Here Pooler Go Again

It’s great to be back! The rugby season proper has started at last. Considering that Wales were playing Ireland at the same time, a goodly band of supporters were at Pontypool Park to watch the league opener against Beddau in the early autumn sunshine. Conditions were ideal for rugby with little wind and the pitch looking like a billiard table. The Pontypool team featured a number of new recruits and we were all keen to see if they could enhance Pooler’s chances of promotion after the agony of last season. At least there will be no play-offs to contend with – unless of course the WRU change their minds. The Championship looks a lot stronger this season and it will take a monumental effort from Pontypool to prevail and achieve their ambition of a return to the Premiership. A good performance on the first day was therefore essential.

Pontypool played down the slope in the first half and looked powerful from the off. New captain Matthews and the centre pairing of Mahoney and Nove carried strongly and made inroads into the Beddau defences. A promising Pontypool attack down the right wing looked to have broken down but the ball was hacked on for Lewis to gather and with his searing pace there was only one outcome. Pontypool were up and running and with Meek’s conversion led 7-0.

Pontypool continued to dominate but a stubborn Beddau defence and early season rustiness saw them frustrated until the second quarter. A bust by Hughes was supported by Stratton and Meek was on hand to take the scoring pass. He converted the try to give Pontypool a 14-0 lead.

A couple of minutes later, it was Matthews who burst through the away team’s defence and this time the supporting Stratton did it all himself and galloped forty metres or so for the home side’s third try. It went unconverted but the lead was now beginning to look decisive at 22-0.

On the back of a series of penalties conceded by Pontypool, Beddau did work themselves into a number of promising positions but the home defence managed to keep them out. The last score of the half went to Pooler when powerful thrusts by Mahoney and Matthews set up a try for Hughes and with the conversion Pooler had a comfortable half time lead at 26-0 and had secured the four try bonus point.

The second half began badly for the home side with a yellow card for Clarke which gave Beddau great field position as well as numerical advantage. They made the most of it with Wells taking the ball at pace to score near the posts. Byard converted and the away side had closed the gap to 26-7.

Pontypool again asserted their dominance when Luckwell dived over for a try from short range after some good play from the home backs. Another conversion from Meek reinstated their twenty six point lead at 33-7. Almost immediately afterwards Beddau struck back when Paul ran a great angle to cross for an unconverted try (33-12).

As we reached the final quarter, both sides made copious substitutions as the effects of the first proper game of the season and the warm sun took their toll. Pontypool benefited from a yellow card for Beddau prop, Jones, for an offence at a ruck with the home side pressing hard.  A quickly taken tapped penalty saw the mighty Matthews power over for a well-deserved try. Meek converted and Pooler were well clear at 40-12.

As the game drew to a close, another yellow card for Beddau had Morgan sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle. Pooler kicked for the corner and their driving lineout finally bore fruit after many abortive attempts during the course of the game. Substitute hooker, Ball, was the beneficiary and Meek again added the extras (47-12).

The final minutes of the game so uncontested scrums but despite both teams getting themselves into promising positions there was no further scoring. Final score Pontypool 47 Beddau 12.

This was a convincing win for Pontypool as their league campaign gets under way. The players looked fit and strong with the set pieces looking in good order. Yes of course there was some rustiness and unfamiliarity with new squad members that led the occasional error but that is to be expected so early in the season. Overall a really encouraging performance with the new squad members showing up well. Matthews the new skipper certainly led from the front as Nash had done so well in the previous seasons.

There are tough encounters to come in the next few weeks that is for sure. It starts next week with the National Cup game against Swansea who kicked off their Premiership season with a big win against Llanelli. This is followed by a visit to Ystalyfera then Neath at home and Narberth away. A daunting schedule but I am sure Pooler are up to the challenge.

While we were sunning ourselves at Costa Pooler, Wales were playing Ireland in Dublin. Another defeat with Wales going down 19-10. They have lost three out of four of the warm-up matches surely not ideal preparation for the RWC in Japan. The butcher’s bill for the matches has not yet been finalised but it could be that Patchell may join Anscombe at home. I sincerely hope not but it was always the risk of playing such tough opponents.

Ireland have now become number one team in the world! Surely it would make much more sense if they published the rankings every three months.

All in all, I was mighty glad I was at Pontypool Park.

Come on Pooler!