Pooler Forward Power Wins the Day

Saturday afternoon saw me in Trebanos in the Swansea Valley. Pontypool were playing the local team in their latest Championship match. Trebanos Park is alongside the Swansea Canal  and it took me back all those years ago to rugby at West Mon on the Skew Fields. It is a compact ground with probably the shortest in-goal areas I have seen. It is one of my pet subjects – I cannot understand why there is such a disparity in the size of in-goal areas at all levels of rugby. I know of course that it is due to available space but it can and does have a significant effect on the way the game is played. Surely some more standardisation is in order – I understand that the regulations require 6-22 metres. Perhaps someone can enlighten me.

Anyway back to the match! Pooler kicked off on a dull, grey but dry afternoon. They started with a bang and within a couple of minutes Anderson had squeezed in in the left corner after some good attacking play by the backs. The try went unconverted but Pooler had made a fast start (0-5).

Trebanos then showed what they are made of and camped out in the Pontypool twenty-two for virtually the rest of the first quarter. Although they pressed hard the home side could not break down the strong Pooler defence. To make matters worse for Trebanos when Pooler broke out they scored their second try with Powell touching down in the right corner after good passing by the threequarters. Jarvis banged over the conversion and Pooler were 0-12 to the good.

Some skulduggery in the right corner saw an almighty dust up. The outcome was a red card for Pooler’s Pat Lewis. The action took place right in front of me and I have to say there were a few more players who should have been receiving cards. So it was to be fifteen against fourteen for the rest of the match which gave Pooler something to think about.

Despite the disparity in numbers, Pontypool still looked the stronger team. Their pack was still fully manned and they used that to good effect when they drove over for a try from a lineout near the Trebanos line. Lloyd got the touchdown to add to his impressive tally for the season. The conversion hit the post but Pooler had a comfortable lead and were three tries to the good at 0-17.

There was no further scoring in a rumbustious first half which had seen the home side pose more than a few problems for Pooler.

The second half was really all Pontypool. The forwards took over as Pooler adopted a more pragmatic approach and pinned Trebanos back in their own half. The Pooler scrum dominated and was the source of several penalties which they used to good effect.

Five minutes in, it was Matthews who crossed after a series of powerful thrusts by the forwards. The try was converted by Jarvis and secured the bonus point (0-24). A few minutes later the Pooler scrum was too powerful for the home side to contain five metres out and Matthews touched down for his second try. This was again converted by Jarvis and Pooler were out of sight at 0-31.

This initiated a series of substitutions as Pooler emptied their bench and the fresh legs only served to press home Pooler’s advantage. As the third quarter ended, the dominant Pooler pack almost drove over the line and were awarded a penalty try (0-38).

Straight from the kick-off Trebanos flanker Jones received a yellow card for taking a man out in the air and Pooler were back in the Trebanos half again. This time, however, a misplaced pass led to an interception by Lewis who raced eighty metres to score a consolation try that was converted by Jones (7-38).

There was still time for a tremendous scrum from Pooler to push the home pack of the ball and over their line. Matthews touched down to complete his hat trick of tries and Langdon converted (7-45). This completed the scoring on a productive afternoon for Pontypool. Final score Trebanos 7 : Pontypool 45.

This was a physical encounter where the Pooler forwards wore down the Trebanos eight as the match progressed. Pontypool dominated the second half and were good value for their seven try haul even though they were a man down. Another bonus point win and another game out of the way. The battle for promotion continues.

Next up for Pontypool are back to back matches against bottom club Tata Steel. The first match is away on a Friday evening in two weeks.

I still look on in disbelief as Welsh rugby descends in to some kind of civil war cum self-destruction. It looks like there will be an exodus of players from the Regions as contracts are offered or not offered as the case may be. All this and a match against the resurgent Italians in Rome next weekend. Maybe some good will come of it when the dust settles but I somehow doubt it.

Let us hope the Welsh team can put all the distractions behind them and put on a great display in Rome and avoid the wooden spoon.

Come on Wales!

Come on Pooler!