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!