First Half to Forget Leaves Pooler Too Much to Do

Pontypool’s final home game of the season was against Merthyr on a Wednesday evening. Conditions were ideal for rugby with the game starting in daylight although the gathering gloom meant that the floodlights were needed in the latter part of the first half.

Gathering gloom was an apt description of the way the Pooler fans felt as the first half progressed. While Merthyr started with purpose and aggression, Pooler seemed strangely lethargic. We have seen this at times this season but this time it lasted for the whole forty minutes. In fairness Merthyr played well while the home side suffered from a lack of possession and territory. The Merthyr scrum was dominant and Pooler gave away far too many penalties.

Right from the off Pooler were on the back foot and Merthyr scored a try through Hoskins after ten minutes or so. This was converted by Thompson and Merthyr led 0-7. Pooler could well have conceded more points in the first quarter as the away side laid siege on their line but their defence was heroic and just about managed to stem the tide.

At the start of the second quarter, Pooler had the temerity to launch their first attack and Merthyr were left short-handed with a yellow card for Bradbury. Sadly, their time in the Merthyr twenty-two did not lead to any points and the action was soon back in the Pontypool twenty-two. Even with fourteen men, Merthyr managed to create space for Thompson to score a try that he converted himself (0-14)

The referee finally got fed up with the collapsing scrums and showed a yellow card to Pooler prop Williams. This was shortly followed by a yellow card for Stratton as Pooler battled furiously to keep Merthyr out. The numerical advantage that the away side had eventually told  and there were tries for Bradbury and Hoskins that both went unconverted as a painful first half for Pooler was coming to a close (0-24).

There was a glimmer of a chance for Pooler to register some points on the board right at the end of the first half but alas that came to nought. In Pooler’s attack, Merthyr prop Whiting was shown a yellow card so at least Pooler would start the second half against fourteen men although they had a mountain to climb at 0-24.

One suspects that Pooler received a severe mentoring during the half time interval and despite playing up the slope in the second half we had to believe that things would improve drastically.

Well things certainly did get better and Pooler started on the front foot and after five minutes or so a break by Jarvis saw Pooler in the Merthyr twenty-two. The ball was moved left and Lewis touched down for a much-needed try. The conversion failed but at least Pooler were up and running (5-24).

Pooler made wholesale changes at this point with the bench being virtually emptied. This gave fresh energy and a few minutes later Pooler were again on the attack. The ball was spread right to Walker Price who kicked ahead. The ball bounced over the Merthyr try line with Price leading the chasing pack. He was adjudged to have been unfairly impeded and the referee awarded a penalty try. Hoskins was shown a yellow card and the home side could sense a miraculous recovery was on the cards (12-24).

The optimism was short-lived as, after another scrum penalty against Pontypool, Merthyr took up an attacking position in the home twenty-two. Some slick handling by their backs saw Meaclem score a try in the left corner. The conversion failed but Merthyr’s lead was back up to seventeen points with twenty minutes left (12-29).

Back came Pooler as they certainly did not regard the cause as lost. This time, it was substitute flanker Herbert who pierced the Merthyr defence to score their third try. Jarvis converted and it was back to “game on” with the score 19-29 and most of the final quarter remaining.

Not long after, Jarvis made a break from in his own half but in the ensuing ruck he was sin-binned. This was, I think, the sixth yellow card of the match and had the effect of blunting Pooler’s attacking prospects. Despite being short-handed, Pooler continued to put pressure on Merthyr as the went in search of a bonus point or two.

Pooler pounded away using their forwards but time was ticking away. Finally, Moa crashed over the line after lengthy series of forward drives following an attacking lineout. Jarvis converted but this was unfortunately the last action of the match. Final score Pontypool 26 : Merthyr 29.

Pontypool did redeem themselves after a  poor first half showing. They did not quite manage to overhaul Merthyr’s substantial lead in the second half but grabbed two bonus points which is at least some reward for a tremendous comeback against tough opposition. Those two points mean that they have overhauled Pontypridd in the table and currently occupy a hugely creditable fifth place. Whether they hang on to that position will be determined in the last match of the season. Pontypool travel to RGC while Merthyr, who are two points behind, are away in Swansea.

Come on Pooler!