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!
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