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 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!