Pooler Cut Loose – Eventually

The scene was set for a typical Gwent local derby with age-old rivals Newbridge and Pontypool locking horns for the umpteenth time. A large, boisterous crowd was looking forward to a typically uncompromising encounter. The Newbridge pitch was heavy and cloying after all the recent rain but perfectly playable and was sure to be a real test of stamina. Pontypool were defending their unbeaten record, Newbridge were intent on ending it if they could.

Virtually from the kick-off, Pontypool conceded a penalty in front of their posts. Reese converted with glee to give the home side an early 3-0 advantage. It was clear right from the start that this was going to be a battle with no quarter asked for or given. After about ten minutes, the fuse was lit when Newbridge fullback Hudd head-butted his opposite number Thomas in a contretemps on the touch line. This was all the teams needed to burst into action and it all kicked off Wild West style with a mass brawl with just about all the players involved. Eventually it calmed down but the referee had spotted the initial head butt and showed a red card to Hudd. Bad feeling was never far below the surface from then on and the referee did well to keep matters under control.

The sending off stacked the odds in Pooler’s favour but you would never have known it as the contest was pretty even for the next twenty minutes or so. True, Pontypool got on the scoreboard with a penalty try from a scrum close to the Newbridge line, but the home side took advantage of Pooler’s lack of discipline with Reese adding two penalties the second from the halfway line. So with five minutes of the first half left, Newbridge were leading 9-7.  

There were turnovers galore as Pooler used their forwards to power into contact while Newbridge used their smart backs at every opportunity giving the Pooler defence plenty to think about. The heavy pitch did not make things easy and the ball was often so muddy it was difficult to see. A bit of sandpaper might have come in useful!

It was from a powerful surge by the Pontypool forwards that Coundley charged over the line for a try near the posts and with the conversion gave the away side the lead at 9-14. There was more good news for Pooler as the half drew to a close. A break by the excellent Herbert was taken on by the forwards and Gullis managed to squeeze in for a try in the corner. The conversion failed but Pontypool held a useful 9-19 lead at halftime.

At the start of the second half, the Newbridge backs continued to give Pontypool anxious moments and it was no great surprise when King sped over for a great long range try and although the conversion was missed it put Newbridge back in striking distance at 14-19 with half an hour to go.

Short-handed Newbridge had put in a massive effort which was bound to take its toll. In addition to the sending off, they had also suffered a number of injuries so the last thing they needed was to see fresh legs coming on to the field as Pontypool deployed their substitutes. Eddie Jones may have his finishers but Leighton Jones has his terminators. Sparks in particular made a big impact and almost scored straight after his introduction but was held up just short of the Newbridge line. Pooler recycled the ball for Meek to score the try and then convert it. Pontypool had opened up a significant lead at 14-26 and it proved all too much for the tiring home side.

Sparks then made the game safe for Pontypool with a brace of tries. The first when he supported a good run by Jordan Williams and the second when he sped over unopposed from a lineout near the Newbridge line. Both tries were converted by Meek and Pooler were well clear at 14-40 with ten minutes to go.

Pontypool were now rampant and full back Thomas ran a good angle to pierce the home defence and race over for a try which was again converted by Meek (14-47). To their credit, Newbridge kept trying to run the ball at every opportunity but this met with disaster when Meek intercepted a loose pass to gallop over for his second try which he duly converted (14-54). Pontypool saved their best back play until the end when an intricate interchange between Meek and Gullis opened the way for Mahoney to score the away side’s ninth and final try. The conversion failed and Pontypool ran out comfortable winners at 14-59.

The score line does not truly reflect the effort that the tough and hardworking Newbridge side put into the game. Despite being down to fourteen men after ten minutes, they were well in the game for an hour and gave Pooler plenty to think about. Pontypool managed to keep their cool and in the end were playing the kind of rugby we know they can. The unbeaten run continues with the next hurdle Newcastle Emlyn at home next week.

I wait with bated breath to hear the official announcement of exactly what Premiership/Championship rugby is going to look like for the future – at least until the inevitable reorganisation that follows this one anyway. Rumours abound and it would be good to see it laid out in black and white. I guess it is as simple as reinstating promotion and relegation between a reduced sized Premiership and the Championship and cutting back on the WRU financing. I am still not sure why they ring-fenced the Premiership anyway. I wonder if the A licence criteria will remain? I remain sceptical of the under-23 regional rugby initiative, but you never know it might just work.

There was good news for Welsh rugby with the progression of the Scarlets and the Blues to the semi-finals of their respective European tournaments. I watched the Scarlets win against La Rochelle which was a really hard fought affair. I though Ken Owens was outstanding and was the inspiration behind the victory.

Still four Pontypool games left with that unbeaten record on the line.

Come on Pooler!