Early Cardiff Blitz Scuppers Pontypool

The third league match of the season saw Pooler travel to Cardiff and face the challenge of a powerful Cardiff outfit and a 5G pitch under lights on a Friday evening. A much changed Pooler team faced a daunting challenge. A strong start would be needed.

The reality was that Pooler had anything but a strong start and could not cope with the onslaught from Cardiff at all. Watching from the terrace, it was if Cardiff were continuing the warm-up routines that we had just been watching. Cardiff were dynamic and played at a pace that Pooler’s defence could not match. Added to that Pooler’s scrum was being dismantled and their lineout was a bit iffy and you have a recipe for disaster.

In an agonising first quarter, Pooler shipped five tries three of which were converted by Coomer. The try scorers were Emanuel, Goodchild, Howe, Harper and Cannon through a combination of searing breaks and forward power. Cardiff led 31-0 at this stage and had already secured the try bonus point. Pooler had rarely had the ball in a one-sided match. There was much to admire about the way Cardiff were playing and William Hill would have offered short odds on the home side reaching a record score.

Pooler finally were awarded a penalty early in the second quarter and gained field position. The forwards drove and Williams touched down for a Pooler try. Meek’s conversion attempt hit a post and stayed out (31-5). The rest of the quarter was more evenly contested but Cardiff still managed to add a further two tries through Coomer and Emanuel with his second. Coomer converted his own try and at half time Cardiff had an unassailable lead at 43-5.

It had been a miserable experience for Pooler who had been thoroughly outplayed. No doubt some words of wisdom resounded in the changing room and Pooler would be playing for pride in the second half.

The third quarter was rather a non-event with play very scrappy. Pooler upped their work rate with the substitutions certainly helping with Herbert leading the way. The scrum was stabilised to a large extent and the lineout was much more secure. Defences were very much on top with mistakes aplenty. In truth, neither side really looked like scoring. It was certainly a big improvement from Pooler but any sort of comeback looked completely out of the question.

The fourth quarter was somewhat similar although Pooler were doing most of the attacking and got good field position a number of times. Each time they found the Cardiff defence too tough a nut to crack. A try did go begging when they were held up over the line but the Pooler attack looked pretty blunt. The Pooler defence did manage to nullify the potency of the Cardiff backs which says a lot for the effort that they put in.

In a rather strange game, the second half ended up scoreless after Cardiff’s opening barrage in the first half. Final score Cardiff 43 : Pontypool 5.

Pontypool seemed to be making a habit of starting slowly and in all three games so far they have conceded early tries far too easily. To all intents and purposes, this match was over after the first quarter with Pooler conceding five tries with no reply. Pooler have now conceded twenty two tries in three matches This sort of defence will not win many matches that is for sure. So, a lot of work to be done in training sessions back at Pontypool.

Next up for Pooler is a home game against RGC. At least they have an extra day to prepare for what is a much needed victory.

Come on Pooler!

Pontypool Leave Themselves Too Much to Do

Pontypool’s second match of the season was a home game against Bridgend Ravens.  We really hoped that they could build on their excellent victory the previous weekend, The catastrophic second half performance away at Bridgend last season was still in our memories as we discussed the prospects for the match as we stood on the Bank awaiting the kick-off on a humid afternoon after the morning’s rain.

Pooler played down the slope in the first half and got off to a poor start. They lost  a lineout on their throw on their twenty-two and Bridgend spread the ball left. Wing Evans brushed aside would-be tacklers to score the opening try which was converted by Jones (0-7) .

A couple of minutes later Pooler conceded a penalty at the first scrum which was compounded by a penalty at a maul which gave the visitors field position. The Bridgend forwards drove over for the second try with Jeavons touching down. The conversion failed but it was 0-12 within seven minutes of the start.

Pooler did hit back five minutes later after getting good field position following a penalty. The forwards hammered away and it was Antrobus who touched down. Lloyd converted and it was 7-12. Pooler, however, looked rather lethargic while their opponents were bristling with intent.

The Bridgend backs looked sharp and they broke down the left touchline but were stopped deep in the Pooler twenty -two. This was done unfairly in the referee’s mind and Pooler scrum half Lewis received a yellow card. A minute later Bridgend wing Rowley scored their third try which was converted by Jones. Pooler were 7-19 down at the end of the first quarter in which they had been distinctly second best.

The second quarter produced more of the same. It opened with Bridgend centre Wilkins reacting quickest to a lineout that had gone wrong and running forty metres or so to score the visitors’ fourth try. The try went unconverted but Bridgend were building a substantial lead at 7-24. Worse was to follow a Pooler attack broke down and Bridgend seized on the loose ball. Their swift backs did the rest with Rowley touching down and Jones converting (14-31).

Pooler needed to respond and after they were awarded a penalty made a rare entry into the Bridgend twenty-two. The forwards toiled hard and just before the half hour Matthews touched down. Lloyd converted and it was 14-31 with perhaps a chink of light for the Pooler faithful.

Five minutes later a flowing move by the Bridgend backs cut Pooler to ribbons but the final pass with the line at their mercy was adjudged forward. This was only brief respite as Pooler conceded ta penalty shortly afterwards and Bridgend scored their sixth try after spreading the ball wide yet again. The conversion failed but at halftime the visitors were almost out of sight at 14-36.

The one thing you can always say about Pontypool is that they will never give up and I am sure they did not think it was a lost cause as they shared their views on a ragged first half performance in the changing room. Playing up the slope in the second half wouldn’t help though.

It was clear that if Pooler had any thoughts on a comeback they needed to score first in the second half. A bright start saw scrum half Lewis score for Pooler and Lloyd bagged the conversion to make it 21-36. Pooler continued to attack but their accuracy was somewhat lacking and the Bridgend backs were sniffing around for any chance that might arise.

The quarter ended with the away side scoring their seventh try when wing Evans scored. Jones converted an at 21-43 it seemed that Pooler’s hopes of an unlikely comeback had been banjaxed.

The final quarter saw Pooler in full attack mode. Their fourth try took a long time coming as Bridgend defended stoutly against a forward barrage from Pooler.  Bridgend conceded a succession of penalties before Hill finally crossed for Pooler. The missed conversion meant it was 26-43 and Pooler had secured a bonus point but there seventy minutes played on the clock,

Pooler continued to attack and Bridgend seemed to be very much hanging on. Lloyd scored an unconverted  try for Pooler with just four minutes remaining (31-43). A minute or so later Cole scored and Pooler were in dreamland. The conversion sailed over and it was now 38-43 with time running out. Could Pooler complete a miracle comeback?

Bridgend kicked off with Pooler knowing it was now or never. They were deep in their own twenty-two and had to try and run the ball as any stoppage would probably signal the end of the match. The ball was passed and passed but the Bridgend defence stifled any chance of making progress up the field. In the end the ball was lost and wing Rowley grasped the opportunity to score for the visitors. The conversion by Jones brought up the half century for the jubilant visitors. Final score Pontypool 38 : Bridgend Ravens 50

Another exciting and high scoring match at Pontypool. Pooler came storming back in the final quarter but had made far too many errors in a rather lethargic display up until then. Bridgend’s smart backs seized upon any errors and turned them into points. The Bridgend forwards were in control in the scrums and were combative at the breakdown. Bridgend deserved to win but there was just a glimmer of a chance that Pooler might stage a quite remarkable comeback. The Pooler spirit is still strong that is for sure but there is plenty to work on particularly in defence where fifteen tries have been conceded in two matches.

Pooler’s next match is a visit to Cardiff next Friday evening.  This will be a really stern test on the 5G pitch.

Come on Pooler!

Pooler Prevail in Pulsating Season Opener

The new season has now officially started with Pontypool hosting Llandovery in their first league match of the season in SRC. Pooler finished at the bottom of the league last season while Llandovery are the reigning champions of SRC so it was a great chance for Pooler to assess their strength after the various changes in personnel and an encouraging pre-season.  The match was being shown live on TV so there was a later kick-off time than usual.

The pitch at Pontypool looked in perfect condition with the brown colour of previous weeks transformed to green by the recent rain. The air was a little damp and there was a gusty wind blowing mainly across the pitch but conditions were good for running rugby.

Llandovery kicked off playing down the slope in the first half. Pooler fielded and found touch near halfway. From the lineout, Llandovery spread the ball wide and their threequarters cut the Pooler defence to ribbons with Potter touching down under the posts. Potter converted and Pooler were 0-7 down within a couple of minutes. This was far from the start that they had envisaged with the team and supporters alike looking stunned.

Pooler bounced back immediately. Llandovery conceded a penalty that was kicked to the right corner. The home forwards pounded away from the lineout and a it was business as usual as Scott Matthews touched down from short range. Lloyd converted and the damage had been repaired (7-7).

Pontypool then took charge of the game for the rest of the first quarter. Morgan Allen was held up over the line after more good work by the forwards. Eventually the pressure told and it was the Pooler backs that showed what they could do. Powerful running resulted in space being created for right wing Cole to cross in the right corner. The conversion failed but Pooler had taken a deserved 12-7 lead.

The Drovers are not champions for nothing and rather took charge as Pooler went through a sticky patch and were guilty of making too many mistakes. A scrum penalty gave the away side field position and the forwards did the rest with an unconverted try for flanker Tom Curry (12-12). This was followed by a second try for Potter on the half hour when a kick from Lloyd was charged down. This try also went unconverted but the Drovers were back in the lead (12-17).  Five minutes later another kick was charged down and Llandovery almost scored in the corner. A Pooler scrum on their own line went wrong and Drovers scrum half Lewis sneaked in for a try. Potter converted and it was 12-24 and Pooler looking in disarray.

To their credit, Pooler bounced back as the game looked to be slipping away. A clever kick ahead saw Pooler get deep into the Drovers’ twenty-two. The forwards piled on the pressure and lock Antrobus touched down for a much needed score for the home side. Lloyd converted and at 19-24 the scoreboard looked more encouraging.

It would have been good if Pooler could have not conceded any more points before half time. Llandovery wing Llien Morgan had other ideas and in a remarkable mazy run he left far too many Pooler defenders grasping at air to score a splendid solo try. The try was again unconverted but at halftime Llandovery held a useful 19-29 lead after scoring five tries to Pooler’s three.

Pontypool would have the benefit of the slope in the second half but would need to cut out the errors if they were to trouble the champions. The Drovers backs looked dangerous whenever they got the ball.

Pooler started the second half purposefully and quickly build up a head of steam keeping the away side penned in their own half. Around five minutes had elapsed when Pooler flanker Williams touched down after strong work by the forwards. Lloyd converted  and Pooler were within a score at 26-29 and had the try bonus point in the bag.

The momentum was now with Pooler and they were soon back in the Drovers twenty-two applying pressure through the pack. This time the ball was spread wide and Rosser touched down and again Lloyd converted. Pooler were back in the lead at 33-29 with a quarter of an hour of the second half played.

Llandovery were not about to lie down and their dangerous backs took them right up to the Pooler goal line. In the move, Llandovery scrum half Lewis was injured and this resulted in a lengthy delay as he was attended to and left the filed on a stretcher. We hope that he has a speedy recovery.

Play resumed with a scrum on the Pooler line and it was Llandovery prop Hughes who touched down near the posts after the forwards had pounded away. The try was converted by Maynard and Llandovery had retaken the lead at 33-36.

Back came Pooler and they worked their way down field to deep into the away side’s twenty two in this see-saw match. The Pooler forwards applied immense pressure and eventually it told as Antrobus touched down for his second try of the match. Lloyd again converted to put Pooler back in the lead at 40-36.

We were now deep into the fourth quarter and the tension was mounting. The Llandovery backs were unleashed once more and almost scored in the left corner. The Pooler defence was in disarray and a cross kick found right wing Morgan unmarked and he touched down after a rather awkward bounce of the ball. Crucially for Pooler the try was unconverted and although the Drovers were back in the lead it was only be one point at 40-41.

There was not much time left as Pooler marched back down the field looking determined to grab a victory. It was frenetic stuff as Pooler tried everything and the Llandovery defence scrambled desperately to keep them out. Finally, Llandovery conceded a penalty right in front of their posts that Lloyd gleefully converted. Pooler were back in the lead at 43-41 but there were still a few minutes left on the clock.

Those of us who went to Llandovery for the cup match last season had bitter memories of a similar situation when Pooler conceded a last minute penalty  that cost them the match. This time however Pooler managed the situation brilliantly and retained possession and wound the clock down to the final whistle. Final score Pontypool 43 : Llandovery 41

What a game and what a way to start the season. Thirteen tries scored in total with Pooler scoring six to Llandovery’s seven. Llandovery will surely rue missing those four conversions. This was a great advertisement for SRC as both sides contributed fully to a scintillating match. For Pontypool there is plenty to build on as the new members of the squad bed in but it was very encouraging to say the least so well done to everyone involved.

The next match will again be at home against Bridgend Ravens next Saturday.  A chance to avenge that salutary defeat away at Bridgend last season.

Come on Pooler!