Another Narrow Defeat for Battling Pooler

A visit to the so-called House of Pain in Pontypridd is a tough place to go to try and end the bad run that Pontypool are on. A good sized crowd had gathered for the “battle of the Pontys” on a grey afternoon with hardly a breath of wind. Pontypridd play on an artificial pitch so no worries about the condition of the playing surface. Proceedings started with the marking  of local hero Chris Dicomidis’ four-hundredth appearance for Pontypridd which is a great achievement in these days when players often flit from club to club. More inspiration for the home side if they needed any.

The first ten minutes of the match belonged to Pontypool who played open attractive rugby with backs and forwards handling with gay abandon. The Ponty defence had to work overtime to keep them out. Eventually Pooler got their just reward when Jarvis fed Matthews who bustled over the line for a try. The conversion failed but it was first blood to Pooler (0-5).

From then on, the half belonged to Pontypridd. Their powerful forwards gained the upper hand with the scrum proving a valuable source of penalties for the home side. The penalties gave them field position and put Pooler very much on the defensive. It was only a matter of time before the pressure on Pooler told and, as we went into the second quarter, Ponty opened their account. From a scrum near the Pooler line, home number eight Ward picked up and powered over. Phillips converted and Ponty took the lead at 7-5.

A few minutes later, after more intense pressure from the Ponty forwards, full back Phillips squeezed in for their second try in the left corner. The conversion failed but things were starting to look ominous for Pooler (12-5). As the half was coming to an end, Pooler’s cause was not helped by a head injury to second row Hill who had to leave the field looking decidedly groggy – let us hope for a speedy recovery.

It is not called the House of Pain for nothing as soon Ponty were pounding away at the Pooler line again. This time the home side set up a powerful driving maul from a lineout which the away side could not stop. Jones got the touchdown and Phillips converted to give Pontypridd a convincing 19-5 lead.

There was just time for Pooler to have a quick foray into the Ponty twenty two but a missed penalty and a driving maul that went wrong meant that they could not make any impression on the scoreboard.

A rather chastening half for Pontypool came to and end with the home side holding a deserved 19-5 lead. Pooler, as is becoming a bit of a habit, would have it all to do in the second half.

Things started badly in the second half for Pontypool with a yellow card for Lewis couple with a successful penalty by Phillips as Ponty extended their lead to 22-5. As we know, it is at times such as this that Pooler often start playing their best rugby. Four half time changes with a whole new front row and Morgan Lloyd at scum half gave Pooler fresh impetus. The scrum battle tilted back in their favour and they managed to get decent possession and territory.

It was now Pooler who were doing the attacking and after the forwards had battered away it was Matthews who got the all-important touchdown which Jarvis converted and their cause seemed far from lost at 22-12.

The momentum was temporarily lost when, as the third quarter ended, Pontypridd worked their way down field. After Pooler conceded a penalty, Ponty set up another powerful forward drive with hooker Jones scoring again to claim their bonus point. Phillips converted and the gap was back to 17 points at 29-12.

One thing was certain and that was that Pooler were not going to give up – it is not in their DNA. The fourth quarter belonged firmly to Pontypool as they went in search of a very unlikely victory. Ten minutes into the final quarter they were awarded a penalty try when the home side stopped a driving maul illegally. Not only had Pooler secured an invaluable 7 points but Ponty were a man down with Parry shown a yellow card (29-19).

Pooler continued to press with Ponty battling hard to hang on to their lead. Time was ticking away when Pooler had a scrum close to the Ponty line. Scrum half Lloyd picked up and in a twinkling of an eye had scooted over the line for Pooler’s fourth try bringing up the bonus point. Jarvis converted to bring the score to 29-26 with precious little time left.

Ponty kicked off and Pooler attempted to run the ball from within their own twenty-two. The Pontypridd defence made sure that they could not escape and the home side breathed a sigh of relief when the referee blew the final whistle. Final score Pontypridd 29: Pontypool 26.

Another narrow loss for Pontypool who again left themselves with too much to do. They did give Pontypridd a scare and did bag two bonus points so it is far from doom and gloom. The squad has tremendous spirit and never gives up even if the cause looks hopeless to the outside world. The season started with Pooler claiming narrow victories and now we are seeing narrow defeats – the margins are fine that is for sure.

Next up for Pooler will be Cardiff at home on the 17^th of February which gives the squad a few weeks to lick their wounds and make themselves ready for what will be another tough match.

The Six Nations Championship is just around the corner with Wales playing Scotland in Cardiff next Saturday. It is hard to know what to expect from Wales with a much changed and inexperienced squad. A long injury list will limit Warren Gatland’s options in several key positions so his initial team selection will be fascinating. Scotland are a much more settled side and must start as favourites in my mind despite being the away team. Wales have surprised us before so let us hope for a victory that will give them confidence for the trips to England and Ireland to follow.

Come on Pooler!

Come on Wales!   

More Disappointment for Pooler

I didn’t make the journey to Carmarthen for Pooler’s latest match which was under floodlights on a Thursday evening. As the match was televised, I had a rare opportunity to watch Pooler in live action on the box. It is many years since I have done this but I was soon wishing I was in Carmarthen as an exciting game unfolded.

The first half was evenly contested although Carmarthen seemed to have more of a cutting edge. The score was 13-13 until the last few minutes of the half with both sides having scored a converted try and two penalties. Then Carmarthen showed pace and precision as they put right wing Ford in for a try in the corner. Titcombe kicked a conversion to give the home side a 20-13 lead. Pooler had a great chance to score a try of their own as the half ended with them camped on the Quins’ line. Somehow they let the opportunity slip through their fingers and somehow it seemed to be a crucial mistake.

In the second half, things started badly for Pooler with Gwilliam scoring a smart try for the home side that was converted by Titcombe (27-13). Things looked ominous for Pooler but we all know about the tremendous spirit in the side and they were not about to give up that was for sure.

Fresh legs were introduced from the bench and, as Carmarthen sat back, Pooler took the initiative. On the hour, Marcus Jones scored his second try of the evening this time proving too strong for the home defence to hold after he had been put in space by the threequarters. Jarvis converted and Pooler were within a score at 27-20.

More good news followed shortly afterwards when the Pooler backs again were in action and this time it was Price Thomas with an extravagant dummy who dotted down for a try. Unfortunately, the conversion missed but Pooler were well back in the hunt at 27-25.

Carmarthen regrouped and it was they who struck next with another try for Ford but this time the conversion missed. There was still some hope for Pooler with the score 32-25 with around ten minutes remaining.

The Pontypool scrum was looking dominant but somehow they contrived to give away a penalty in the Pooler half. Titcombe obliged from the tee and Carmarthen were now two scores clear at 35-25 with little time remaining. There was still plenty for Pooler to play for - a try would bring up the try bonus point plus the losing bonus point. They came mighty close but in the end had to settle for a Jarvis penalty and a losing bonus point. Final score Carmarthen Quins 35: Pontypool 28.

In the final analysis, Pooler lost narrowly but, in truth, were second best for a large part of the game. Carmarthen Quins were lively and aggressive and Pooler struggled to contain their physicality at times. In addition, the Carmarthen kickers knew how to apply pressure on the Pooler back three by launching high kicks above the floodlights – the benefit of playing on your home ground. As throughout the season, Pooler demonstrated tremendous spirit and found a way to get back into the match when all seemed lost.

Next up will be a home game against Merthyr. The squad will surely benefit from an extra couple of days rest.

Come on Pooler!

Frustration for Pooler

The first game of 2024 found Pontypool playing Aberavon at Pontypool Park on a cool but mercifully dry afternoon. The two previous encounters of the season in league and cup had been close encounters with the spoils shared. There was every expectation that this too would be a tight affair.

Aberavon played down the slope in the first half and right from the off they looked bright and sharp. Pontypool, on the other hand, looked laboured and lethargic and seemed to find it hard to get going. Aberavon had the lion’s share of possession and it was only scrambling defence that kept them from scoring a try in the first quarter. They did however get six points on the board through penalties kicked by Thomas (0-6)

Pontypool did begin to make some impact on the game with their dominant scrum. This was the source of penalties and they managed to put pressure on the visitors’ line where they had a series of scrums and we thought they surely must score. Inexplicably, Pooler were penalised at the final scrum and the opportunity was lost.

Aberavon were still busy and causing the Pooler defence problems. A mazy run by Aberavon fullback Delnevo left the Pooler defence for dead as he scored a splendid solo try. The conversion from Thomas meant that Aberavon were 0-13 to the good after half an hour played.

As half time approached, Pooler did start to work up a head of steam but were finding the visitors’ super quick rush defence difficult to penetrate. Pooler were attacking inside the Aberavon twenty two when a pass was intercepted by Carson who sped eighty metres or so to the Pooler line leaving everyone in his wake. Thomas converted and things were looking grave for the home side trailed 0-20.

This really was an under par half of rugby from Pontypool and the fans were left shaking their heads. No doubt, the half time team talk would have pointed this out quite forcibly. Pooler had a mountain to climb to get back into the game but there would need to be a dramatic improvement if that was going to happen.

What Pooler needed in the second half was to get on the scoreboard quickly to try and generate some momentum. Their prayers were answered when Aberavon made a mess of catching the kick off and conceded a penalty. Pooler opted to kick for the corner and from the ensuing lineout piled on the pressure on through their forwards. After some heavy duty carrying, it was Hill who forced his way over the line for a much-needed try. Jarvis converted and there was a chink of light for Pooler at 7-20 with only a few minutes played.

More good news was to follow. Straight from the kick off Pooler launched an attack with Mahoney making good ground. He fed right wing Jones who galloped over for a try from thirty metres or so. Jarvis converted and within the space of five minutes Pooler had slashed the lead to just six points at 14-20.

The momentum was now very much with Pontypool as they sensed that a sensational catch-up win was on the cards. There followed a frustrating period where Pooler got on the wrong side of the referee at the breakdown and conceded too many penalties which allowed Aberavon to relieve the pressure. The frustration was further compounded by handling errors close to the Aberavon line and let us not forget a strong well-organised Aberavon defence.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Aberavon made a rare foray into Pooler territory and were awarded a penalty that Thomas duly converted to put the away side two scores clear at 14-23. Pooler hit back strongly and were soon camped on the Aberavon line with the forwards driving strongly. This time it was Sweet who crashed over for a try. Jarvis converted and it was now a two point game  at 21-23.

Pooler failed to clear from the kick off and Aberavon were awarded yet another penalty. This time it was converted by Davies and Aberavon now led 21-26 with ten minutes or so remaining.

From then on, it was desperate Pontypool attacks against desperate Aberavon defence. Pooler hammered away at the Aberavon line in search of the winning try but as things got frenetic they lost control of the ball and it all came to nought. Final score Pontypool 21: Aberavon 26.

This was so nearly a famous victory for Pontypool who came back from the dead in the second half. In the end, they left themselves too much to do after a really disappointing first half. They outscored Aberavon three tries to two but conceded four kickable penalties that tilted the game in favour of the visitors so yet again discipline was a problem

The next match which is away at Carmarthen Quins is on Thursday evening  so there is not much time to pick the morale of the squad  up after a disappointing performance. The match is televised but it does seem hard on the fans who want to travel to have to go so far on a mid-week night.

The elite league is back in the news with several clubs declaring that they have moved on to the next stage of the application. It still seems difficult for the league to go ahead without Cardiff, Merthyr and Pontypridd. My personal view is that I wish that the idea had never been floated but my opinion counts for nought.

I’ll just keep enjoying Premiership rugby in the meantime.

Come on Pooler!