A local derby is always something to savour and it
always seems to add extra spice when Pontypool’s opponents are Newport. We had
suffered a considerable amount of rain leading up to the match but the weather
gods had smiled and it was a beautiful sunny afternoon and Pontypool Park was
looking at its best. When the leaves start turning to brown, there surely
cannot be a more picturesque place to watch rugby.
This was the match that all Pooler fans wanted to win
above all others especially with Newport being one of the favourites to win the
first edition of Super Rugby Wales. As you would expect, a goodly crowd had
gathered with plenty of black and amber on show.
Pooler played down the slope in the first half and started
well with a series of attacks. They hammered away at the Newport line but all their
efforts were repelled by a strong Newport defence. Every now and then Newport
broke out and showed that their threequarters could be dangerous. It was tense
stuff with defences on top with thumping tackles the order of the day. No
quarter given and none asked for in a scoreless first quarter. This was going
to be a close run thing.
Early in the second quarter, Pooler finally got some
reward for all their effort with a well-struck penalty from Meek (3-0). You felt
that Pooler really needed to score some more points with the advantage of the
slope in the first half. The second quarter was as tense as the first with a combination
of errors and penalties punctuating the game as both sides struggled to get
ascendency. Neither side could claim to be on top as strong defence continued
to dominate.
Just as the first half looked like it was going to be
tryless, Newport right wing and Pooler old boy, Lloyd Lewis, received the ball
near half way with a bit of space to run. He needed no second invitation and
surged deep into the Pontypool twenty-two. He was tackled but managed to get
the ball away. Pooler centre , Mahoney, got in the way and was penalised and
shown a yellow card. Newport spurned the chance of three points and kicked for
the corner. The Newport lineout drive was clinically executed with Langley
touching down for a try. The try was converted by Penny with the last action of
the first half. Newport had snatched a 3-7 lead at half time.
The third quarter continued where the first half left
off with both sides going at it hammer and tongs but neither side managing to
find their way over the whitewash to score a try. There was a lot of kicking from
both sides as they searched for the error that would give them field
position. The set pieces were evenly contested although the Pooler lineout did
creak a little. Newport still held their narrow lead but it was still anyone’s
game.
Just as the third quarter ended, Pooler managed to
break through and establish a bridgehead close to the Newport line. The
forwards hammered away but again found the Newport defence unyielding.
Eventually there was a change of plan and the ball was shipped out to the left
wing where substitute wing Marcus Jones was eagerly waiting. He did the necessary
and scored in the corner to the Pooler faithful’s delight. A tremendous
conversion form Meek put Pooler back in
the lead at 10-7 with twenty minutes remaining.
The clock seemed to be running down slowly now as
Newport sought a way back into the game. Both sides emptied their benches as
the physicality of the game told. The changes in the front row gave Newport
ascendency in the scrums which gave them a valuable source of penalties. Both
sides continued to kick ball away as they looked for field position. The
tension was mounting as it really felt that the next score would probably
clinch the game.
The clock showed that it was the 74th minute
when the deadlock was broken. To Pooler’s dismay it was Newport who struck. They
worked their way downfield and it was Reid who scored the try and it was converted by Reed This put Newport back in the lead at 10-14 leaving Pooler
with just five minutes to turn things around.
To their credit, Pooler didn’t panic and we know of
old that they never say die. They applied tremendous pressure form the restart
and regained possession. As the clock ticked down, they were back on the Newport
line with the away side defending desperately. Again, the forwards hammered
away in this time in the right corner – well that was all the forwards bar hooker
Sam Scarfe who was stationed on the left wing. After going close a number of
times, Pooler heeded Scarfe’s wishes and spread the ball wide. Scarfe repaid
their confidence and plunged over in the left corner. Another fine conversion
from Meek saw Pooler establish a three point lead at 17-14 with a minute or so
remaining.
There was still time for an anxious moment or two as
Newport found their way into the Pooler twenty-two. A Pooler scrum just about
managed to keep possession and the ball was kicked out of play. Pooler had done
it and the Pooler fans celebrated. Final score Pontypool 14 : Newport 14.
What a game with the result in doubt right to the end.
Pontypool can be justifiably proud of their efforts in a true team performance against
a strong Newport team. This was a great local derby with both sides draining
their tanks in trying to get one over on their local rivals. True it was not a
try fest with defences on top but it was a compelling spectacle played in good
spirit. – so, well done to both sides.
Next up for Pooler will be a trip to St Helens to play
Swansea on Thursday evening in a televised
match. This will be the last match before a month’s break that coincides
with the Autumn Internationals. Swansea have had a poor start to the season but
as always they will provide a stern test.
Come on Pooler!
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