Home Sweet Home

There was great news about Pontypool Park last week. The long lease means that for the foreseeable future we will get to watch Pontypool’s home matches in one of the finest settings in world rugby. Fantastic!

Unfortunately, Pooler were not in action over the weekend so had to make do with some bits and pieces from the English Premiership and the Pro 14. The gap in the standard of play in the Leicester v Exeter game and the first half of Dragons v Scarlets game was huge. There was passion aplenty in both games but English club rugby, although not pretty to watch, has superior skill levels and more powerful players. From the few highlights I saw from the Ospreys v Cardiff Blues, the general standard of play was equally disappointing. I don’t suppose the two East Wales regions will be too worried as the narrow victories that they achieved are really all that matters after disappointing starts to the season.

All the rugby I watched over the weekend was played in wet conditions which rarely allows attractive rugby even though, at professional level, the pitches are vastly superior to those in the past. Pontypool’s next outing will be at Pandy Park against Cross Keys. Pooler’s last two visits, both in the National Cup, have been mud baths and looking at the weather forecast there could be another one in prospect next Saturday. I will be away for a couple of weeks so will miss this but will be wired in waiting anxiously for the result. I will also be keen to know how Bedwas get on at Bargoed which is also a crucial fixture in the race for the Championship title.

Merry Xmas and a successful New Year to all the Pooler team and the Pooler Army.

Come on Pooler!

It’s Tough at the Top

When I parked the car and walked towards Pontypool Park the Bargoed supporters’ coaches were just arriving. As they emerged excitedly from the coaches clutching their cans of beer and blowing their vuvuzela’s, you knew that the match was going to be something special. Yes, unbeaten Pontypool were entertaining unbeaten Bargoed in the first of the six crunch Championship fixtures that would define the season. The games between Pontypool, Bargoed and the also unbeaten Bedwas were surely going to decide who were champions and who therefore got the single promotion place on offer. You could forget all the fifty point victories so far - this was win at all costs.

It was a cold raw day but mercifully the heavy rain from the early morning had gone away. The pitch was a little damp but firm enough not really to affect play. A keen breeze was blowing mainly across the pitch but, if anything, favoured the team playing down the slope. A big crowd roared as Pontypool kicked off playing down the slope.

The Pontypool faithful were soon roaring even louder as, within the first few minutes, Pontypool gasman Lloyd Lewis sped off down the right touchline leaving defenders in his wake. He was stopped from scoring what would have been a spectacular try by a last-ditch ankle tap but it was a great start for the home side.

The two packs of forwards started to feel each other out and it looked a fairly even contest. Around ten minutes into the first half, Bargoed were penalised for an offence at a ruck. Meek slotted the kick from almost fifty metres which confirmed that the wind was favouring the home side (3-0). The match was turning into a bit of a kick fest as both sides elected to kick as a first option to try and gain territory. As you would expect for such an important local derby, things got a bit tetchy at times. Pooler were the beneficiaries at the end of the first quarter when a penalty to Bargoed was reversed for foul play. Meek converted from wide out just outside the Bargoed twenty-two (6-0).

The game would surely hinge on discipline and the penalty count as defences were on top. Pooler skipper Matthews was judged to have tackled the Bargoed scrum half too early at the base of a ruck and was awarded a yellow card for his trouble. Bargoed quickly capitalised on their extra man with a well taken try from a lineout near the home twenty-two. The backs moved the ball smartly for Prosser to cross in the left corner. An excellent conversion by Jones put the visitors in front at 6-7 with around ten minutes remaining in the first half.

Pontypool’s response was to work their way down field to retake the lead. Their cause was helped when Bargoed lost the services of Kynes for ten minutes for an offence at a ruck just before the interval. Pooler spurned what looked like a relatively easy penalty shot to go for a short range lineout. After a number of attempts at driving over the line and a five metre scrum or two, however, they came back empty handed. We wondered whether they would live to regret not taking the three points on offer as a tense first half came to a close with Bargoed retaining their narrow lead at 6-7.

Pontypool needed a good start to the second half but they got completely the opposite. A high tackle presented Bargoed with a simple penalty in front of the posts which Jones comfortably converted and the defecit had increased to 6-10.

For the next half an hour the game was almost all about Pontypool attacking and Bargoed defending. The Pontypool attack was not at its fluent best but that was to a large extent due to a ferocious and well-organised Bargoed defence. Early in the second half Pooler replaced second row Hodge with flanker Herbert and Bargoed got the upper hand in the scrums. This gave the away side a valuable source of penalties which enabled them to get some relief from the incessant Pooler attacks.

Pontypool kept on trying but there did not seem any way through the Bargoed defence and, as time ticked on, things got increasingly frantic. Pooler conceded a number of turnovers at the breakdown to the effective Bargoed backrow as they got into promising positions and there were knock-ons aplenty as the fierce Bargoed tackling took its toll. The Pooler faithful were beginning to fear the worst but they continued to roar their team on. The Bargoed fans cheered every thumping tackle.

As we got into the last ten minutes, there were signs that the Pontypool ball carriers, with Herbert and Stratton to the fore, were beginning to make some progress. The Bargoed defence was certainly not going to give up that was for sure and Pooler badly needed a spark of inspiration.

Then came the moment that turned the match on its head. The moment that the Pooler fans had been praying for. Herbert made good ground and found support on his elbow. The referee raised his hand to indicate a penalty to Pooler for a high tackle. It was Pontypool advantage and what an advantage they took. A good pass put Lloyd Lewis in the clear on the Bargoed twenty-two and there was only one outcome. Lewis sprinted down the left touchdown and gleefully ran around behind the posts to score the critical try. The conversion from Meek was a formality and the home side had taken the lead at 13-10. The Pooler Army was in ecstasy.

There was still time for Bargoed to hit back but Pooler had a spring in their step and were not about to let the visitors spoil their day. The Pontypool defence was more than a match for the Bargoed attacks and, for the most part, managed to pen the visitors in their own half. Nevertheless, it was a relief when they referee blew the final whistle and Pooler players and fans could celebrate a crucial victory. Final score: Pontypool 13 Bargoed 10.

Phew, that was hard work for the Pooler players and fans alike. Bargoed were as tough an opposition as you would wish to come up against. That Pontypool managed to pull off this victory tells you everything you need to know about the spirit in the squad. There is no doubt that a loss would have put a serious dent in Pooler’s promotion hopes as Bargoed do not look like a side that is going to lose many matches this season and Bedwas are continuing to go well. The table below shows just how tight the race to the end of the season is going to be with Bedwas looking threatening in second place. Bargoed entertain Bedwas in a couple of weeks which will be another crucial match

	P	W	D	L	BP	Points
Pontypool	11	11	0	0	10	54
Bedwas	9	9	0	0	7	43
Bargoed	10	8	1	1	9	43

Pontypool’s next fixture is a visit to Pandy Park in two weeks’ time. Cross Keys are recovering after a sticky start to the season and, as always, will give Pooler plenty to think about.

Come on Pooler!

Oh Scrum All Ye Faithful

What better way to get away from the purgatory of Xmas shopping, Brexit and elections than to watch Pontypool playing rugby. Pooler took on Glamorgan Wanderers in Ely on a dull grey December day with rain never far away. Newly promoted Wanderers had made a bright start to the season only having lost two out of their nine league games so would surely challenge Pooler’s perfect start to the campaign.

The pitch was muddy and damp with a breeze favouring the Wanderers in the first half. Pontypool attacked from the off with backs and forwards combining in an exhilarating passage of play. Sadly a knock-on prevented what could have been an excellent team try. The resulting scrum led to a penalty to the home side as Pooler tried to apply the pressure and this was a taste of what was to come.

Pontypool had a clear advantage in the forward exchanges and it was no surprise when they took the lead after ten minutes with a try from Ieuan Jones when a driven lineout proved unstoppable. The conversion failed but Pooler were up and running at 0-5.

The home side then showed why they are in the top half of the league with some determined attacking play. The Pontypool defence were in full Ebenezer Scrooge mode and were not about to give away anything away and try as they might there was no way through for the Wanderers’ attacks.

With conditions as they were, there were a lot of handling errors from both sides and that meant a lot of scrums. The Pontypool pack was dominant in this phase but there were far too many resets which seemed to drain the energy out of the game. The Wanderers defence was well marshalled and really challenged the offside line which made it difficult for Pooler to generate any real momentum despite plenty of possession.

It took almost another twenty minutes for Pontypool to increase their lead. Their second try came from another forward drive with this time Hughes claiming the touchdown. The conversion narrowly missed but Pooler had doubled their lead (0-10).

Wanderers were not perturbed and again went on the attack but, while their ball retention was good, they could not penetrate the Pontypool defence. After a long period of possession for the home side, Pooler finally got the ball back. With half time approaching, they worked their way down field and the forwards did the rest. Herbert took off from a driving maul and powered over for Pooler’s third try which this time was converted by Gullis. Pontypool had built a useful 0-17 advantage at half time with the try bonus point in sight.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first with Pontypool putting together a breathtaking attack. A knock-on brought an end to that and the game returned to the rather frustrating stop-start nature of the first half. Rain swept in which certainly did not help matters as we watched far too many scrums collapse and be reset or penalised. I think the players shared the crowd’s frustration and a bout of fisticuffs led to a yellow card for Matthew from the home team.

Pontypool finally got what they wanted after ten minutes or so. The important fourth try came for a scrum close to the Wanderers’ line. The Pontypool scrum was far too powerful and they drove the home pack backwards at a rate of knots for Jones to bag his second try of the afternoon. Gullis converted and Pooler had secured the bonus point and a winning lead with the score at 0-24.

The rest of the match was entirely forgettable with neither side able to conjure up a score. The conditions were poor which led to plenty of mistakes and, you guessed it, yet more scrums. There were plenty of penalties too as the referee took centre stage. Glamorgan Wanderers continued to put their heart and soul into the game and made things really difficult for Pontypool. The Pontypool defence was determined to not let the home team score. All very frustrating - it was that kind of game.

In the end I think everyone was delighted to hear the final whistle. Yes, it really was that kind of game but it was still better than Xmas shopping! Final score: Glamorgan Wanderers 0 Pontypool 24.

Pontypool would consider this to be a job well done against well organised and committed opposition in difficult conditions. The bonus point victory keeps their noses in front of the chasing killer Bs, Bedwas and Bargoed, who both maintained their unbeaten records.

Next Saturday brings the first big crunch match of the season in the Championship when Pontypool entertain Bargoed. Two of the big guns from the Championship get to try each other out and something has to give. Pooler will have to be at their very best that is for sure. I am looking forward to it already.

I did watch a bit of European rugby with a great set of results for the Irish and not so good for the English in the Champions Cup. The troubled Ospreys went down to a heavy defeat at home to Racing 92. Better news for the Welsh regions in the Challenge Cup with good wins for the Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets but the depleted Dragons lost narrowly at Worcester. Looks like a Wexit for the Ospreys and it is hard to see how the Welsh regions with their limited budgets will ever become competitive in the one that really matters, the Champions Cup.

Actually, the one really matters to me is Pooler’s game against Bargoed next weekend!

Come on Pooler!