Ebbw Vale Edge Fourteen Try Thriller

Well, here we go again! Pontypool had a chance to redeem last week’s heavy defeat as their conquerors Ebbw Vale visited Pontypool Park. Ebbw Vale had reinforced their position at the top of the SRC while Pooler remained at the bottom. Conditions were similar to last weekend with it being cold with a blustery wind but at least the sun was shining.

As we took our place on the Bank, it seemed as if half of Ebbw Vale had surrounded us and one thing was for sure they were not going to watch the game in silence.  The Pooler faithful were there in numbers too so it was going to be a lively afternoon on the Bank. Exactly how local derbies should be.

Pooler played down the slope in the first half and for the first seven minutes Ebbw Vale camped in the Pooler twenty-two as their forwards applied pressure with a seemingly endless series of mauls. This had been the pattern the previous weekend and bravely as Pooler defended in the end their barrier was breached and Parry score the opening try with Lloyd converting (0-7).

Pooler sparked into life and for about twenty minutes took control of the match playing some of their best rugby of the season. The period started when a break by Ford just outside the visitors’ twenty-two was supported by Minto who showed a tremendous turn of foot to score under the posts. Ford converted and it was 7-7. Pooler looked very determined and the pace they put on the game seemed to take Ebbw Vale by surprise. More good attacking play saw Lewis score Pooler’s second try and with the conversion from Ford it was 14-7.

At the start of the second quarter, Matthews won possession and his little kick forward was gathered by Marcus Jones who sped off down the left wing. He still had a lot to do but brushed off would be tacklers to score in the corner. The conversion failed but Pooler were building a healthy lead (19-7). Just a couple of minutes later McDonough scored after some quick thinking and Ford converted. Pooler were in dreamland – the try bonus point had been secured and they were leading the top side in the league 26-7.

Ebbw Vale were sure not to take this lying down and a penalty conceded by Pooler saw them back in the Pooler twenty-two and we were back to their mauling game. Pooler did very well to stop them from scoring but a bit of an argument between Matthews and Garret saw both players receive yellow cards. The loss of Matthews was a big blow to Pooler as the skipper had been in fine form. It did mark a turning point in the game as the visitors scored two quick tries in his absence. Both were from forward pressure following mistakes from Pooler. The tries were scored by Jenkins and Morris and both were converted by Lloyd. Ebbw were back in business and they were back within a score (26-21).

There was no more scoring in the last few minutes of a tumultuous first half but Pooler did butcher a really good chance when the final pass went astray.  Nevertheless, it did seem that the momentum had switched to the away team. The first score of the second half would surely be pivotal.

Both sides were still down to fourteen men at the start of the second half and again it was Ebbw Vale who took the initiative. More forward pressure saw Pooler unable to stop their surge to the line with Richards touching down. Lloyd again converted and Ebbw Vale were back in the lead at 26-28.

Both sides were back to full complements and Pooler attacked down the left touch line. Bowden for Ebbw Vale was judged to have illegally blocked a player as Pooler went for the line in pursuit of a kick ahead. Bowden was shown a yellow card and shortly afterwards Mahoney who had only just joined the fray from the bench touched down in the left corner as Pooler made full use of an overlap. The conversion from wide out failed but Pooler were back in the lead (31-28) with almost half an hour left to play.

Ebbw responded with more forward pressure following a penalty against Pontypool. Yet another driving maul saw substitute hooker Franchi score their fifth try which was unconverted but the visitors had taken a narrow 31-33 lead in this see-saw match.

As we entered the fourth quarter, there was more forward pressure from Ebbw Vale and Pooler conceded too many penalties for the referee’s liking. Kelvin Williams was shown a yellow card and Pooler were under the cosh. A minute or so later, Ebbw Vale scrum half Gruff spotted a gap from a five metre scrum and scooted around the blindside to score in the left corner. The conversion failed but Ebbw were seven points clear at 31-38.

With around ten minutes remaining, Ebbw looked to have scored the decisive try. They gained good field position and set up for yet another series of forward drives. This time they spotted Bowden in space on the right wing and a precision crosskick was gathered and touched down for a try. Jones converted and it looked all up for Pooler at 31-45.

Pooler were not done, however, and went on the attack themselves.  This time the boot was on the other foot when a crosskick from Ford to the left wing saw Davies the Pooler fullback score a try in the corner. An excellent conversion from Ford saw Pooler back within a score with little time left (38-45).

Pooler made a complete hash of fielding the kick-off and found themselves defending a five-metre scrum. In a repeat performance, it was again Bowden who was the beneficiary of an accurate Ebbw crosskick as he touched down for his second try in the right corner. Jones converted and the visitors were back to a fourteen point lead at 38-52 with no time remaining.

Final score Pontypool 38: Ebbw Vale 52.

This was a compelling match that saw fourteen tries scored with the result in doubt right up to the end. It marks a tremendous effort from Pooler who bounced back well from the heavy defeat the previous weekend. In the end, the deciding factor was the power of the Ebbw Vale mauling game which capitalised on Pooler’s mistakes. Pooler did play some great rugby at times and certainly have something to build on. It is not often that a team scores six tries and loses. It was a real shame that the last minute try from the visitors saw Pooler lose the second bonus point which was the least that they deserved.

No rugby for Pooler next weekend but they visit Bridgend the following weekend in a basement battle. Let us hope that they can break this disappointing run of defeats – on today’s form they must have a good chance.

Come on Pooler!

Pooler Bludgeoned at Ebbw Vale

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 Thomas 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 by Pat Lewis 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!