Last Minute Agony for Pooler at Bridgend

This week Pooler played their second return fixture of the season this time at Bridgend Ravens. In the high scoring corresponding fixture at Pontypool Park, Pooler only just failed to make a remarkable comeback after whittling away at a large Bridgend lead. Conditions were perfect for rugby at the Brewery Field so we were expecting another exciting tussle,

Pooler played towards Tesco in the first half and made all the early running and restricted the Ravens to their own half. Despite a series of attacks, Pooler could not make any impression on the scoreboard. Indeed, it was Bridgend that struck first after a quarter of an hour in a rare incursion into Pontypool territory. The try when it came was simple enough. The Bridgend backs spread the ball wide to the right and Evans beat the defence to score in the corner, The conversion failed but at 5-0 the home side had first blood rather against the run of play.

Pooler hit back as the first quarter ended when they kicked a penalty to the corner. The ensuing lineout saw a powerful forward drive with Scarfe touching down. Meek converted and Pooler edged into the lead at 5-7.

Shortly afterwards, Pooler had another similar chance but this time the lineout went wrong and Bridgend were awarded a penalty. From the field position gained, the home backs exploited gaps in the Pooler defence and eventually created an overlap for Evans who scored again in the right corner. The conversion failed again but the home side had their noses in front at 10-7.

There followed a rather scrappy period of play with a lot of kicking and both sides guilty of making mistakes. The set pieces were about even with both sides prone to conceding possession. With five minutes of the first half remaining, Pooler had possession on the home twenty two. A clever kick ahead by Meek beat the onrushing defence for fellow centre Mahoney to score near the posts. Meek converted and it was 10-14 with a couple of minutes of the half remaining. There was still for the home side to launch an attack and this time it was Wilkins who touched down after finding a hole in the Pooler defence. Jones converted to give Bridgend a narrow 17-14 lead at halftime.

There was little to choose between the two teams and hard to pick a winner in a close encounter. The Bridgend backs looked dangerous so Pooler would have to be on their mettle in the second half.

The home side struck first in the second half. A brilliant kick out of defence saw them win a lineout in the Pooler twenty-two with their own throw in. Their pack took full toll with a strong drive that took them over the Pooler line with Scales getting the touchdown for their fourth try. Jones converted and the Bridgend lead at 24-14 was looking rather ominous.

Pooler responded swiftly with an attack straight from the kick off that earned them a penalty. Shortly afterwards, a strong burst from Mahoney saw him score his second try under the posts. Meek converted and it was as you were at 24-21.

As the third quarter drew to a close, it was Pooler on the attack with the home defence working hard to keep them out. A typically strong burst from Pooler hooker Scarfe saw play carried deep into the Bridgend half. More powerful play from the pack, who hammered away at the Bridgend line, saw substitute lock Davies touch down. Meek converted and Pooler were back in the lead 24-28 with a bonus point secured in this see-saw match.

This rather stirred the home side up and, five minutes or so later, Wilkins ran on to a kick ahead to score Bridgend’s fifth try which was again converted by Jones. The lead had changed hands yet again at 31-28 with about ten minutes remaining.

Pooler cranked up the pressure and won a series of Bridgend lineouts against the throw as they moved menacingly up the field. Bridgend were forced to concede penalties and this resulted in a yellow card for Evans. Pooler finally capitalised on their strong play with a try for substitute hooker Hall. This time the conversion failed but it meant Pooler went back into the lead  31-33 with little time remaining.

From the kick-off, the referee adjudged that the Bridgend catcher had been tackled in the air and awarded a penalty to Bridgend. The kick that followed gave the home side field position. They retained possession from the lineout and launched an attack from there. Another kick ahead bounced perfectly and was gathered by Davies at speed and he scored Bridgend’s sixth try of the afternoon. Jones converted and Bridgend had snatched a last minute lead at 38-33 with just enough time left for the kick-off.

Pooler had one last chance and played some of their best rugby as they powered up field. The ball was spread wide and for a moment it looked like the Pooler right wing Cole had managed to score in the corner but it was no try. He was left lying on the turf afterwards and we hope it was nothing too serious. The final whistle sounded and it was a home victory. Final score Bridgend Ravens 38 : Pontypool 33.

Another exciting game with Pooler ending up on the wrong side of the result. It was a game that neither side deserved to lose but that is rugby. Pooler can look back on chances that went begging and some defensive lapses but also some patches of great attacking play. As ever, the team could not be faulted for effort with Sam Scarfe the epitome of that. These narrow defeats are hard to bear for everyone we just have to hope that there will be better luck next time.

It was good to see ex-Pooler player Lyndon Faulkner becoming chairman of the WRU. I don’t think anyone would envy the position he finds himself in. I am sure he will bring the no nonsense Pooler approach and his undoubted business acumen to bear on what is the can of worms of Welsh rugby. I wish him all the very best with that.

Next match for Pooler will be what is always one of the highlights of the season. It is the home encounter with age-old rivals and neighbours Newport RFC. Newport are riding high on the top of the league so this will surely be a tough nut to crack. As we know from experience,  in a local derby league position means little.

Come on Pooler!