Pooler Power Past Swansea

It was a great day for rugby. Warm sunshine and a mere zephyr of a breeze together with a perfect playing surface at glorious Pontypool Park. This is how rugby was meant to be – no plastic pitch and miniscule in-goal area but real grass. We might change our minds in the depths of winter, but for now this was perfection as we basked in the sunshine on the Bank.

What was a little strange was that Pontypool were playing Swansea of the Premiership in the first round of the Welsh National Cup in September in their second match of the season. The other strange thing had all twenty six teams of the Premiership and Championship taking part. Ordinarily you would have expected there to be six teams getting a bye in the first round so that sixteen teams would be left in the next round instead of thirteen. Still these are debates for another day. Today was all about Pooler having another chance to show what they are made of against Premiership opposition.

Pontypool elected to play up the slope in the first half with the warm sunshine sure to test the early season fitness of both teams. From the outset, the Pontypool pack looked to impose themselves on their counterparts and relished the physical challenge. Pooler went straight on the offensive and looked sharp and focused and bristling with intent. Against the run of play, it was the visitors who scored first. Pooler gave away a series of penalties and surrendered field position as a consequence. After trying a driving lineout which was negated, Swansea opted for a kick at goal which Davies duly converted (0-3).

Pontypool responded with some powerful forward play that took them right up to the Swansea goal line. It was left to Pooler skipper Matthews to dive over the line for the opening try of the match. Powell converted and the home side were deservedly in the lead (7-3).

In the second quarter Pooler, fell foul of the referee which gave Swansea some respite. A series of penalties and a yellow card for hooker Hughes left the home side shorthanded with Swansea on the attack. Swansea spread the ball wide and wing Trowbridge outflanked the Pontypool defence to score in the corner. An excellent touchline conversion from Davies gave the visitors a narrow half time lead at 7-10.

Pontypool had every reason to feel confident at halftime as they seemed to be winning the physical encounters up front and Powell was controlling things at outside half.

The second half started well for Pontypool as they won a scrum penalty which Powell converted to bring the scores level (10-10). You felt a growing belief that if Pooler could maintain their discipline and not make too many errors they could take the spoils. Swansea had some slippery backs and now and then they squirmed through tackles so the result was still very much in the balance. This message was brought home when a Pooler kick was charged down and Swansea’s Trowbridge scooted over for his second try in the left corner. The conversion failed but Swansea had edged ahead again at 10-15.

Minutes later came the defining moment of the game. Pontypool had a lineout on the Swansea twenty two. The ball was won and a remarkable forward drive saw Matthews touch down for a try. The Swansea pack was left in disarray as the maul had travelled fully twenty metres. It was just like the good old days! The conversion failed but Pontypool were level again and momentum was most certainly with them. The Pooler Army upped the decibels and it was game on.

It was all Pontypool as the forwards thundered into the Swansea defence. The replacements came on to the field for both sides but it was the home side that was gaining dominance. Pontypool camped on the Swansea goal line and it was scrum half, Quick, who sniped to score the all important try near the posts. Powell converted and Pontypool were ahead by seven at 22-15.

Pontypool needed to score again to give themselves breathing space as the Swansea backs looked capable of a long range score at any time. That score came minutes later and what a try it was. Number 8 Jones ran an aggressive line from a feed by Powell on the Swansea twenty two and burst through the first line of defence. He found substitute centre, Meek, in support who after a hint of a dummy found substitute scrum half Luckwell on his shoulder. Luckwell touched down near the posts and with the conversion from Powell a formality Pontypool were 29-15 to the good with ten minutes or so remaining.

Swansea tried hard to respond but Pontypool comfortably snuffed out their attacking intentions. For their part, Pontypool continued to attack but there was no further scoring by either side. Final score Pontypool 29 Swansea 15.

This was a powerful and dominant performance form Pontypool who are making a bit of a habit of upsetting Premiership opposition in the National Cup. The forwards won the physical battle and laid the foundations of this excellent victory. Powell looked assured at outside half and all in all it was a hugely impressive display for only the second game of the season proper. On this form, Pooler would be a handful for any team in the next round of the Cup.

Next up for Pontypool will be up a visit to the Swansea Valley and Ystalyfera. Ystalyfera had a bit of drubbing at Llandovery in the Cup but will be looking to bounce back next week that is for sure. There will be no easy games in an ultra-competitive Championship this season. Unfortunately, I will not be there next week as I am attending my niece’s wedding – bah!

Next week the Rugby World Cup will get under way. I have to say I am heartily fed up of the endless previews and top tens and best ever teams in the media and will be mighty glad when it finally gets going. Wales are going to find it tough but barring injuries look to be competitive. It is Georgia first up and they will be sure to give the Welsh forwards a good workout.

Come on Wales. Come on Pooler!