Pooler Pinch It

Ystrad Rhondda have been playing great rugby lately so it was with some trepidation that we ventured up the Rhondda valley to see if Pontypool could keep their incredible unbeaten run going. If anyone was going to end it, it was Ystrad who had made Pooler dig deep to edge victories both at home and in the cup final. A good crowd had gathered on a pleasant Spring evening to watch what was sure to be an enthralling contest.

It was all Ystrad in the first quarter as an edgy looking Pooler were pressurised into making uncharacteristic mistakes by a high energy and well-drilled home side. Ystrad opened the scoring as early as the second minute with a Truelove penalty (3-0). They could have doubled their lead moments later but Truelove’s penalty attempt went wide.

The home side’s kicking game was superior to Pooler’s and they were able to challenge the Pooler defenders as the ball came down. Pooler’s failure to deal with such a kick after ten minutes led to Ystrad’s first try. They pounced on a loose ball and moments later Llewellyn touched down for a try that Truelove converted (10-0).

Things got even worse for Pooler when slick handling by the home backs saw Williams score in the left corner. The conversion failed but Ystrad were really good value for their 15-0 lead. Pooler had hardly struck a blow as a very one-sided first quarter came to an end.

Pooler needed to somehow to make a dent in the confidence of a highly-motivated Ystrad team and turned to their forwards who had seen them through some tough matches over the last few weeks. Their opportunity came from a rare penalty awarded against Ystrad. Pooler kicked for the corner and, after a lot of grunt from the pack, scrum half Morgan Lloyd darted through a gap to score a much-needed try. Jarvis converted and Pooler were back in the game at 15-7.

Ystrad continued to apply pressure on Pontypool and, on the half hour, a misplaced pass in the Pooler midfield gave them another opportunity which they grasped with both hands. Burgess touched down for Ystrad’s third try and this time it was converted by Truelove. It was looking bleak for Pontypool with Ystrad now leading 22-7 and looking like they were hungry for more.

It was imperative for Pooler’s chances that they hit back before half time. It is a mark of their never say die attitude that they did exactly that. Another penalty was kicked to the corner and from a driving lineout Peter Lloyd touched down in the left corner. A great conversion from Jarvis made the score 22-14. The half time whistle was blown shortly afterwards and left Pooler with some serious “thinking” to do if they were going to turn around this game which had looked a lost cause at times.

Pooler looked suitably motivated when they took to the field after half time and were soon on the attack. They pounded away at the Ystrad line but were repulsed time and time again as the home defence stood firm. Finally, after fifteen minutes of Pontypool pressure, the home defence cracked. Again, it was a lineout drive that did it with Peter Lloyd touching down for his second try after muscular work by the forwards. Another excellent conversion from Jarvis saw Pooler close to within a point at 22-21.

The momentum was now with Pontypool but Ystrad were far from done. They bounced back in style and worked their way up field as they turned the ball over. A well-executed backs move saw the Pontypool defence split wide open and the pacy Williams sliced through untouched for a try under the posts. Truelove converted and Ystrad were again more than one score clear at 29-21.

There were still twenty minutes to go and Pooler went back into attacking mode and were soon hammering away at the Ystrad line again as they sought to close the gap. In the sixty-fifth minute it was substitute lock Grey who forced his way over for a try near the left corner. Another brilliant conversion from Jarvis saw Pooler back within a point at 29-28. Both sides had now got their bonus point in a thrilling match that was going to go down to the wire. The benches had been emptied of substitutes but fatigue was setting in for both sides as the game had been played at a furious pace.

It was Pooler who did most of the attacking but in their anxiety made a few errors which allowed the home side the opportunity to attack themselves. It was breathless stuff and the minutes were ticking away far too quickly for those of us of a Pontypool persuasion.

With time running out, Pontypool drained the tanks to put together a mammoth series of attacks but could not make the vital breakthrough as Ystrad defended bravely. Deep into time added on, Langdon received the ball in the pocket and, in true Jonny Wilkinson style, dropped a left-footed goal that won the match. Pooler had taken the lead for the first time in the match and had pinched the game with the last play. The final score was Ystrad Rhondda 29 ; Pontypool 31.

The Ystrad Rhondda players sunk to their knees in disbelief. Pontypool would surely not have had too many complaints had they lost but, yet again, it demonstrates the huge character of the Pontypool squad that never knows when it is beaten. This was a brilliant game of rugby with fierce commitment from both teams but played in the right spirit. So well done to both teams. For Pooler fans it was an exhausting experience and strong drinks would be needed. Ystrad Rhondda are to be congratulated on an excellent season and they can look forward optimistically to next season. They have certainly proved to be Pooler’s toughest opponents this season.

Pontypool have one more game to play and that is away at Ystalyfera next Saturday. We just need one more big effort from the squad to complete an unbeaten season. What a fantastic achievement that would be.

Come on Pooler!