It had been raining cats and dogs most of the week and at times as I watched pictures of people suffering the misery of floods all over Wales on the TV. My heart went out to them but at the same time I rather selfishly began to wonder whether the Pooler game would be played on the Saturday.
As it turned out, the match was on and the pitch was
in surprisingly good condition in Pontypool Park even though the Afon Llwyd was
in full spate. Yes, the pitch was heavy and there was a biting breeze blowing
down the ground but we were going to get a game of rugby. Pooler were playing
Maesteg Quins and were hoping to keep their unbeaten record unblemished on a
day when the other two main promotion contenders, Bargoed and Neath, were
locking horns with each other.
Pontypool were playing in blue shirts and were playing
up the slope in the first half with the wind in their faces and started
brightly with some enterprising rugby. They burst into the Quins twenty two and
after some well executed back play put right wing Powell in space and he
galloped over for a try within five minutes of the kickoff. Jarvis converted
and Pooler had the early score they wanted and a 7-0 lead.
Conditions were challenging but it was clear that
Pooler had the upper hand but equally clear that the Quins were not about to
make things easy. With the wind behind them, the away team’s lengthy clearing
kicks made sure of that. The Quins were conceding a lot of penalties which
meant that Pontypool were able to maintain the pressure. The Pooler forwards
battered their way to the Quins line before releasing the backs for Anderson to
put Nove in for a try in the left corner. The conversion failed but Ronan from
the Quins collected a yellow card as the fall guy for the large number of
penalties conceded. (12-0)
Try as they might Pooler could not make the extra man reap
dividends on the scoreboard. Now it was Pooler who were giving away too many penalties.
Indeed, it was Maesteg who scored next with a penalty from Howe on the half
hour (12-3)
As the half drew to a close, a long-range penalty attempt by Howe missed and Pooler went on the attack from well within their own half. Sweet made a powerful surge and offloaded the ball to Stratton. The Pooler flanker showed a fine turn of speed to outpace the Quins defence and score a try in the right corner. Jarvis converted and Pooler went into the interval with a very satisfactory 19-3 lead and three tries in the bag.
Pooler started the second half with all guns blazing.
A tremendous run by Powell found Herbert in support for the flanker to score
Pooler’s bonus point try. Jarvis converted and Pooler had opened up a 26-3 lead.
Shortly afterwards, the lively Sweet charged down an attempted Quins clearance
kick and gathered the ball to score near the posts. With the Jarvis conversion
Pooler now led 33-3 with more than half an hour remaining.
Maesteg Quins certainly did not let their heads go
down and maintained a solid defensive effort. The Pontypool backs, however,
were getting a lot of good possession and were moving the ball as often as they
could. Around the hour mark, Pooler struck with two tries in a couple of
minutes. The first was scored by Nove in the left corner after some slick
passing by the threequarters. The second saw a Jarvis grubber kick that bounced
awkwardly over the Quins try line touched down by Langdon. Jarvis converted both
and the score was now 47-3.
With ten minutes left Pooler scored their eighth try
of the afternoon. Some powerful running from substitute centre Duon Thomas,
allowed Nove to cross for his third try. Again, Jarvis converted and the half
century was up (54-3).
The Quins had the better of the last few minutes as
Pooler conceded too many penalties. The stingy Pooler defence was not about to
concede a try so the Quins were unable to get the score that their gutsy performance
perhaps deserved. Final score Pontypool 54- Maesteg Quins 3.
Another powerful display by Pontypool with the result
never really in doubt. They scored some brilliant tries in testing conditions.
Congratulations to everyone.
Thoughts immediately turned to affairs in Bargoed. It
turned out that Bargoed had defeated Neath narrowly which puts Pontypool on top
of the Championship table with a maximum fifty points from ten games played.
They lead by two points with a game in hand over Neath. Bargoed are now twelve
points behind Pooler having played the same number of games. Pooler are in pole
position but cannot afford a slip up if they are to maintain their challenge
for promotion. Pooler’s visits to Bargoed and Neath will surely be critical.
Talking of visits to Bargoed, Pooler take on Bargoed
in the Championship Cup quarter final next weekend. It will be very interesting
to see how the two teams see the Cup in the context of the rest of the season.
Is it a chance to land a psychological blow or is it a bit of a distraction? I
would hazard it is the former. It should make for an eventful afternoon.
I did watch the Ospreys play Montpellier on the TV in
the evening and have to say I thoroughly enjoyed an absorbing encounter. Well
done to the Ospreys in gaining a narrow victory with Tipuric in outstanding
form. Good wins for Scarlets and Dragons too – you will have me believing that
Welsh regional rugby has turned the corner. I fear not but well done anyway.
So, it’s off to Bargoed next weekend. Hold on to your
hats!
Come on Pooler!
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