Pooler Take Their Chances

This was a rare event indeed – an opportunity to watch Pontypool play a match in the Championship in 2018. “Gather ye rosebuds” and all that and so we trundled down to Beddau to see the action. Beddau invariably give a warm welcome to their visitors both on and off the field and this was no exception. The weather was mercifully dry and the pitch although a little muddy was in good condition for an open game. The game that followed was quite strange in the way that the final score did not really reflect the balance of play on the field at all.

In the first half Beddau dominated possession and to a large extent territory but could not breach the strong Pontypool defence. What little possession Pooler had they either conceded an early penalty for being off their feet at the ruck or were content to kick downfield to the home back three. But Pontypool knew how to take their chances and this was where the big difference between the two sides lay.

The first score of the match came after about ten minutes when the Beddau defence made a horrendous hash of fielding a speculative kick down field by Pontypool. The ball went loose and Mahoney gratefully grabbed it to score near the posts. Meek converted and Pooler had established a 0-7 lead against the run of play.

Beddau continued to be the aggressor and, after half an hour or so, looked to be about to score as they pressed strongly near the Pontypool line. Owen Williams made a timely interception and just about had the legs to run virtually the length of the pitch and win the race to the Beddau line. The try was again converted by Meek and Pooler had doubled their lead to 0-14.

To make matters worse for Beddau, a tremendous long distance driving maul by the Pontypool pack led to a penalty try being awarded in injury time. This left Pontypool with a 0-21 lead at the interval and Beddau short of a prop due to a yellow card.

After about five minutes of the second half, Pontypool finally put together an excellent piece of sustained attack. Forwards and backs combined well to put Owen Williams in for his second try in the corner. The try was unconverted but Pooler had built a formidable lead at 0-26 and had gained the try bonus point.

Beddau continued to attack at every opportunity but their moves seemed to break down at the critical moment as they foundered on the rock of the Pooler defence. Half way through the second half, there was another interception, this time by Sparks, that put paid to another promising attack. The Pooler number eight showed a clean pair of heels to the home backs and scored in the corner (0-31).

There followed the usual raft of substitutions and, despite a yellow card for Ball, Pontypool finished the stronger. With the final play of the game, the Pontypool pack drove hard at the Beddau line and Atwell scored their sixth try of the afternoon. Matthew Jones, who had come on a substitute, added a fine conversion lo make the final score 0-38.

As I wrote earlier, the score line really was rather flattering for Pontypool and Beddau certainly did not deserve to leave the field scoreless. The game is about taking your chances though and that was Pontypool did and the home team failed to do. So Pontypool’s unbeaten league record remains intact and now stands at fifteen out of fifteen this season. They are now seventeen points clear at the top with games in hand on the pursuing pack led by Tata Steel.

 

In two weeks’ time, Pontypool face by far their biggest challenge of the season when they travel to Merthyr to take on the Premiership league leaders in the National Cup quarter final. I am sure Pooler will give a good account of themselves and no doubt the Pooler Army will be out in force for what promises to be a great occasion.

Next week, Wales cross the Irish Sea to take on the Irish in Dublin. This will be no place for the faint hearted and Wales will need to be at their very best to withstand a very confident and powerful Irish outfit. They certainly need to have the resources to cope with a barrage of pinpoint kicks from Murray and Sexton. With this in mind, I would like to see Halfpenny, Liam Williams and North restored to the side to make a solid back three. I also think I would start with Patchell at outside half even though Anscombe performed pretty impressively at Twickenham.

Come on Pooler and come on Wales!