the stadium perhaps.

Come on Wales!

A Grey Day for Wales

I don’t think any sports team has given of their best when wearing grey and on the odd occasions that Wales have worn this drab colour they have produced a drab performance to match. This was certainly one of those occasions. A rather experimental Wales side took on the muscular Georgians at Cardiff and a pretty forgettable match for Welsh fans took place.

It started brightly enough for Wales with a penalty and a well-worked try by Amos giving them a 10-0 lead. Then came the moment that probably changed the game the ball was stripped from the Georgians in a maul and a few passes later Amos sped gleefully down the touchline and touched down for a try. Unfortunately the Welsh team’s joy was short-lived as play was called back by the TMO as the ball was deemed to have gone forward as it was stripped. To make matters worse the Georgians were awarded a penalty shortly afterwards to close the gap to 10-3.

The Georgian forwards began to realise that they had the edge over the youthful Welsh pack and from then on the contest became an arm wrestle with defences on top. It was pretty turgid stuff with Wales becoming more and more frantic and making far too many handling errors against a resolute defensive line.

The second half was grim with the Georgian scrum earning them penalties and stopping Wales getting good field position. As the game entered the final minutes, the score was 13-6 with the only scores in the second half a penalty apiece. Georgia were pressing hard and had a series of scrums and lineouts close to the Welsh line. Welsh replacement prop Francis was sinbinned for offside at a ruck and it looked like the Georgians would surely force a draw if they used their dominant scrum. Brown the Welsh starting tighthead should have come on to the field but suddenly developed “severe cramp” and could not return. This meant uncontested scrums so the Georgians opted for the lineout but after a series of forward drives gave away a penalty and Wales survived.

You have to feel a lot of sympathy for the Georgians as a draw would have been justice for their efforts. The young Welsh forwards will certainly know that they have been in a game this morning. It is really hard to assess what was learned from this encounter for Wales as there were no standout performances. Amos will have done his chances no harm and Webb and Priestland must be in contention at half back. The forwards looked lively until the collisions with the tough Georgian pack took their toll.

The Georgians would be a handful for any team and they are certainly the best of the second tier of nations. They are frustrated that they cannot progress further as the 6 Nations is ring-fenced with too many vested interests keeping it that way. Does that sound familiar to the Pooler fans out there? A draw against Wales would certainly have pressed their claim and really they were seemingly undone by a bit of sharp practice. Coming up against the uncontested scrum is familiar territory to Pontypool too!

Scotland really gave the All Blacks a fright in a display full of passion and flair. They could have snatched victory at the death had Hogg not been tackled just short if the line after a scintillating break. The All Blacks will be looking mean next Saturday I am sure – so look out Wales.

England beat Australia with a rather flattering score line on a day where most of the borderline decisions went against the Aussies. On a dry day the result might well have been different as the Ausssies looked far more inventive.

The Irish did “a Wales” against Fiji with a narrow victory for their “seconds”. Meanwhile France were pipped by South Africa who had capitulated against Ireland the previous week. Sounds like Wales have a couple of tough Saturdays ahead with All Blacks and Boks in town. I had better get in the queue for next Saturday now.

Come on Wales and come on the stewards!

Encouraging Signs for Wales

We Welsh fans are not normally optimistic by nature and my feeling before the game against Australia was that we were most unlikely to win. Watching the game, you felt that everyone of a Welsh persuasion probably agreed with that sentiment and so of course did the Australians. Yes, without doubt, Wales played their hardest and did their utmost to win but Australia seemed to be able to glean points just when it mattered most.

This is the old story when the two sides meet with Australia finding a way to win and Wales finding a way to lose. This time it was not the heart-breaking last minute victory grab by the Wallabies that we have experienced so many times before. Here they managed to keep Wales at arm’s length, albeit quite a short arm, for most of the game. The final score of 21-29 reflects the Australians’ ability to take their chances.

There were positives for Wales with signs that the much touted all action running game was achievable with the group of players in the squad. The handling and offloading skills of the forwards seem to have improved significantly with Rob Evans and Alun Wyn Jones showing up well in this respect. The backs managed to finish a couple of decent moves with tries for Evans and Amos but did find the Aussie defence a tough nut to crack. Steff Evans had a tough introduction to test rugby but will be a better player for it I am sure. Let us hope that the injury to Jon Davies is not too serious as we can surely build a decent set of backs around him and Liam Williams with a bit of imagination.

Overall I enjoyed the match with plenty of attacking intent from both sides but I just wish we could sneak a win some time. What I didn’t enjoy was queuing for forty minutes or so in the pouring rain to get into the ground. I know we have to have stringent security but surely it could be better organised that that. We joined the queue an hour before kick off as we enjoy listening to the choir under the stand and the Q&A session with a Welsh squad member. Sadly we missed both this time. Let’s hope the WRU have a rethink before the All Blacks match.

Next up for Wales is a match against Georgia who will present a physical challenge but really this is a game that Wales should expect to win reasonably comfortably.

Saw a few brief highlights form England’s victory over Argentina and with wins for Scotland against Samoa and a thumping victory for Ireland against the Springboks it would seem that the Six Nations will be pretty tasty next year. By all accounts, France gave the All Blacks a few scares although not enough to beat them.

On the domestic front losses for Narberth and Trebanos in the Championship strengthened Pontypool’s position at the top of the league. Pooler entertain Trebanos in early December after the Autumn break. Only a month to go!

Come on Wales in the mean time!

Pooler Power On

Sadly I didn’t make it to Newcastle Emlyn for Pontypool’s latest game. As usual, I regretted it as soon as it was too late to jump in the car and spent match time surrounded by tablets and phones as I tried to keep up with what was going on down West. In the end it was a comfortable victory for Pooler with the final score 10-62 with nine tries scored. This leaves Pontypool firmly entrenched at the top of the Championship with an unblemished record of ten straight wins and a lead of fifteen points over nearest rivals Narberth as the first “season” ends. It will not be until December 9^th that they take the field in earnest again which is frustrating, to say the least, as they are certainly building up a head of steam.  The season 2019-20 still seems a long way off and the opportunity for Pontypool to hopefully regain Premiership status. Maintaining the current momentum will be challenging for sure.

As I kept up with the Pontypool score, I idly flicked between the Barbarians v New Zealand and Leicester v Gloucester games. The Barbarians resembled a NZ fourth team with a few added extras while the NZ team was certainly not at full strength. It was entertaining enough and it gives you an insight into the strength in depth of New Zealand rugby. There seems to be a never-ending conveyor belt of big athletic units just waiting for their opportunity to break into the first team. The Leicester v Gloucester match was in the Anglo-Welsh Cup with very much second teams taking the field. It was good to see Ross Moriarty playing again and looking fit. Hopefully he will be firing for the Six Nations. At the end of the season he will of course face the agonising decision of whether to return to Wales to play regional rugby or not be eligible to play for Wales again. Nose, face and spite spring to mind.

Next Saturday Wales take on Australia in the first match of the Autumn Series. I would expect few surprises from number one to ten with Shingler getting the nod at six rather than Lydiate. In the backs Jon Davies and Liam Williams are certainties with Steff Evans probably given his chance on the wing. I would then add Patchell at twelve and Hallam Amos on the wing moving Williams to fullback. Halfpenny and Priestland/Williams on the bench. Of course I will be hopelessly wrong but at least I had a go.

I have certainly enjoyed the first half of the Championship campaign thanks to Pontypool’s high octane rugby. Well done boys. Let’s hope it keeps going and we have a decent run in the Cup to boot.

Come on Pooler and come on Wales!

Autumn Frolics

Blessed relief, the sun was shining at Pontypool Park on Saturday. Although there was a stiff breeze blowing down the valley it was but a zephyr compared with the howling gale at Port Talbot the previous week. Pontypool were entertaining Cardiff Met University who were the only team to lower Pooler’s colours in the Championship last season. Both teams were not at full strength- Cardiff Met opting to prioritise inter-university rugby while Pontypool used the opportunity to give squad players a run out.

Pontypool played up the slope and against the breeze in the first half and needed to stamp their authority on the game from the off. This they duly did by monopolising possession and putting the students under extreme pressure. It took a while to break the Cardiff Met defence but the first try came when Thorley was first to a kick ahead that bounced invitingly over the try line in the right hand corner (5-0). A few minutes later, a trademark driving lineout saw Jeune score a try that was converted by Meek (12-0). Towards the end of the first quarter Robinson scored the home side’s third as the Pooler pressure continued. With the conversion, Pontypool had opened up a 19-0 lead and the game seemed to be effectively over.

Cardiff Met didn’t believe that and, after being awarded a series of penalties that took them deep into the home twenty two, Howard crossed for a try that was converted to close the gap to 19-7. It was clear that Pontypool were well on top in the forward exchanges and the students were in for a difficult afternoon. Two more lineouts near the Cardiff Met resulted in two more driving mauls and two more tries for Jeune one of which was converted. This gave Jeune his hat trick and delivered Pooler’s bonus point as a one-sided half drew to a close with the score 31-7.

If last week’s clash with Tata Steel had been full on and red blooded this was far more anaemic and with Pooler playing with the wind and down the slope in the second half a cricket score was in prospect.

Cardiff Met had clearly decided that to use their backs to run at Pontypool at every opportunity was the only way for them to play in the second half. There followed a period where Pontypool used the wind to kick the ball into the Cardiff Met twenty two and the students duly ran it back with gusto. As they reached the Pontypool half, stern defence resulted in a turnover and Pooler kicked the ball back down the field and the process started again. The students were playing high risk rugby and eventually this led to an interception by Molson who was tackled just short of the try line. He did manage to offload the ball to the supporting Gullis who scored the try (36-7).

A few minutes later another Cardiff Met attack broke down and this time Molson took full advantage as he sprinted thirty metres or so to score (41-7). The game was littered with handling errors as both teams threw the ball about as if it was a hot potato. It took a short range plunge over the try line from home prop Bale to re-establish normality (48-7).

In the final quarter it was all Pontypool and they scored three more tries in a period of just over five minutes. One from Thomas when he ran a lovely line to split the students’ defence and this was sandwiched by tries by Thorley and Meek who successfully chased kicks ahead. Two were converted by Meek which took the score to 67-7.

The students continued to run everything and they were rewarded with a consolation try by Keane which was converted (67-14). Pontypool had the last laugh, however, when Herbert crossed for a try in the last play of the game. Meek’s conversion gave a final score of 74-14.

This was a very frenetic game of rugby with Pontypool always in the driving seat. At times it resembled what we used to call “Barbarians’ rugby” and it was certainly a relief after last week’s nerve-tingling encounter. Pooler continue to carry all before them in the Championship and now take their unbeaten record to Newcastle Emlyn next week.

I watched the Ospreys v Dragons game on the TV on Friday night. It was a curious affair with the Osprey’s virtually monopolising possession and territory. A combination of the Ospreys’ toothless attack and the Dragons’ strong defence meant that the scoreboard didn’t really reflect that dominance for much of the game. Indeed when the Dragons were able to attack they looked far more potent with Amos looking particularly lively. Still the Dragons failed to get an away win in the league for the umpteenth time but they do seem to be improving week by week under the new regime.

The Welsh Squad announcement brought many talking points but the one that I find most strange is the omission of Thomas Young who is playing out of his skin week in week out in one of the toughest leagues in the world. Who am I to second guess Warren Gatland and in fairness Sam Cross did look very good in his first ever game of professional rugby but still…..

With the Autumn Internationals looming, we enter a fallow period in the Championship. Almost farcically, after the trip to Newcastle Emlyn next weekend, Pooler’s next league match is not until December 9^th. It will be almost like starting a new season but at least there will be plenty of time to do the Xmas shopping.

Come on Pooler!

The Strife of Brian

As we motored down the M4 towards Port Talbot being battered by storm Brian, we could have easily been forgiven for thinking that no one in their right mind would play (or watch) rugby in the prevailing conditions. Strong winds and teeming rain did not make our trip to watch Pontypool play Tata Steel a particularly attractive prospect. But we are hardy souls and we pressed on regardless.

When we arrived, it was clear that the game was going to go ahead although there was not the usual enthusiasm from the players to get out on to the pitch for their warm-up. Despite the dismal weather, the pitch looked in good condition and the players were just going to have to find a way to combat the elements. This was going to be a classic “wind game” with the wind howling down the pitch bringing with it a faint whiff of sulphur from the coke ovens of Margam Works. Playing against the wind in the first half, it was all about keeping the opposition out and trying to sneak a few points. Playing with the wind you needed to build a substantial lead in order to hold off the expected onslaught in the second half. This was a 15-20 point wind in our estimation and Pooler were playing with the wind in the first half so they had some work to do.

The first quarter of hour of play almost exclusively took place inside the home twenty two. Pontypool pressed hard but the home defence was tough and restricted the visitors to just two penalties by Jones (0-6). From the kick off after the second penalty, Pooler failed to secure the ball and ended up giving away a penalty and the big boot of Bradley managed to propel the ball successfully over the bar (3-6).

A few minutes later, Watkins, the lively Tata scrum half, scooted away from a lineout and found his team mates in support for flanker Lewis to cross under the posts. Bradley took the conversion rather too close to the posts and Pontypool managed to charge it down. This was not going to plan with Pooler losing 8-6 even though they were playing with the elements.

Pooler had twenty minutes to build a lead and they went about their task with gusto. The forwards were on top in the scrums and put together some impressive driving lineouts as they went in search of points. After a strong forward surge, scrum half Quick darted over for a try. This was converted by Jones to put Pooler back into the lead (8-13).

Tata were proving hard to break down and made things difficult by slowing down Pooler’s ball at the rucks. Eventually they transgressed once too often and they were reduced to fourteen men by a yellow card. As the first half came to a close, the Pooler scrum were heading for a pushover try when the scrum disintegrated. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try (8-20). Half time followed shortly afterwards and we doubted whether a twelve point lead was enough as the wind and rain continued unabated.

The second half was pretty similar to the first but this time it was Tata camped in the Pooler twenty two as they tried to close the gap in the scores. Pontypool held on grimly for the first quarter with their defence scrambling to keep out the powerful surges of the home team. The one area that the away side had a distinct edge was in the scrum and a number of penalties awarded against Tata gave the occasional chance for a relieving kick.

Pontypool held Tata out for twenty minutes or so but then Nash was sin binned for a high tackle. This gave the Tata pack numerical supremacy and they capitalised on it when Llewellyn barged over for a try. The successful conversion from Bradley put the home side in touching distance at 15-20. Things were looking distinctly ominous for Pontypool but they continued to defend as if their lives depended upon it.  Things got even more precarious when Bradley closed the gap to just two points with ten minutes left when he blasted over a penalty from well inside the Tata half (18-20).

Pontypool were restored to their full complement when Nash returned and a series of substitutions brought some much needed fresh legs on to the field. The Pontypool scrum took charge and gained a series of penalties which allowed Pontypool to work their way into the home twenty two for the first time in the second half and also wind down the clock. As the final whistle went, Pooler were just short of the Tata line. The Pooler fans sigh of relief was almost as strong as the wind. Final score 18-20. That charged down conversion proved vital in the end!

This was by far Pooler’s most difficult encounter of the season and to come out of it with a victory speaks volumes for the courage and commitment of the team. It was certainly not a day for attractive running rugby but one for dogged forward effort in attack and defence. Well done Pooler!

I did watch a bit of European rugby on the TV and sadly both the Scarlets and Ospreys lost in the Champions Cup and may well be heading for a Wexit at the group stage. The Scarlets were undone by Bath’s superior game plan in awful conditions with the Bath forwards and half backs controlling the game in the second half. Ospreys really gave the mighty Saracens a fright or two in a pulsating game which saw them come away with two bonus points – maybe they have turned the corner after a poor start to the season. We are at that stage of the Challenge Cup when no one knows which teams are taking it seriously. Still there were good away wins for Dragons and Blues to boost their hopes of progressing.

I also watched the Australia v All Blacks test on Saturday morning. Worryingly for Wales’ prospects in the Autumn Series, both sides look to be playing a far superior brand of rugby to that we have been seeing in Wales so far this season.  We have such a small pool of international class players that you wonder at any measures that are introduced which weaken the coaching team’s hand it terms of selection. I didn’t much care for Gatland’s law and I am not sure that the latest idea is going to do us (and especially Rhys Webb) any favours either. Of course, as most things in life these days, it is all about money and we in Wales just haven’t got enough of it to compete with the deep pockets in England and France. It’s easy to criticise but I don’t know what the answer is to make the underperforming regions competitive. Stifling the development of young players by stopping them playing in a more competitive and higher standard of rugby may not be it though.

Next Saturday Pontypool entertain Cardiff Met University at the Park. Let us hope that we can steer clear of storm Brian’s children and have a more entertaining and less harrowing encounter.

Come on Pooler!

Pooler Light the Afterburners

Pontypool were hoping to continue their winning run in the Championship when they took on Beddau at Pontypool Park on a dull but dry day. Beddau have always proved tough opposition particularly on their own patch and we looked forward to a competitive encounter.

Pontypool played up the slope in the first half and against a light breeze but made a sluggish start. Beddau seized the initiative and were soon in front through a penalty (0-3). As the home side struggled to find their rhythm, Beddau sensed that an upset was on the cards. They certainly looked the more likely to score the first try even though the Pooler defence was characteristically strong. As the game went into the second quarter, Beddau centre, Ashford, powered through the home defence to score near the posts and with the conversion things began to look ominous for Pontypool at 0-10.

Pooler needed to react and react they did a few minutes later. At last, a period of continuity with the ball being spread across the field by backs and forwards alike. It ended with a fine try when fullback Davies took the scoring pass wide on the right. Jones converted and the scoreboard looked a whole lot better at 7-10. The game was now evenly poised but there were signs that Pooler were just beginning to get the better of their opponents in the forward exchanges. As the half drew to a close, Nash powered over after a strong forward drive and Pontypool took the lead at 12-10.

One suspected that a few words of homespun advice were offered in the home changing room at half time as Pontypool started really strongly after the interval. Beddau managed to keep them out for five minutes or so but then followed one of the most breath-taking fifteen minutes of rugby that I have seen Pontypool play. It was if someone had lit the blue touch-paper on a firework. The Pontypool backs lit the afterburners and cut loose. Jones threw well-timed and accurate passes to get the three-quarters moving and fullback Davies provided the penetration with his well-timed interventions. It was Davies who opened the flood gates as he popped in support of Prothero in the left corner (17-10). Then came a candidate for try of the season as Meek, Jones and Davies combined for wing Thomas to score (24-10). Not to be outdone, the forwards got in the act when hooker Jeune picked a lovely angle to power over under the posts (31-10).

Before Beddau could get their breath back, Davies was at it again with a brilliant break that deserved a try. As he was tackled just short of the line, he popped up the ball for Jones who scored and then nailed the conversion (38-10). Moments later it was Gullis making a break and, despite the attentions of the Beddau defence, managed to stagger over the line for a try. This was converted by substitute Hancock (45-10). Pontypool had scored five tries and amassed 33 points in around fifteen minutes of high octane rugby and completely blown their dumbfounded opponents away.

Pontypool had made their substitutions and the game settled back into a more sedate pace as everyone on and off the field seemed to be stunned by what had just happened. Pontypool were still well on top but the team needed time to adjust to the fresh players. The truce did not last long though and Pooler were soon at it again piling on another three tries in the final ten minutes. A pushover try from Nash, a try by Meek following a break by Prothero and the final try coming from substitute scrum half Luckwell. All three were converted moving the score on to 66-10.

As the game came to an end, there was time for Beddau to get a consolation try as Francis took a quick tap penalty and scuttled over with the Pooler team looking on. Final score 66-17.

Well what can you say after a game like that? The Pooler “purple patch” was just incredible with the backs showing what a dangerous outfit they can be. Davies at fullback was outstanding but he was well supported by his team mates with Thomas on the wing showing bags of potential. Fantastic!

I did watch South Africa v New Zealand when I got home from the match and you have to say the Springboks were a little unlucky to lose. As I wrote last week, Wales are going to have a tough autumn even if they are going to come up again second or third choice players from the Southern Hemisphere. With the exodus of our best players from the Welsh regions, it will be interesting to see whether Gatland’s Law survives. Next week will show just how competitive the regions are (or aren’t) as they take on top flight opposition in the European cups.

For Pontypool there will be the visit of Skewen to the Park. Let’s hope we can reach the dizzy heights of Saturday again.

Come on Pooler!

The Case for the Defence

I had returned from my holidays to find Pontypool sitting proudly at the top of the Championship having won all of their first four games of the season. In my absence, they had recorded a narrow victory at Trebanos (24-27) and followed it up with convincing wins against Glynneath (47-19) and Bedlinog (24-55). The match on offer was expected to be a stern test with the visitors, Narberth, one of the stronger outfits in the league. I was interested to see how the team had evolved in my absence.

It was a grey day with rain never far away in Pontypool and the pitch looked green and lush as we took up our positions on the Bank with our umbrellas at the ready. Pontypool played up the slope in the first half and it was Narberth who seized the early initiative with a bright start. The home defence, however, looked solid as a rock and despite an early substitution due to an injury to Willliams rebuffed all attempts by Narberth to make meaningful inroads.

Pooler started to turn the screw in attack but found the spirited Narberth defence equally tough to penetrate. As the end of the first quarter approached, Pontypool broke the deadlock with a well-taken penalty by Jones (3-0). This seemed to be a turning point as the second quarter was very much dominated by the home side. Their defence suffocated Narberth and the attack began to find chinks in the Narberth armour. After half an hour, Meek crossed for a try after strong work by the Pooler pack which, with the conversion, opened up a 10-0 lead. The closing minutes of the half saw two more tries as Pontypool took control of the match. The first wide out by Prothero following the charge-down of an attempted clearance kick and the second by Parry from a driving lineout close to the Narberth line. The latter try was converted which gave Pontypool a substantial lead at the interval (22-0).

The second half opened with Narberth attacking strongly but there did not seem to be any way past the impressive and aggressive home defence. Pontypool looked a more potent attacking force but despite creating a number of chances it took a quarter of an hour before they scored their fourth try and secured a bonus point. The try came from another driving lineout near the Narberth line with this time the substitute hooker Jeune being the beneficiary. The conversion sailed over and Pooler were home and dry at 29-0.

The rest of the game was dominated by the defences with neither side able to make any impact on the scoreboard. Pontypool created the better chances but their handling let them down at critical moments. Pooler seemed intent on preventing Narberth from scoring any points and their defence was as committed at the end of the match as it was at the beginning. The final score was a resounding 29-0 victory for the home side.

This was a strong performance by Pontypool against a team that will surely be in the top three or four in the league at the end of the season. Indeed, Pooler must feel that they could have scored a further three or more tries if they had been more accurate. The well-organised defence was the bedrock of the victory and amply demonstrates the collective desire of the team to succeed. They have now opened up a significant gap at the top of the Championship with every other team having lost at least twice in the first five matches. Next week sees Beddau visiting Pontypool Park. They have proved tough opposition in the past so Pooler will have to be on their mettle if they are to keep the winning streak going.

I did watch a bit of rugby on the TV and enjoyed the frenetic Scarlets v Connaught match with Steff Evans surely pushing himself forward for a berth on the wing for Wales. The Ospreys had problems with big cats in South Africa in more ways than one while the Dragons managed a solid win in poor conditions against the hapless Southern Kings. At least the pitch at Rodney Parade seems to have improved compared with last season!

When I say a bit of rugby I realise I also watched the second half of the pulsating draw between South Africa v Australia – that is actually quite a lot of rugby.  Well I had been away for three weekends! Wales have lined up South Africa, Australia and the All Blacks for the Autumn series. From what I have seen this weekend, a win against any of these teams is going to be against the odds.

Still we have Beddau to think about. Come on Pooler!

Champion Start

Well here we are again –another season opens for Pontypool RFC. Let us hope that we can replicate the deeds of the previous season which proved to be thoroughly enjoyable. It is a milestone for me as it will be my fiftieth year as a Pooler supporter – there have been plenty of highs and lows that is for sure but never a dull moment.

The first league match of the season is always eagerly anticipated as it often sets the tone for the season. On Saturday the visitors were Rhydyfelin who were promoted to the Championship as winners of Division 1 East and rather like Pooler swept all before them last season. They were clearly keen to test their mettle against the reigning champions.

Pontypool Park was looking at its best on perfect afternoon for rugby. The pitch looked in absolutely peak condition so we had reason to expect a great game of rugby. As the teams ran out, it was immediately clear that there was a marked similarity in the kit that they were wearing and this did make it difficult at times for the aging spectator but the referee and players seemed happy enough.

For the first twenty minutes of the match you could have been forgiven for thinking that Rhydyfelin were the reigning Championship winners as, playing down the slope, they completely dominated possession and territory in impressive style. They were certainly well drilled and lively with backs and forwards combining as they attacked incessantly. The Pooler defence however was resolute and put in some really big hits and won turnovers at critical moments which enabled them to repel the onslaught.

Gradually the home pack started to make its presence felt with a dominant scrum and some typically powerful forward drives applying pressure. Indeed it was Pontypool who opened the scoring against the run of play with a well-taken penalty by Jones as the game entered the second quarter. This was followed a few minutes later by another penalty that opened up a 6-0 lead for the home side.

The game was now much more even with both sets of backs finding it difficult to crack the opposition’s defence. As the half drew to a close, it was Pooler who landed a telling blow when Parry scored from a lineout drive near the Rhydyfelin try line. The conversion was good and this opened up a very flattering 13-0 lead for the home side at half time.

It was Pontypool who started the stronger in the second half and, five minutes in, right wing Thomas scurried over for a try in Goff’s corner. The try was converted admirably by Jones and Pooler were 20-0 up.

The rest of the second half was rather a stalemate with defences on top and a high error count from both sides. Frustratingly Pooler created a number of gaps only to be undone by a forward pass or a knock-on. Rhydyfelin continued to be extremely competitive and Pooler’s lead was always under threat. For their part, Pontypool certainly looked a long way off earning the four try bonus point and this quest was not helped by the loss of the industrious Williams with a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.

Finally in injury time Pooler managed to breach the Rhydyfelin defence again when, after a bit of juggling amongst the backs, Meek scored in the corner. The successful conversion by Jones marked the end of the match with the final score 27-0.

This was a decent win for Pontypool against Rhydyfelin who look more than capable of being a force within the Championship. The final scoreline is pretty flattering and doesn’t reflect the visitors’ contribution to a hard-fought game. It was the first competitive match of the season and I am sure that there is much more to come from the Pontypool squad as the season progresses and the combinations begin to work more smoothly.

Next week there is a visit to the other Championship debutants, Trebanos. I am sure we can anticipate a warm welcome! Sadly I will miss the next few matches as I am away on holiday so I wish everyone the best of luck but rest assured I will be glued to my twitter feed with a light beverage in my hand.

Come on Pooler!

Happy Families

The Memorial Ground had a festive air with lots of families out enjoying the summer sun. Pontypool were being hosted by their neighbours Pontypool United for the last warm-up game before the season starts in earnest next weekend.

The match had none of the needle of Pooler’s previous encounter against Llanelli and was played in a competitive yet friendly spirit. Pooler, as the higher ranked side, quickly stamped their authority on the game with two well-taken tries from Thorley and Herbert in the first ten minutes which gave them a 0-12 lead. Pooler looked dangerous as they moved the ball at pace and more scores looked likely.

United grew into the game and their rush defence began to force some mistakes from their opponents. Indeed they started to put together some strong attacks themselves which culminated in a converted try by Takel to bring the score to 7-12.

The game then entered a period of stalemate with a series of handling errors and penalties resulting in a frustrating stop-start affair. As the first half drifted towards its close, Pooler broke the deadlock with a try under the posts by Thomas who was put into space by Luckwell. This gave the away side a decent lead at the half at 7-19.

Mass substitutions by both sides in the second half did nothing to improve the fluidity of the game with both sides struggling to put coherent attacks together. It took almost twenty minutes for the next score which came when Hancock dived over from close range after a series of forward drives by the Pooler pack. The conversion failed but Pooler looked in control at 7-24. A few minutes later United’s fate was sealed when Ferriman drove over following more strong forward play and with the successful conversion Pontypool were home and dry at 7-31.

There was still time for the resilient home team to score a consolation try when Takel bagged his second in the dying moments. The conversion went over and, as the final whistle blew moments later, the final score was 14-31.

This was a decent workout for Pontypool as the well-organised United side pushed them hard. Pooler will certainly need to tighten up and reduce the error count in the league matches to come. Nevertheless a successful pre-season should leave Pontypool in good heart for the challenges of the new campaign. The squad looks to have significant depth in all areas and it will be fascinating to see what the starting fifteen will be for the first league game with so many players in contention.

Pontypool will be taking on newly-promoted Rhydyfelin at the Park next Saturday and can expect a tough match as the newcomers will certainly want to impress against the reigning champions. I’m looking forward to it already!

Come on Pooler!

The not so friendly friendly

Pontypool’s warm up for the new season continued with a match at the Park against long-time rivals Llanelli. The added spice for this so called friendly was that Pooler had defeated the Premiership side last season in the Cup.

Right from the start it was clear that Llanelli were keen to exact revenge and the spice level was at least vindaloo. Llanelli dominated the early exchanges which were punctuated by several bouts of fisticuffs. They eventually outflanked the Pooler defence for Evans to score an unconverted try in the corner to take an early lead (0-5).

Pontypool got a foothold in the game which was clearly going to be a robust encounter with both sides fully committed. Pontypool equalised when second row Gibson suddenly shot out of a ruck and galloped thirty metres or so to score wide out (5-5). This stung Llanelli into action and they retook the lead with a try by Reyland after concerted pressure (5-10). Back came the home side with an unconverted try after a clever kick by Matthew Jones led to a try by Luckwell In the corner bringing the scores level (10-10).

Pontypool then took the lead when another expertly weighted kick by Jones was fielded at full pace by Hurley who raced twenty metres to score. The successful conversion gave Pontypool a 17-10 lead. Despite tremendous Llanelli pressure and being reduced to fourteen men by a yellow card, Pontypool managed to hold on to this lead until half time. This was a really competitive and enjoyable half of rugby with Pontypool certainly not suffering in any way in comparison to the Premiership team.

Llanelli had the edge in the opening exchanges in the second half with Pooler still down to fourteen men. Pontypool’s defence was strong and uncompromising but eventually it cracked and Llanelli closed the gap to 17-15 with another unconverted try by Evans.

Llanelli continued to press but Pooler struck with a fine try when Luckwell crossed under the posts after clever inter-passing following a turnover (24-15). Llanelli were far from finished and, as the inevitable substitutions, were made their three quarters started to look more and more dangerous. Pooler’s chances were not helped when they were reduced to fourteen men again after a yellow card for a high tackle. The gap in the scores was narrowed to 24-22 when they scored a converted try and with ten minutes to go it was anyone’s game.

Pontypool worked their way into a promising position and were awarded a lineout close to the Llanelli line. Then, disaster, the lineout went horribly wrong and Llanelli took full toll as they moved the ball wide and, with the home defence splintered, went the length of the field for Jenkins to score in the corner. The conversion failed but the West Walians had taken the lead at 24-27.

Pontypool tried to bounce back from this blow but to no avail and a match that was there for the taking had slipped through their grasp.

Pontypool have every reason to be optimistic for the new campaign as they matched their opponents from the league above in virtually every aspect of a highly competitive game. Indeed for large periods they bossed the game and can consider themselves rather unfortunate to lose. Of course there is work to do and the high penalty count and those two yellow cards are a cause for concern but overall this was a very satisfactory outing. It was certainly nice to witness a competitive “friendly”.

Well done Pooler!

Musical Chairs

I made a short jaunt to Tondu to cast my eye over the Pooler squad as it starts a run of friendly games in preparation for the new season. These games are not really about winning and losing but more about giving the coaching staff an opportunity to observe as many squad members as possible in a match situation rather than in training. For the spectator, it is utterly confusing as changes in personnel seem to be happening all the time. It is almost like a game of musical chairs – when the referee’s whistle blows there is a mad rush to be one of the thirty players on the field!

Suffice it to say, the Pooler squad looks in fine fettle with several of the new additions to the squad catching the eye and complementing the old guard. Tondu provided stern opposition for the first two thirds of the game but fell away in the final third as the strength in depth of the Pooler squad told. For the record the final score was 7-65 with Pooler running in six tries in the final third. Pooler scored eleven tries in all with Craig Atwell bagging a hat trick.

On the face of this performance, Pontypool look to be in a position to mount a strong challenge for the Championship title again. Overall there would appear to be few if any weaknesses but only time will tell. Lock proved to be a problem position last year due to injuries but all four of the locks on view looked fit and raring to go. Next week’s match against Premiership Llanelli will give the squad a more challenging yardstick to use to measure progress with the preparations for the upcoming season.

This season marks fifty years of supporting Pontypool for me and I am looking forward to the season as if it was my first.

Come on Pooler! 

The Lions’ Share

Wow that was some finale! The final test between the New Zealand All Blacks and the British and Irish Lions ended in a draw meaning that the three match series was shared. That is a brilliant achievement for a squad drawn from four nations that has been brought together in a restricted amount of time. The All Blacks are the current world champions and, by some margin, the most successful team on the planet.

How did the Lions do it? They must be wondering themselves. The usually clinical All Blacks proved strangely fallible in a one-sided first half. True they scored two tries but they could have, nay should have, added at least two more to effectively put the match to bed before half time. That the Lions finished the half only six points down was testament to their dogged determination and ability to take any points on offer by way of penalties. In truth, the Lions rarely threatened to score a try with their best chance leading to an interception which could easily have resulted in a try the other end.

The second half was a real dogfight with defences generally on top. The All Blacks looked the more likely to score a try but the Lions continued to force the home side to give away penalties which they duly converted. Three penalties from the Lions and one for the All Blacks made the score 15-15 as the match entered its final knockings. All our hearts where in our mouths when Owens appeared to field the ball in an offside position in an eminently kickable position following a kick-off with minutes remaining. Following a review, the initial penalty was downgraded to a scrum and the Lions escaped and managed to hold on for the draw. Mind you, with the erratic nature of the All Blacks’ goalkicking it was by no means a certainty that it would have been converted. This is the real reason why the All Blacks failed to win the second and third tests – vital kicks were missed. Farrell has been rock solid for the Lions as Halfpenny was in the last series in Australia.

The draw led to a strange atmosphere at the end of the match where the teams weren’t sure whether to celebrate or commiserate. As the enormity of their achievement sunk in, the Lions no doubt celebrated with some justification. They have certainly rattled the All Blacks and at times made them look far from invincible.

The Lions’ test side ended up pretty close to the one that most people predicted when the tour party was announced. The one big miss was the pace and power of a completely fit George North which would have added a bit of punch to what was quite a light weight set of backs. The combination of Sexton and Farrell worked up to a point and was at its most effective when the All Blacks were a flanker short in the second test. Jonathan Davies had a great series and looked accomplished in all that he did. The back three were a bit erratic with flashes of brilliance accompanied by moments of frailty in defence. Murray was solid at scrum half and took his try well in the second test.

The scrum creaked more than a little with the best scrummaging props being left on the side-lines in favour of the better ball handlers. The lineout worked well apart from a few throws going wrong here and there. In the loose the back row tackled and scrapped manfully and were backed up admirably by the front five. Itoje enhanced his already glowing reputation and provided he stays fit will surely lead the Lions on their next tour to South Africa. Would Billy Vunipola have made a difference? We will never know but the efforts of Faletau were remarkable at times. Warburton proved a level headed captain who led by example and worked well with the combative O’Brien. Congratulations to Alun Wyn Jones on playing in nine successive tests for the Lions – a fantastic achievement. It is up there with Pooler’s Graham Price.

Then of course there was that fantastic Lions’ try in the first test, Yes the Lions as an entity is far from being consigned to the mists of time – particularly when twenty thousand plus fans are prepared to spend large swathes of their life savings to cross the world to support it.

Well done to Warren Gatland and the class of 2017 – you did us proud.

It is only a couple of months before the rugby season and we once more take our places on the Bank at Pontypool Park. It will be tough for the Pooler to match (or even beat) last year’s fantastic achievements but as always I will enter the season with an air of optimism. No matter who plays in the red, white and black they have my support.

Come on Pooler!   

Lions Pounce

I was absolutely delighted that the British & Irish Lions beat the All Blacks of New Zealand yesterday but, if it was hard work watching it, it must have been agonising playing. Similarly to the first test the Lions started well enough but failed to get on the score board. As the All Blacks began to take control, the Lions were given some unexpected assistance in the form of the sending off of Sonny Bill Williams in the first half. This meant that it was fifteen against fourteen and made for a far more even contest. An exchange of penalties left the score at 9-9 at half time and it was all to play for.

The first twenty minutes of the second half were dominated in terms of possession and territory by the short-handed home team. Their pressure and the Lions’ largesse led to a string of penalties and the Kiwis built up a nine point lead. Things looked bad for the Lions and got worse when Vunipola was yellow carded. Then came a moment of inspiration as the Lions moved the wide right and then wide left for Faletau to power over in the corner. The conversion sailed wide but the Lions were back in the game. The All Blacks being the All Blacks didn’t take it lying down and despite narrowly missing out on a try were awarded a kickable penalty to restore a seven point lead at 21-14. Indeed if Barrett had got his kicking boots the All Blacks could have and should have had thirty points on the board.

In the last quarter the Lions needed inspiration and they got it from a surging run by George who set up a ruck near the NZ line. Murray spotted a gap and powered over and with the conversion the scores were level. Momentum was with the Lions and they went on the attack. A poor pass to Sinckler meant he had to jump to catch the ball. As he caught the ball he was tackled in the air and a penalty was awarded to the Lions with Farrell duly obliging for the Lions to take the lead with a few minutes remaining. The All Blacks came back strongly but the Lions held out for a famous victory 21-24.

This was a gutsy performance from the Lions in atrocious weather conditions and keeps the series alive. There are always ifs and buts but we should celebrate it as victories in New Zealand are like hen’s teeth. Probably the most worrying feature about the Lions’ play was the number of penalties conceded which could easily have lost them the match. It was borne out of the frustration created by the All Blacks’ stranglehold on the game in the third quarter but it certainly needs to improve if victory is to be secured in the final test. The intensity and passion of the Lions was there for all to see and was accompanied by some flashes of brilliance. We need that and more next week if we are to take the series as we can expect a serious backlash from the Kiwis. It would seem sensible to stick with the same team next week although that will depend on the outcome O’Brien’s citing and of course the injury list.

Good luck Lions  

Caged Lions

A lot has been said and written about the British & Irish Lions 30-15 defeat by the All Blacks in the first test. Strangely we expected it to be the Lions’ forwards who would have the edge over their opponents but this was clearly not the case nor is it likely to happen in the next two encounters. This is particularly evident in the contact area where the All Blacks almost always make a yard or two when they are tackled which allows them to get the ball on the ground and away quickly. This is not just the forwards but the backs as well. They are not bigger and probably not stronger as measured by how many weights they can lift in the gym but have an innate ability to get their body position just right. I don’t remember too many instances when a Lions’ tackle stopped the man dead or knocked him back. This cannot be an accident so I wonder how they train the players to be so effective. This factor had a large part to play in the outcome of the game as it enabled the All Blacks to retain possession and force the Lions to give away penalties. In this aspect of the game the Lions sorely miss Billy Vunipola as it seems that he along with his brother and to an extent Faletau also seem to be blessed with the ability to break tackles.

It seemed to me that the two sets of three-quarters were quite evenly matched with the Lions looking dangerous particularly when the All Blacks were reorganised themselves as they lost players to injury. At half back the All Blacks had a distinct edge with Smith running the show. I think the Lions could have brought on Webb earlier and made a straight swap between Farrell and Sexton. Farrell and Sexton playing together were not strong enough to contain Sonny Bill Williams.

Would I make changes for the next test? I don’t think there is any real need to change the backs and half backs. In the forwards change the locks to Itoje and Lawes and bring in Warburton for O’Mahony. Henderson and Tipuric on the bench. You can never second guess Gatland though!

There is of course the old cliché about the wounded lion being dangerous so let’s hope it comes true next Saturday. Somehow you think that the wounded lion will be put out of its misery.

Into the Lions then….

Saturday afternoon didn’t seem the same. No Pontypool rugby - just me, the couch, and the TV set. A mighty successful and enjoyable season for Pooler is over. Other teams still have a lot to play for though.

My first thoughts were for our friends and rivals at Newbridge. They had to get a point out of their visit to Narberth to be sure of their place in the Championship next season. I was delighted that they did it in style and recorded a thumping win. The Gwent representation in the Championship would certainly have been pretty sparse without them.

I tuned in to the European Champions Cup semi-final between Munster and Saracens expecting a close thing. In the end, Munster seemed rudderless without Connor Murray and were overpowered by Saracens whose stronger set of replacements took the game away from the Irishmen in the last quarter. Apparently around a quarter of the Lions’ squad were on view in this match and I guess the way the Saracens play might give us a clue as to how the Lions will play. The Saracens were streetwise and ruthless with possibly five of the Lions’ test pack in their ranks and Farrell directing operations at 10. Not pretty but mighty effective.

A lot has been spoken and written about the make-up of the Lions’ squad. In particular about there being twelve Welshmen and only two Scotsmen when Scotland beat Wales in the Six Nations this year. I think the Scots capitulation against England might be a better yardstick to use where the Scots were found wanting when the pressure came on away from home. In a lot of cases the margins in selection must have been mighty close and I am sure it is not a question of bias as Gatland is as pragmatic as they come. Good to see the Pontypool connection with the Lions is still going strong with Faletau and the Vunipola brothers in the touring party. Let us hope that there are no injury problems before the tour and the squad pull together and take it to the All Blacks. They will need a lot of skill plenty of good fortune if they are to prevail.

Congratulations to RGC 1404 for winning the WRU National Cup. This time last year RGC 1404 and Pontypool were locked in a battle for the last promotion place in the Premiership. It demonstrates once again what a good thing promotion/relegation is.

Have a great summer all you Pooler fans.

Pooler Find Bed Uncomfortable

For those of us who were looking forward to a warm, relaxing, spring afternoon, Pontypool’s visit to Bedlinog was a disappointment. There was a keen breeze blowing down the valley which made a warm coat a necessity. The pitch nestled in the valley alongside the river and was dry and firm to say the least with grass in short supply. This was Pooler’s last game of a glorious season and, with a number of familiar faces missing from the starting line-up, you felt that this was going to be a tough encounter against Championship newcomers Bedlinog who occupied a mid-table position.

Pontypool kicked off playing down the valley with the stiff breeze at their backs and immediately went on the attack. Unfortunately they turned over possession when pressing hard and the home side booted the ball up the field. I think the referee was the only person who was convinced that Walker, the Bedlinog wing, had won the chase and touched down in the corner. The conversion failed and the home side had an early lead at 5-0.

Pontypool responded by camping out in the Bedlinog half but were frustrated by a committed defence. Finally, after a quickly taken tapped penalty, Gibson was put clear to cross in the left corner and open the away side’s account and bring the scores level at 5-5. Pontypool continued to attack and gradually built up the lead that you thought would be essential when they turned around to face the elements in the second half. A smartly taken dropped goal by Meek was supplemented by two penalties for Pooler to lead 5-14 after half an hour.

As the first half was coming to an end, the away side were penalised and Bedlinog spurned a relatively easy shot at goal to kick for the corner. This turned out to be a wise decision as, after a series of powerful forward drives, Huish forced his way over near the posts. The successful conversion meant that Pooler’s lead had been trimmed dramatically to 12-14. In the final moments of the half Morgan the Bedlinog flanker was sin-binned for foul play and you felt that this could influence the outcome of a closely contested match.

Pontypool started the second half purposefully and looked as if they really meant to capitalise on their extra man. They were awarded a penalty and opted for a lineout near the Bedlinog line. After a number of forward drives the referee decided that the home side had illegally prevented a try from being scored and awarded Pooler a penalty try. This was just the start that Pontypool wanted – not only had they opened up a 12-21 lead but also the Bedlinog number 8 Murphy had been yellow carded.

This proved to be the turning point in the game and not long after Thorley managed to finish off a good attack by diving over in the left corner and gave Pontypool breathing space with a 12-26 lead.

Bedlinog were far from finished and were given fresh impetus when Meek was yellow carded for a high tackle. They attacked strongly but were thwarted by a Pontypool defence that was not about to let the match slip. A try from the home side at this stage would certainly have made things interesting.

As the match approached full time, the introduction of Matthew Jones proved decisive. His deft kick ahead was gathered by Thorley who fed the supporting Watkins who in turn passed to Sparks who crossed to put the result of the match beyond doubt. Though the conversion failed, Pooler had secured a bonus point and an unassailable lead at 12-31. The match finished with Pontypool attacking strongly but they could not add to their tally.

This was a tough outing for Pontypool who did well to pull off a victory against strong opposition. It brings a marvellous campaign to an end and hearty congratulations to all at the club for making this such a memorable season. Of the many high points, I think the one that will live longest in my memory was that stunning victory in Cardiff Arms Park.

Sadly at the end of all that effort there is not a crock of gold. There is no promotion to the Premiership and Pontypool will have to keep doing what they have done this campaign for another two seasons. I am sure they are more than capable of doing just that but it does seem more than a little unfair.

Judgement Day didn’t really turn out as most people expected. In the first match, a strangely muted Ospreys team was soundly beaten by a fired up Cardiff Blues. In the other match, what was meant to be a try fest for the Scarlets against the Dragons was anything but that with the Scarlets grateful for a narrow victory. So it’s not all about West Wales after all!

Attention now turns to the Lions and the names of those selected for the ultimate honour. I am certainly not going to make any predictions about the make-up of the squad but whoever puts on the famous red jersey let’s get right behind them and see if we can turn over the mighty All Blacks.

Well done Pooler, see you next season.

Champagne Rugby

There was a festive air about Pontypool Park on Saturday. Pontypool were playing their last home game of a mighty successful season. The previous week they had secured the Welsh Championship title and nothing was going to rain on their parade. The Park was bathed in glorious sunshine as young and old enjoyed the party atmosphere. Tata Steel RFC were the visitors and had every intention of being party poopers if they could. For a large part of the season they had been Pooler’s nearest challengers but their challenge had fallen away over the last month or so.

Pontypool kicked off playing down the slope and soon showed that they meant business. They scored three tries within the first quarter of an hour – a powerful burst by Davies, Brooks showing his pace to win the chase from a kick ahead and Watkins from a driving lineout. With two successful conversions from Jones, a 19-0 lead had been opened up before Tata could draw breath.

Pontypool failed to secure the ball from the kick off after their third try and Tata showed that they were not there just to make up the numbers with a well taken try by Davies which was converted by Owen (19-7).

This, however, did not sow the seeds of a comeback as Pooler took complete control in the second quarter with the backs looking like they could score at will. Pooler recorded four more tries through Kent, Thorley, Brooks and Gullis with two successful conversions to make the score at half time an incredible 43-7. The visitors seemingly had no answer to the power and pace of the Pooler machine.

What happened in the second half was bizarre to say the least. Pooler emerged from the changing room looking like they had eaten a nice lunch accompanied by a glass of a robust red wine. Tata Steel came out looking like they had been fed raw meat and were on a mission to salvage their wounded pride. It took the visitors a few minutes to realise that Pooler were having a siesta and then they mounted a fantastic assault. The home defence obligingly opened like the Red Sea for Moses and Tata took full toll. In no time they ran in five tries as their lively backs discovered their mojo. Fortunately for Pooler, Tata’s goal kicking did not match their running and only one of the tries was converted. Nevertheless a seemingly impregnable lead had disappeared before the home team’s very eyes. Tata had amazingly closed the gap to 43-34 and we had barely reached the final quarter of the match.

Pooler’s answer was to empty the substitute’s bench and, once the fresh personnel had got up to speed, the home side regained a grip on a match that was careering out of their grasp. A brace of tries from Thorley settled Pontypool’s nerves and made the scoreboard look a little bit more comfortable at 55-34. Pooler were still pressing hard as a breath-taking game came to a close.

After the game, Pontypool were presented with the cup for winning the Championship by Gareth Davies from the WRU. There was the obligatory champagne shower for those who got too close. I had forgotten how nice it is when your team wins something!

As we celebrated Pooler’s brilliant achievement, I couldn’t help looking back to another sunny day in April the previous season. That time we had little to celebrate when RGC 1404 had beaten us and ultimately scuppered our chances of promotion to the Premiership. Pontypool have done incredibly well to bounce back from that heartbreak and have played some great rugby this season. All this would not be possible but for the support of Peter and Ben Jeffreys and all our other sponsors who have stood by our great club – a big thank you to them all.

The season is not over for Pontypool. Next Saturday they travel to Bedlinog for the final match of the season. Bedlinog have secured their Championship status for next season but will still want to put one over on the champs if they can. I don’t expect another try fest that is for sure.

Our near neighbours Newbridge have a tough challenge on their hands - if they are to avoid relegation they need to get some points out of a visit to second placed Narberth . I wish them all the best.

Well done to all at Pooler you have made an old man very happy! 

     A champagne moment

I get to grips with the cup