Pooler Enjoying Life in the Premiership

Carmarthen Quins were the visitors to Pontypool Park for Pooler’s latest league game. After mixed fortunes at Aberavon over the last two weekends, I am sure Pooler were glad to be back on home soil. It was a great afternoon for rugby with little wind and no rain to contend with and a pitch that was in perfect condition.

Pooler playing up the slope in the first half were soon on the scoreboard with a penalty from Jarvis (3-0). This was soon followed up by a well-worked try by two of Pooler’s talented youngsters. Scrum half Lloyd’s shrewd cross kick was gathered by Anderson in space and he scurried over in the right corner. Jarvis converted and the home side were 10-0 to the good.

Pontypool were on top and it came as no surprise when they extended their lead to 13-0 with another Jarvis penalty after a quarter of an hour. In this league you can never relax and as the first quarter came to an end Pooler were caught napping when Quins scrum half Davies took a quick tap penalty and sprinted forty metres to score a try under the posts. Wilson converted and the visitors had finally made their presence felt and closed the gap to 13-7.

Pooler continued to have the upper hand but were finding the Quins defence difficult to break down. They were rewarded with another Jarvis penalty on the half hour (16-7) and kept up the pressure in search of a second try. Pooler won a series of penalties as the Quins defence was stretched and this led to a yellow card for Millin. From the ensuing penalty, Pooler opted to kick to touch. A powerful driven lineout saw Scarfe touch down in the left corner. Jarvis converted and the home side had opened up a significant 23-7 lead.

As the first half drew to a close, there was a flurry of scoring. A promising Pooler attack down the right wing broke down and Quins’ outside half Wilson was put in space in his own twenty-two. He showed a tremendous turn of speed as he left the Pooler defence for dead to score a try that he converted himself (23-14). Moments later, Pooler struck back when a line break by Pat Lewis was supported by fellow centre Mahoney who blasted over for a fine try. The try was converted by the ever-reliable Jarvis and left Pooler with a deserved 30-14 half time lead.

If the Carmarthen Quins coach wanted a reaction from his charges he certainly got one. Quins dominated the third quarter with Pooler finding it difficult to get their hands on the ball. Pooler were guilty of giving away a series of penalties as they were very much on the back foot. The Quins forwards battered away and they were rewarded with a try from Millin that was converted by Wilson to reduce Pooler’s lead to nine points at 30-21.

On the hour, the home side finally broke out as Price made good ground down the left wing. The attack was stopped just short of the visitors’ line but Pooler kept the pressure on. It was Price who got the vital score as he squeezed in for a try in the corner. The conversion failed but Pooler had secured the try bonus point and a 35-21 lead.

It was Pontypool who had the better of the remaining time in the match as they finished the stronger. Another precision penalty from Jarvis stretched the lead to 38-21. After pressing hard in the Quins twenty-two, Pooler finished the game with a deserved fifth try when hardworking flanker Davies pirouetted over after a series of forward drives. Jarvis converted with the last kick of the game. Final score Pontypool 45 : Carmarthen Quins 21.

This was an entertaining game of rugby that Pontypool thoroughly deserved to win. Pooler have demonstrated admirably that they can compete at Premiership level and have now risen to the dizzy height of third in the table having won three of their four matches. It is, of course, very early days and there are many tougher challenges to come as the season progresses. You cannot help feeling, however, that there is more to come from a fully committed squad. There is a challenging visit to Merthyr coming up in two weeks which will fully test their resolve I am sure.

Meanwhile Wales have had a week off in the RWC. Yesterday Georgia gave Fiji a tough time so Wales will have to be on their mettle if they want to win their group when they take on the Georgians next weekend. It is looking like the group winner will take on Argentina in the quarterfinal while the runner up will play England. Neither game should fill Wales with dread but there are no easy matches at that stage.

There have been some huge scores racked up as the weaker sides have been put to the sword over the last few weeks. I am not sure whether this does the weaker sides or rugby in general any favours. It is still difficult to pick an overall winner with South Africa, France, Ireland and New Zealand looking a class above the rest. Then there is Wales of course – it is nice to be able to dream!

Come on Wales!

Come on Pooler!