The Pooler Points Machine Rolls On

For various reasons, I have missed the last three Pooler games which has been hard to bear. Of course, I kept up with the scores and I knew that they had recorded three victories but when I asked I was told that Pooler had been playing “pretty well”. If “pretty well” means three fifty point plus victories scoring 29 tries and amassing 193 points what would they do if we played really well? For the record, the scores were Cross Keys 3 Pontypool 54, Beddau 12  Pontypool 62 and Pontypool 77 Ystalyfera 8. A fantastic set of results that keeps the Pooler points machine rolling on.

My return to the fold was to watch Pontypool play Neath at the Gnoll. This was never a place for the faint hearted and I have watched many fine Pooler teams come unstuck against the Welsh All Blacks in the past. Times have changed of course and both teams find themselves in the Championship and facing a tough battle to return to the Premiership. Neath’s financial problems are well-documented and they are very much in a rebuilding phase after relegation last season. Nevertheless, table-topping Pontypool were expecting a tough examination.

On a bright sunny afternoon, things started well for Pontypool when after five minutes or so right wing, Lloyd Lewis, popped up in mid field to make good ground. The ball was moved right and there was hooker Hughes on the right wing to receive the scoring pass and touch down in the corner. Meek converted and Pooler had drawn first blood at 0-7.

Pontypool were looking lively and moving the ball at every opportunity. After a quarter of an hour they added to their tally and this time it was Hughes who made the bust. The predatory Herbert was on his shoulder and received the off-load to canter the twenty metres to the line. Meek converted and Pooler had doubled their lead to 0-14.

Hughes breaks, Herbert in support

Everything in the garden looked rosy for Pontypool apart from the scrums. The scrums were a shambles with virtually every scrum ending up in a pile-up on the ground. It was not helped by the disparity in the height of the two front rows but still the referee did not seem to have a solution apart from to penalise one team or the other after a series of resets. It certainly did not add to the afternoon’s entertainment that is for sure. From such a scrum penalty, Neath gained good field position and after a series of lineout drives managed to get on the scoreboard when Griggs powered over near the posts. Rees converted and Neath had clearly signalled that they were not about to go away (7-14).

On the half hour, Pontypool hit back with Walsh crossing for a try after some brilliant running and handling by backs and forwards. The conversion was good and Pooler were back in command at 7-21.

A few minutes later Pooler lost the services of influential lock, Clarke, through injury and brought on flanker Stratton as a replacement with No 8 Jones moving to the second row. As the first half drew to a close Pontypool were awarded a penalty. Powell kicked for the corner and the Pontypool driving lineout came up trumps with Jones getting the try. Another excellent conversion by Meek saw Pontypool go to the half time break with a substantial lead and the try bonus point secured. HT score: Neath 7 Pontypool 28.

Pontypool were on the attack at the start of the second half and battered away at the Neath line for five minutes or so until centre, Pat Lewis, found the way through the hardworking Neath defence. Meek converted to give Pontypool what was surely a match winning lead at 7-35.

The scrums continued to be a problem for both sides and the referee seemed to be awarding alternating penalties as he struggled to make the scrums work. Neath again got good field position and showed what they could do with a period of sustained pressure. The Pontypool defence was finally breached when left wing, Roberts, squeezed in for a try in the left corner. The conversion failed but Neath were into double figures at 12-35.

An all too familiar sight

Any thoughts of a Neath comeback were scuppered by a yellow card for Barley and two bits of great play from Meek. With a quarter of an hour to go, he made a neat break on the Neath twenty two and fed his fellow centre Barnett who scored Pontypool’s sixth try which Meek converted (12-42). Minutes later Meek made a scything break on the halfway line. The cover defence got back to tackle him before he got to the line but the support arrived for replacement scrum half, Quick, to score a try in the corner. Although the conversion missed narrowly, Pooler were approaching the half-century at 12-47.

With the last play of the game, Pontypool broke the fifty point barrier yet again. Brilliant interpassing between the back row and Quick saw Quick score his second try of the match. Meek converted giving a final score of Neath 12 Pontypool 54.

Another good victory for Pontypool against doughty opposition. It keeps them at the top of the Championship and maintains the unbeaten run. Bargoed in second place are keeping up the pressure, however, and every point is precious for both sides as they move towards an end of season showdown. While Pooler currently have an eleven point lead, Bargoed have a game in hand and with Pooler yet to visit Bargoed it is still very much nip and tuck. There is no room for even a missed bonus point!

Next week Pontypool face the daunting challenge of high-flying Premiership team Carmarthen Quins in the National Cup. Those of us who watched the Quins, playing with fourteen men for most of the game, demolish Premiership leaders Cardiff RFC on the TV on Friday evening could see what a threat they pose. A strong pack and a great kick and chase game kept Cardiff under pressure for long periods in difficult conditions. This is a big step up for Pooler despite having home advantage.

The Six Nations Championship is just around the corner and it is good to see some new faces in the Welsh Squad. Italy at home as the first match is probably the best chance for Pivac to get off to a winning start with tough games in Dublin and Twickenham on the horizon. His first selection will be illuminating.

Congratulations to the Dragons and Scarlets for getting through to the quarter finals of the European Challenge Cup. The Champions Cup remains out of reach for our regions unless some of the Saracens players fancy a change of scenery.

So on to the cup quarter final for Pontypool next Saturday evening in a televised game. Of course, the most important thing this season is the battle for promotion, but wouldn’t it be nice……

Come on Pooler!