Pooler Pilfer the Points

Well we are off! The Welsh Championship for 2018-19 has got under way and there is the massive carrot of promotion to the Premiership back on the menu. Pontypool’s first fixture was a visit to newly promoted Ystrad Rhondda at Gelligaled Park. To continue the fruit and veg theme, this had banana skin written all over it as the home side had finished the previous season strongly and would certainly fancy their chances of upsetting the reigning champions. The weather was warm and humid and the pitch in perfect condition as a decent crowd assembled on the grassy bank.

It certainly did not take long for Pontypool to realise that they were in for a torrid afternoon as Ystrad Rhondda seized the early initiative and pressed hard for the opening score. It was only a bit of over-eagerness from the home side and sound defence from Pooler that kept them out. After a quarter of an hour of defending, Pooler worked their way into the home twenty two and, after a series of energy sapping forward drives, managed to create the narrowest of gaps for Prothero to squeeze in for a try in the right corner. The conversion failed but Pooler had registered the first points of the afternoon to the relief of their followers (0-5).

This relief was short lived as moments later Ystrad splintered the Pooler defence and only a last gasp tackle by Sparks prevented them for scoring under the posts. Sparks was subsequently given a yellow card for not allowing the tackler to release the ball and Shepherd popped over the penalty (3-5).

The rest of the first half was scoreless but it was the home side who looked the more likely to score as they dominated possession. They exerted considerable pressure on the Pontypool set pieces and were a force to be reckoned with at the breakdown. Pooler were probably relieved when the half-time whistle was blown and they could retreat to the changing room to discuss how to overcome their tenacious opponents.

The second half had barely begun when Ystrad were awarded a penalty for an offence at a ruck in front of the Pontypool posts. Shephard converted the penalty comfortably for the home side to take the lead at 6-5. This seemed to spur Pooler into action and they started to look more like their old selves. A penalty from Jones re-established their narrow lead (6-8) but they still had their work cut out if they were going to win the match.

Ten minutes into the half came the moment that changed the course of the match. Pontypool were awarded a penalty on the Ystrad twenty two and scrum half Luckwell was impeded as he tried to take it quickly. Ystrad prop Foulkes was awarded a yellow card for this offence and Pooler sensed an opportunity. They kicked for the corner and the ball was just held up over the line after a strong lineout drive. The shorthanded home pack was driven back at the ensuing scrum and the referee awarded a penalty try (6-15).

Five minutes later Pontypool were on the attack and a kick ahead from Morris was partially charged down. The bounce of the ball was kind to the away side and Gullis scooped up the ball to score Pooler’s third try. The conversion from Meek was successful and Pontypool had stretched their lead to 6-22. The Pontypool faithful heaved a concerted sigh of relief that could be heard in Tonypandy.

Pontypool were probably a little guilty of relaxing while Ystrad were anything but relaxed as they upped their effort yet another notch. The Pontypool defence seemed spellbound as the Ystrad wing Llewellyn carved his way up the field to run forty metres or so to score. Shephard duly converted and Ystrad were fired up and convinced that they could trim the Pontypool lead further (13-22).

Sadly for the home side, an attack for inside their own half went horribly wrong and Usher was able to gather a loose ball to gallop forty metres to score Pooler’s fourth try. Meek converted and Pooler had earned a bonus point and opened up a sixteen point lead with ten minutes of the match remaining (13-29).

Ystrad certainly did not think that the game was over and pressed strongly to try and get at least a bonus point out of the encounter. Pontypool’s defence held firm until the very last play of the match when, after a concerted period of pressure, Ystrad created an overlap for Clarke to score an unconverted try in the left corner. Final score Ystrad Rhodda 18 Pontypool 29.

This was a really tough opening encounter for Pontypool against a lively and highly motivated Ystrad Rhondda side. The home side bossed the game for long periods and put the Pooler pack under a lot of pressure. A word of praise for referee Kevin Shorte who I thought had an excellent match and went about his business in a calm and assured manner even when emotions were high. It is said that it is the sign of a good side if you can eke out a win when you are not playing your best. This is very much the case for Pontypool in this match. Ystrad Rhondda can take a lot of heart from their performance and can feel very hard done by that they came away without at least a bonus point.

I haven’t watched much Welsh rugby on the TV this weekend. I did catch a little bit of Ulster v Scarlets on S4C but I haven’t yet subscribed to Premier Sports and I wonder how many have so far. The only Welsh region to win were the Ospreys with both the Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets losing narrowly to Irish opposition. The Dragons yet again went down to defeat this time at home to Benetton and will have to delve deep into their book of excuses to find something original.

Next week Pontypool will play Tata Steel at Pontypool Park and will surely be looking for an improved performance against a team that they know well having played them three times last season. I am going away for a few weeks and will miss this and a couple of other games but my thoughts will be with the Pooler and my phone never far from my person when 14.30 on a Saturday comes around.

Come on Pooler!