Pooler Light The Blue Touchpaper

I felt a bit queasy after having had my Covid and Flu jabs in the morning so didn’t make the trip down to Swansea for Pontypool’s latest league game. Fortunately, it was televised so I was able to watch the last game in the initial block of matches.

It was clear that the match was going to be very much affected by a strong wind blowing down the ground towards Mumbles. Swansea had first use of the wind so it was Pooler’s job to keep the scores close in the first half and then capitalise on the conditions in the second half.

Things could not have started better for Pooler when a smart break by scrum half Lloyd was supported by right wing Duggan. Duggan still had a bit to do but weaved his way to the line for the first try. The conversion from Meek gave Pooler an invaluable 0-7 lead.

There followed a long period of play almost entirely confined to the Pontypool half as the wind prevented relieving kicks making much territory. Pooler’s defence was heroic and held out against wave after wave of attacks for the whole of the first quarter. Eventually  the pressure told and Swansea, after bashing away at a brick wall, opted to take a shot at goal Phillips converted and brought the score to 3-7 at the start of the second quarter.

A couple of minutes later a brilliant break form Swansea full back Houston was brought to an end by a high tackle by Jordan Thomas. Thomas was given a yellow card and Swansea kicked for the corner. . A well organised driving lineout saw left wing Wood pop up to force his way over the line. Phillips converted and Swansea had taken a narrow lead at 10-7.

With around five minutes to go before half time, Pooler made one of very few incursions into the Swansea twenty-two. They managed to get a lineout near the Swansea line. The lineout drive was textbook and Scarfe touched down in the right corner. The conversion failed but Pooler were back in the lead at 12-10. Pooler managed to hold on to the lead until halftime and must have been relieved to be in a strong position with the wind at their backs in the second half.

The third quarter was frustrating as Pooler found it difficult to produce the continuity that was required to build on their first half efforts. Swansea for their part continued to look dangerous occasionally as they were forced to run the ball to gain territory. Pooler’s lineout let them down at times with the wind making things tricky for the thrower. Towards the end of the third quarter Pooler made several substitutions including the introduction of their talisman Scott Matthews. Morgan Allen had been the main ball carrier and borne the burden particularly well but it was good to have someone else who could make the valuable hard yards.

Swansea were tiring and had been significantly weakened by a series of injuries but remained stubborn in their defence against almost continuous Pooler attacks. Finally, Morgan Allen stormed  over the line for a richly deserved try. It was converted by Meek to give Pooler a two score lead at 10-19 with twenty minutes to go.

Just as you thought that Pooler were going to have to settle for a relatively narrow victory, they lit the blue touch paper. Matthews had the matches and stormed over for the bonus point try from close range that Meek converted (10-26). Pooler were soon back in the Swansea twenty-two and settled for a Meek penalty to ensure that the second bonus point for a fifteen point lead was preserved (10-29).

Moments later, Matthews was storming down the field again. Tthis time he passed to substitute scrumhalf Leonard who fed Meek and the outside half galloped over for a try that he converted himself (10-36). There was still time for a final flourish when a searing break by Anderson was supported by flanker Dylan Jones who raced over for Pooler’s sixth try. Meek converted with the final kick of the match. Final score Swansea 10 : Pontypool 43.

It took quite a long time for Pooler to wear down an obdurate Swansea defence but wear them down they did with some powerful carrying by the forwards.  A frenetic last ten minutes saw the floodgates open and Pooler romp home in some style. What a brilliant way to bring down the curtain on the first block of seven matches of which Pooler won four. The three losses could even have been victories but that is the way of rugby. The new league is very competitive with little to choose between the teams. Pooler had just built some momentum with two fine victories but now there is a break of a month before they are next in action when Aberavon visit the Park.

Well done Pooler!