Pontypool have been on a dismal run over the last couple of months and have lost five matches in a row. When you are on a run like that, Ebbw Vale is probably the last place that you would want to visit. The Steelmen are currently riding high at the top of the SRC with Pooler languishing at the bottom. On the face of it, Ebbw Vale would be starting as overwhelming favourites.
It was a
raw December day but mercifully for once the rain had relented. For the first
quarter of the match Pooler held the ascendancy, at least territorially, with
the home side rarely able to get out of their own half. Yes, Pooler were under
pressure in the scrums and gave away a few penalties but they were giving a
really good account of themselves. Unfortunately, they could not find their way
over the whitewash for a try as the Ebbw Vale defence stood firm. All Pooler
had to show for almost twenty minutes of hard work was a penalty from Harri
Ford which gave them a narrow 0-3 lead.
Things all
changed in the second quarter when the home side finally got a foothold in the
Pooler half. The Ebbw Vale game plan clicked into gear with their powerful ball
carriers making dents in the Pooler defence. After a period of pressure, they
spread the ball wide and Bowden just about managed to get the ball down for a
try in the left corner. Jones landed an excellent conversion and Ebbw Vale had
taken a 7-3 lead.
A few
minutes later, there was more bad news for Pooler when Marcus Jones and hooker
James both received yellow cards in the same play and they were down to
thirteen men. The home side immediately took full toll with a driving maul with
hooker Franchi touching down. Jones converted and the game had been turned on
its head with Pooler trailing 14-3.
In
fairness to Pooler, despite being shorthanded, they attacked strongly but again
could not add to their tally as Ebbw held firm. In the last few minutes of the
half, Ebbw added another try when Franchi again touched down after another
forward drive. The conversion put the home side comfortably clear at 21-3 as
the half ended.
As the
first half progressed, Ebbw Vale hit their straps and Pooler were more and more
under the cosh. The home side are well drilled with a relatively simple game
plan. They apply pressure in the scrum, they have powerful runners in the pack
and in the centre and gain field position through their kicking game. Their
team is settled and everyone knows the plan. They are very good at it and
difficult to stop once they have momentum. Could Pooler do anything to turn
things around in the second half?
The first
ten minutes of the second half were very scrappy with both sides guilty of too
many handling errors. In the eleventh minute the Pooler scrum was penalised and
Ebbw Vale kicked for the corner. Pooler kept the forward drive at bay but the
ball was passed a little wider and home centre Phillips burst through for a try
that Jones converted (28-3).
Pooler
certainly did not lie down and changes in the front row brought a bit more
stability to the scrums. They had a good
spell of attacking rugby in the home twenty-two. They went close a number of
times before outside half Ford found some space and touched down. His
conversion attempt hit a post but Pooler had closed the gap to 28-8.
At the
start of the fourth quarter, a knock-on from an Ebbw Vale kick gave the home
side field position. The relentless pressure was again applied and a break by
Phillips saw him score his second try near the posts. Jones added the extras
and the lead had grown to 35-8. Any hope of an unlikely Pooler comeback were
squashed.
Pooler did
not see it quite that way and a passing move from inside their own half saw a
brilliant long range try which Ford converted that got them into double figures
(35-15).
It was
Ebbw Vale who had the last say in the match when, after yet more pressure in
the Pontypool twenty-two, outside half Jones scored in the right corner. The try
went unconverted but the home side were twenty five points clear at 40-15.
The dying
minutes saw attacks from both sides and a yellow card for Ebbw Vale but no
points were forthcoming.
Final
score Ebbw Vale 40 : Pontypool 15.
Another
loss for Pooler but they certainly gave it their best shot and with a bit more
luck could have narrowed the gap. On the day, Ebbw Vale were just too strong
and demonstrated exactly why they are on the top of the league. Pooler will be
playing Ebbw Vale again next weekend at Pontypool and will need to put their
thinking caps on to come up with a way of unsettling what looks like an
unflappable team. I am sure the young Dragons playing for Pontypool will learn
a lot from the experience which is, of course, one of the objectives of the SRC.
It is good
to see the Dragons winning again after their long lean spell. Welsh rugby needs
all the good news it can get in these turbulent times. There seems to be no end
to the bad news and bad feeling. A trip to Twickenham for the Welsh team is
just around the corner even the world’s biggest optimist would not fancy our
chances.
I hope
everyone has a great Christmas and let us hope for a turn around in Pooler’s
fortunes in the New Year.
Come on
Pooler!
