Neath Prove Worthy Opponents Again

It was Pontypool v. Neath at Pontypool Park – a rerun of the titanic clashes the two sides had enjoyed in the Championship over the last few seasons. Whilst Pooler had shown up well in the Premiership after promotion, Neath were yet to win. This didn’t really matter this was sure to be a bruising encounter.

The first big decision was stand or Bank and there was a narrow majority in favour of the Bank despite the squally weather with the occasional bursts of wind and rain. “Derek Brockway said that it would clear up and he is never wrong,” said I. Well, he was wrong this time because it never did clear up for the duration of the match.

We were huddled under an umbrella as Neath kicked off playing down the slope with the swirling wind mainly at their backs. Pooler kept the ball in hand for long periods as the teams got to grip with the difficult conditions. Despite keeping hold to the ball remarkably well, Pooler could not make much impact on a strong and well-organised Neath defence. When the Pontypool attacks eventually broke down, a hefty boot from Neath sent them back into their own half.

Neath too tried to move the ball but it was almost half an hour before any points were registered by either side. The points came from a Jarvis penalty that put Pooler 3-0 up. The game was tough and bruising as we had expected and Neath were giving as good as they got in the forward exchanges.

As time was running out in the first half, Pooler were rather fortunate when the referee waved play on after what looked like a Neath player being taken in the air. Pooler pressed on regardless and were soon hammering away at the away side’s line. The Pooler forwards were not to be denied and Williams got the all important touch down. Jarvis converted and had built a useful 10-0 lead. Neath responded immediately with an attack but Pooler held out and maintained their lead as the two rather bedraggled teams headed for the changing rooms.

Pontypool started the second half with renewed energy and worked their way down the field to the Neath line. After a powerful series of thrusts from the forwards, the referee awarded a penalty try as Neath transgressed. Griggs from Neath was shown a yellow card and Pooler were 17-0 up which looked a decent lead in the difficult conditions.

Neath stepped it up and Pooler were perhaps a little guilty of thinking the match was won and there was a tremendous change in momentum. Pooler were soon under the cosh as Neath took the game to them and certainly didn’t look like a side playing with fourteen men. After a series of Neath attacks that were repulsed by Pooler, Griggs returned. After camping on the Pooler line, Neath were finally rewarded with the try their play deserved when Kneath touched down. The conversion failed but Neath were very much back in the game at 17-5. Pooler had conceded a series of penalties during the attack and Scarfe was shown  a yellow card as a consequence.

Neath were now in the ascendancy and used their extra man to good effect. From an attack on the Pontypool twenty two, they outflanked the home side for Griffiths to score in the right corner. An excellent conversion by Jones saw Neath close the gap further to 17-12. This was getting too close for comfort and there was still a quarter of an hour to go.

Pooler sent for the cavalry and brought on their bench players. This had the desired effect and now it was Pooler doing the attacking. They spurned a couple of kickable penalties to go for the try and powered their way down to the Neath line. After the forwards drove for the line, the ball found its way to right wing Jones who squeezed in in the corner for a try. Jarvis converted from the touch line and Pooler could breathe again at 24-12 with less than ten minutes remaining.

Both teams went in search of a bonus point but neither side could breach the defences. It was with some relief to those brave windswept souls on the Bank that the final whistle blew. Final score Pontypool 24 : Neath 12.

This was a very hard fought victory for Pontypool who were thoroughly tested by a committed and lively Neath team. A first win for Neath can surely not be far away. The Pooler squad is doing us proud and occupy a highly creditable third place in the Premiership defying a lot of people’s expectations. It doesn’t get any easier though with away trips to Bridgend and RGC next on the agenda.

At regional level, there does not seem to be much to cheer about that is for sure but congratulations to the Dragons on beating the Ospreys. Welsh rugby seems to lurch from crisis to crisis and gives the impression of a dysfunctional organisation that clutches at straws rather than thinks things through before acting. I get heartily fed up hearing about it. Thankfully we have the Premiership to enjoy but then….

Come on Pooler!