Pooler Put a Marker Down

We’re off! The Welsh Championship kicked off at last for what may or may not be a season of opportunity for Pontypool. As is stands, there will be two clubs promoted into an expanded Premiership at the end of the season and Pooler have every intention of being one of them. The WRU, however, would like to make changes and reduce the Premiership to 10 clubs in a ring-fenced Premiership. Heigh ho, it always seems to be like this with last minute doubts hanging over the season. Hopefully everyone will see sense and we can proceed with the original plan and an exciting Championship season is in prospect.

Pontypool’s opening match was at Maesteg Quins. A match that was sure to test their mettle after impressive wins in their warm up matches.

There was rain in the air in the Llynfi Valley with a stiff breeze blowing across the pitch that looked like a green carpet as Pooler kicked off. The first ten minutes or so was evenly contested as the two sides took each other’s measure. The Quins looked well organised and as we would expect were highly motivated. Their scrum was powerful and a real test for the Pooler eight.

It was Pooler who broke the deadlock with a burst of scoring which saw them cross for three tries in less than ten minutes as the first quarter came to an end. The first try was scored by Pat Lewis after Pooler had applied huge pressure on the home defence with a series of powerful surges. A couple of minutes later Scarfe went over in the left corner after a planned move from a lineout near the Quins line. The third try was scored by Cochrane who bullocked his way over after more good attacking play from Pooler. The second of the three tries was converted by Jarvis and all of a sudden Pooler had a substantial lead of 0-17.

Quins needed to respond and respond they did. The second quarter was dominated by the home side who camped in the Pontypool twenty two. The Pontypool defence was solid but conceded penalty after penalty which ultimately led to a yellow card for Nove. Try as they may the Quins could not get the score that they deserved as the strong Pooler defence held out until half time.

Pontypool will have been glad to go into the break with their 0-17 lead intact. There was still much work to do.

Quins started the second half well and finally got some points on the scoreboard through a Howe penalty (3-17). Gradually the strength and fitness of the Pontypool players wore the home team down. Pooler managed to put more pace into the game and the gaps started to appear in the home defence. Pooler’s powerful bench was also going to make things difficult as the changes were rung.

After around ten minutes of the second half, Pooler got their bonus point try after crisp handling from the backs saw Nove put fellow wing Smith in in the left corner. The tricky wind was making place kicking difficult and the normally metronomic Jarvis missed his third conversion out of four attempts (3-22).

While the Quins never gave up trying, the final quarter belonged firmly to Pontypool. As the quarter began, powerful surges by Sweet and Jones saw the supporting replacement scrum half Babos grab a try. This was converted and the Pontypool lead was now stretched to 3-29.

Ten minutes later Price galloped thirty metres or so to score after a charged down kick. Jarvis had found his kicking boots and converted (3-36). Sadly, Price damaged his shoulder and was forced to leave the field.

With a few minutes left Mahoney burst through a tired defence for Pooler’s seventh try again converted by Jarvis (3-43). There was still time for Babos to score his second try from a tapped penalty and the Jarvis conversion brought up the half century as the final whistle blew. Final score Maesteg Quins 3: Pontypool 50.

Pontypool must be well satisfied with this opening salvo. An opening fixture at Maesteg Quins in the rain was never going to be easy and the final score is surely hard on the home side who for a substantial period of the game were on top. Pontypool did a lot of good things but will know there is room for improvement with even tougher assignments down the road. When Pooler manage to get their offloading game going they look formidable that’s for sure.

Well done to everyone for a great start to the season.

Come on Pooler!