Another Saturday afternoon and another trip to the Talbot Athletic ground to watch Pontypool take on Aberavon. Pooler just scraped home last Saturday in the league fixture but this time it was a cup tie. It was a tense affair the previous week and we were expecting something similar again. The weather was improved and the sun was shining and there were no traffic problems to contend with. Pontypool had made a whole raft of changes as they rotated their squad.
It was Aberavon who opened the scoring with a Thomas
penalty in the first few minutes (3-0). Pontypool took the initiative but found
the Aberavon defence in no mood to yield a try. Pooler were, however, awarded two
penalties in the next five minutes but failed to convert either. We wondered how
costly this would be in what was sure to be a tight game. The absence of the
absence of Jarvis and his precision goalkicking was keenly felt.
The match was played at a higher pace than the
previous week with both sides adopting a more open approach in the perfect
conditions. It was Pooler who held the advantage in terms of territory but it
was Aberavon who scored next with another penalty that doubled their lead to
6-0 as the first quarter ended.
The game was keenly contested between two evenly
matched team and it was difficult to spot a winner. Pooler were awarded another
kickable penalty but again the ball sailed wide. Undaunted, Pooler continued to
attack and after kicking another penalty to the corner they finally got their reward in the final minutes of the first half. After a protracted series of
forward drives and one try chalked off, Peter Lloyd plunged over to register
Pooler’s first points of the afternoon. The conversion failed and Pooler
trailed by just one point at 6-5.
Pooler continued to press but could not add to their
score before the end of the half. It was another tight game and Pooler could
ill afford the eleven points that they could have accrued through the kicks that they missed.
Pontypool brought on Bancroft to replace the lively
Anderson at fullback for the second half. New scrumhalf, Flanagan, also came on
to replace Leonard. Before we had time to consider the changes, a crosskick from
Pooler outside half Malson found right wing Rosser in space. Rosser showed a
change of pace to beat his man and score in the right corner. Bancroft took the
difficult conversion from the touchline but the pesky ball wouldn’t cooperate
and Pooler had to be satisfied with a three point lead (6-10).
Aberavon were stung into action and worked their way
into the Pooler twenty-two. Flanagan received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on
and Aberavon kicked for the corner. Pooler were now under immense pressure
close to their line as the home side attacked with vigour. The defence worked
overtime but ultimately the extra man told and Wizards’ wing Andrews was left
unmarked and cantered in for a try. Davies converted and the home side were
back in the lead 13-10.
On the hour, Pooler opted to attempt a long-range penalty
but again it failed. To make matters worse from the ensuing play a searing
break saw Aberavon surge up field and Jones outpace the defence to score in
the right corner. A tremendous conversion from Davies saw the Wizards go two
scores clear at 20-10.
There were still twenty minutes left but, despite some
powerful thrusts from Nove, Pontypool could not make any impact on the lead.
There were close calls at both ends but there were no additions to the score.
Final score Aberavon 20 : Pontypool 10.
This was an enjoyable match between two evenly matched
teams with both sides keen to play open rugby. The match could have gone either
way with both sides scoring two tries. Ironically it was Aberavon’s missed kick
that gave Pontypool their victory last week and this week it was Pooler’s
missed kicks that played a big part in their defeat. Congratulations to
Aberavon who progress to the quarter final of the Premiership Cup.
Next week Pontypool entertain Carmarthen Quins and
will again be tested to the full. There are many encouraging signs for Pooler
as the season progresses and they get to grips with life in the Premiership.
In the evening, I watched the heavyweight clash
between Ireland and South Africa ion the RWC. This was a high quality and
rousing encounter that Ireland just edged. It would have made a great final. In
the end, South Africa’s goalkicking let them down in what was otherwise an evenly
fought but bruising match. There will be some aching bodies this morning that
is for sure.
This evening Wales face Australia in a pivotal match.
If Wales win, and it’s a big if, they progress to the quarter finals. If they
lose things get difficult but they can still progress. There are all sorts of
scenarios regarding bonus points that are doing my head in with Fiji also in
contention. I think I will be back behind the sofa again somehow.
Come on Wales!
Come on Pooler!
No comments:
Post a Comment