What a miserable night for a long-anticipated cup tie.
A heavy drizzle and a dank mist greeted us at Pontypool Park as we filed into
the ground. Pontypool of the Championship were taking on Premiership high
fliers Carmarthen Quins in a National Cup quarter final. Both teams were doing
well in their respective leagues and it was a classic cup tie – could the team
from the lower league use home advantage to topple their higher ranked opponents?
In previous encounters against Premiership opposition
Pooler have sometimes had a slow start as they got up to Premiership speed.
This was certainly not the case here – a sliced clearance kick by Carmarthen
following Pontypool’s kick-off gave the home side good field condition. The
lineout was won and the Pontypool backs took over. An excellent strike move saw
left wing Thomas join the line at speed and the ball was then shipped out to
Lloyd Lewis on the right wing in space. He almost made the line himself but was
able to offload the ball to the supporting Pat Lewis who scored in the corner. The
conversion failed but Pooler had struck within a minute or so of the start to
lead 5-0 – wow!
Almost before Carmarthen could draw breath, Pooler
were at it again. An excellent chase by Thomas following an up-and-under from Walsh
saw the wing wrestle the ball clear and head for the line. He didn’t quite make
it but Meek was on hand to take his offload and score in the left corner. The
conversion again was missed but the Pooler faithful were in dreamland with a
10-0 lead in just over five minutes.
The Pooler army was in full voice but there was a more
worrying sound and that was the sound of the referee’s whistle as Pontypool
started to concede penalties at the breakdown. This allowed the Quins to get a
foothold in the game and use their powerful driving lineout to good effect. The
Pooler pack did remarkably well to stop the visitors from scoring a try but
continued to get on the wrong side of the referee. Two penalties from Carmarthen’s
Marshall for Pontypool offences at the ruck meant that, as the first quarter ended,
the home side’s lead had shrunk to just four points at 10-6.
This game was going to be close with the visitors’
pragmatic forward dominated kicking game in contrast to Pooler’s desire to run
the ball even though conditions were far from ideal. It was role reversal from
those classic games between Pooler and Llanelli in years gone by! The Pontypool
scrum held up well and the steam rose as the two packs locked horns. It almost
looked if the forwards were all vaping!
On the half hour, a kick ahead by Pooler outside half
Powell was gathered by Quins. Lock Clarke managed to charge down the attempted
clearance kick. Not only that but he also won the race to get to the loose ball
and touched down for Pooler’s third try. This time Meek nailed the conversion
and Pooler had taken a useful 17-6 lead.
The remaining ten minutes of the first half were nip
and tuck with both sides playing at full throttle. Neither side managed to add
to their tally and the sides trooped off for a well-earned rest. Half time
Pontypool 17 Carmarthen Quins 6.
A great first half from Pontypool playing down the
slope but we all knew the game was still very much in the balance. I was
certain that the Pontypool team would miss the wise words of Leighton Jones
during the half time break. Sadly, Leighton was admitted to hospital a couple
of days before the match. We all wish him a speedy recovery.
We knew that Carmarthen would come out firing after
the break and that the first ten minutes of the second half would be critical.
Pontypool were a little slow to get up to speed and the visitors capitalised on
that. A Pontypool lineout on their own twenty two went wrong and the Quins took
full toll. For almost the first time in the match, they spread the ball wide
which ultimately led to a try for No8 Millin. Marshall converted and, five
minutes or so into the second half, the Quins were back within touching
distance at 17-13.
The momentum had shifted and Pontypool were suddenly very
much on the defensive as Carmarthen’s confidence grew. The Pontypool defence
had to work overtime to keep the powerful visitors out as they continued to use
tactical kicking and their pack to make ground. The mist thickened and it was
difficult to see the width of the field as the two fully committed sides went
at each other hammer and tongs. Worryingly, Pontypool continued to leak
penalties and the penalty count must have been at least 2:1 in Quins favour. As
we approached the hour mark, one such penalty was converted by Marshall and the
game was agonisingly poised at 17-16.
Pontypool started to empty their bench. It was a great
luxury to have eight replacements instead of the usual five in the Championship.
The fresh legs energised the home team and they began to break the Carmarthen stranglehold
and go on the attack. We felt that Pontypool needed to score again as
Carmarthen would surely create another opportunity. Pooler managed to force
Carmarthen into conceding a couple of kickable penalties as the clock wound
down to ten minutes to go. Both went close with one even hitting a post but a
valuable opportunity to create some breathing space was lost.
Pontypool gave everything that they had left to keep
the Quins penned in their own half but with the finishing line in sight Quins finally
managed to break out. The visitors powered down the field and a well-judged cross
kick was gathered by left wing Newman who crossed for the match winning try.
The conversion missed but there was not enough time left for Pontypool to hit
back. Final score Pontypool 17 Carmarthen Quins 21.
This was heartbreaking for Pontypool who were in the
lead until virtually the last minute. Nevertheless, Pooler gave an excellent
account of themselves and gave the powerful Quins a thorough examination. They
outscored the Quins three tries to two and but for some wayward kicking could
have won. Congratulations to Carmarthen Quins who scored fifteen unanswered points
in the second half and showed why they are near the top of the Premiership.
Pontypool now need to regroup and focus on their main
objective which is to secure promotion to the Premiership. Next Friday evening
will see a vital home game against Bedwas who have started the season well.
Pooler know that Bargoed are breathing down their necks in second place and
that they cannot afford any slip-ups. Let us hope that the bruised and battered
bodies from tonight’s titanic encounter will recover in time. Our thoughts are
also with Leighton Jones and praying that he makes a full and speedy recovery.
The Six Nations Championship has crept up on us and
kicks off next weekend. Wales take on Italy in Cardiff and all eyes will be on
the team that Pivac selects as a new era commences. The back row is where we
have an embarrassment of riches and in the centre the situation is the polar opposite.
I for one would like to see Faletau back at No8 with Tipuric and Navidi. Popular
opinion is that North will play in the centre with Parks – not really my favourite
combination but needs must I guess.
Anyway before that we have Pontypool v. Bedwas to look
forward to on Friday.
Come on Pooler!
Come on
Wales!
No comments:
Post a Comment