Bridging the Gap

The first home game of the season always has a special atmosphere. It’s rather like the first day of term at school when you renew acquaintances with people and places that you haven’t seen for a while. Everything looks very familiar but as you look more carefully you pick up lots of small changes. Pontypool Park looked a picture and the ground had been spruced up over the summer. There were a few extra grey hairs and maybe an extra pound or two on view amongst the Pontypool faithful on the Bank but there were plenty of smiles.

Conditions were perfect for rugby and we were ready to be entertained. The previous week’s uplifting performance at Beddau had given us every reason to be optimistic that we could beat our visitors, Bridgend Athletic.

A glance at the smart retro-designed match programme showed that the side was largely the same as that that had accounted for Beddau so convincingly.  Things started very much according to plan with Pooler attacking strongly up the slope. It was surely only matter of time before they opened the scoring. They actually crossed the try line but were called back for a forward pass. Then disaster; a Pooler attack broke down on the visitor’s 22 and the ball was fly-hacked down the field for the Bridgend wing, Howells, to win the chase and score a try completely against the run of play. The conversion sailed over and the crowd were stunned. Bridgend Athletic took heart from this and began to impose themselves on the game. Poor tackling by the home side following a tap penalty led to another try by Velu that was duly converted. The score was 0-14 and the Pooler players were looking slightly bewildered. A penalty by new outside half, Martin, brought some relief but it was short-lived as the visitors asserted their superiority with a third converted try by Parsons. With the score now 3-21 Pontypool were in a deep hole and didn’t really show any sign of knowing how to get out of it. It could have been even worse if the visitors’ goal kicking had been more accurate.

This was now a true test of whether the team had the character and resilience necessary to have a successful season. The first half was drawing to a close as a rather tame Pooler attack seemed to break down in midfield. The ball was hacked on and most people expected the referee’s whistle to blow for a knock on but it remained silent. There was a desperate chase as the ball bounced towards the Bridgend dead-ball line. Norton won the foot race and just managed to touch down in time to score a try that gave Pooler a glimmer of hope. The successful conversion made the score 10-21 as the whistle went for half time.

The half time interval was the time for the Pooler coaching staff to earn their corn. No doubt Leighton Jones had a few choice words for his charges. Maybe even a hairdryer moment or two.

When the teams re-emerged Pooler certainly looked fired up and a few changes in personnel had been made. The combative Tom Organ and the experienced Jeune and Mills joined the fray. Almost before they could make their presence felt, Pooler gave away a very kickable penalty and were very fortunate that it drifted wide of the uprights. Organ proved to be a little too combative for the referee and was dispatched to the sin bin shortly afterwards following a bout of fisticuffs. The match was on the line; if the visitors scored next there was probably no way back for Pooler. The game suddenly turned as the Pontypool scrum started to dominate and Pooler got on to the front foot. The home side’s cause was helped when Bridgend were also reduced to fourteen men when their scrum half was sin-binned. Full back Hurley made several exhilarating runs as Pooler turned the screw. Excellent tries by James and Quick both converted by Martin gave Pooler the lead during this golden period of concerted pressure. It was the visitors’ turn to look bewildered and they certainly did not seem to have any answer to the dramatic shift in momentum. The bonus point try was duly secured by Sparks to give Pooler a 31-21 advantage. The home side relaxed slightly and Bridgend finally managed to convert a penalty to close the gap to 31-24. There were a few anxious moments as the clock ran down but Pooler hung on for another bonus point win.

So another victory but this was certainly not plain sailing. There is no doubt that this type of comeback will do wonders for team building and confidence. I think everyone realises that this is a team in the making and there is still much work to do. Finding the right blend of youth and experience is going to be the key to future success. I suppose in reality TV parlance we are all on “a journey”.

I wonder if all this business with the Heineken Cup is ever going to be resolved? I can’t think that England and France having their own cup is the solution but at least it would stop the Irish winning I suppose. Imagine that happening in football - it would be like England and Spain having their own cup competition because they were fed up with the Italians or the Germans winning. European football seems to be able to manage a cup competition successfully with vastly more countries to satisfy. There must be some lessons to learn from them.

Money is indeed the root of all evil. It’s never truer than in sport.  

A Pleasant Surprise

Victories for Pontypool in the first three months of the season over the last five or six years have been as rare as good decisions made by the WRU concerning the structure of Welsh rugby. It was therefore with some trepidation that we headed for Mount Pleasant Park, Beddau for the first league match of the season. We needn’t have worried, Pooler put on a vibrant display that served notice that they might be something of a force in the league this season. It is a much changed Pontypool team with plenty of new faces. Identification of our new heroes was made a little challenging when the programme had the team printed in reverse order with the full back Davies given the number one.

Right from the first whistle Pooler seized the initiative and looked the stronger side. They played with positive intent and very quickly Hurley had crossed for an excellent try. Those of us who have watched Pooler for many decades have seen them flatter to deceive with an early score many times before. This time it seemed much more convincing and they dominated the first half to lead 0-20 with three tries in the bag. Heady stuff indeed! In truth they should have racked up a few more points but were let down by some inaccurate passing with the line beckoning. Pooler had some strong ball carriers from numbers 4 to 8 (or 8 to 12 in the programme) with Dychoff and Sparkes particularly prominent. The backs also looked to have plenty of pace and power.

Beddau re-emerged in the second half and scored a try after concerted pressure on the Pooler line. Was a comeback on the cards? Pooler quickly slammed the door shut and secured their bonus point try. From then on, the game degenerated into a mistake fest as tired bodies and copious replacements affected both sides. Pooler grabbed two more tries and Beddau had some consolation from a penalty try and another try from short range from the last play of the game. The final score was 21-41 - this is a welcome reversal of last season’s 29-8 defeat at the same venue.

I don’t think anyone should get too carried away with this victory but it is a marked improvement on the fare served up a year ago. Pooler seem to have recruited wisely and the team look fit and motivated. There are far more difficult assignments ahead, however, and the coaches will need to work hard if we are to challenge the likes of Ebbw Vale. Whilst the set pieces looked reasonably solid, there were a lot of turnovers conceded at the breakdown - the only area where Beddau had an edge. The cohesion between half backs and backs also broke down alarmingly at times but this can only improve as the team gels over the course of the next few months.

I am optimistic that we can build on this win and enjoy a far better season (with fingers and legs firmly crossed and a rabbit’s foot in my pocket).

I watched the Scarlets lose to Leinster on the TV. After promising much in the first half, they were dismantled by a weakened Leinster side after the break. No change there then. One noteworthy change was the Dragons defeat of Ulster - could it be that they can move up the regional pecking order this season? Early days I think.

I also watched a French league match between Toulouse and Racing Club. I was amazed to learn that in France the home side wins more than 85% of league matches. More often than not the away team fields a weakened side as canon fodder so that their better players can be protected and  hopefully secure a win in front of their sponsors. Dan Lydiate had to do even more tackling than he did for the Dragons as Racing Club were stuffed. No wonder French teams travel notoriously badly - a losing mentality must become engrained.

PS: Good luck to Josh Lewsey - he’s going to need it. Let’s hope he can bring some much needed good sense to the WRU.

Season's Bleatings

I have just purchased my Pontypool season ticket and have to say I am looking forward with a degree of optimism to the start of the season. If I believe half of the pre-season hype Pooler should be capable of winning the Heineken Cup. We've heard all this before of course and I will reserve judgement until I see the team that takes the field for the first match. Still we have a go-ahead management team who should provide the necessary energy to make significant improvements. I am sure Ebbw Vale will be the team to beat although the league is a tough one especially now the WRU's pet North Wales based side is in with us too.
I haven't really got a clue what is happening in regional rugby and whether the differences with the WRU have been resolved. We just hear more and more rumours about the better Welsh players heading for France - c'est la vie as we say in Pontypool.
I notice Wales are playing Australia again in the Autumn - this only came to light after the WRU had sent out the ticket application forms for the other matches. Even though we normally lose (unless you count the Lions!) it seems to work as a warm up for the Six Nations. You have to say though that it is ridiculous that we play Australia more often than we play the other teams in Europe. Maybe we should have a home and away Six Nations taking place before and after Xmas.

Saturation saturday

You would never believe we are in the closed season for rugby! On Saturday there were wall to wall rugby matches on the telly if you had nothing better to do. Overkill doesn't do it justice.
It started poorly with Wales' abysmal performance in Japan. A committed and workmanlike Japan team destroyed Wales in the second half after Wales had failed to capitalise on early superiority. "Ah it was only a team of youngsters and they have learned an enormous amount," I can hear the WRU say. That is all well and good but, if that is the case, how on earth do they get awarded Welsh caps? If we are that cash-strapped how do we justify a tour like this that probably only revealed players who are not up to international rugby? Meanwhile the real Welsh youngsters are acquitting themselves well in the World Cup. It doesn't really make sense does it?
The main event of the morning was the latest Lions match and it was with great sadness that we witnessed Jamie Roberts limping off the field and posiibly out of the tour. I suppose running into brickwalls was bound to take its toll. On the positive side, it was great to see Leigh Halfpenny, Jon Davies and Alun Wyn Jones playing so well. They must have given Mike Phillips valium to stop him reacting to the constant niggle that he was subjected to. It looks like the test side is coming together but the attrition rate is so high and injuries will certainly play a part in determining the outcome of the test series. The Pontypool two of Vunipola and Faletau have played a full part in proceedings and should both get a cap before the series is over.
I just flicked through the rest of the rugby but was impressed with the Scots' committment against South Africa and another All Blacks victory over France. I think England might have won.
On Sunday we had then news that Shane was flying out to join the Lions. I hope he doesn't regret it. The Lions have quickly gone from having the biggest wings in world rugby in North and Cuthbert to the smallest in Williams and Wade. Even David Cameron would have been proud of a U turn like that!
I need more rugby - roll on the rugby season.

Regions to be fearful after black Friday

It didn’t take long for the euphoria of the selection of fifteen Welsh players for the British and Irish Lions squad to disappear. All four of the Welsh regions slumped to defeat on a dismal Friday evening. The defeats for the Ospreys and Blues away in Leinster and Ulster would probably predictable but the abject capitulation of the Scarlets at home to Treviso was a bit of a shock. The Scarlets were left shell-shocked by an excellent performance by the Italian side who were more of a match for the home side even when reduced to thirteen men by yellow cards. To add to the Welsh misery the Dragons went down in Edinburgh although they did manage to get a losing bonus point.

So how can the Six Nations champs be such chumps at regional level and what will happen next season? It’s hard to see how the regions are going to do anything better with the resources they have. I wonder how many of the fifteen Welsh Lions will be playing in Wales after next season? Phillips, Roberts, North, Lydiate and Jenkins have already gone although there is still talk of Jenkins returning. As happened with Scotland, the Welsh regions are rapidly becoming feeder clubs for the wealthy French and English clubs. If there was a two division European league the Welsh regions would be very much second division. It is probably doubtful whether the Irish provinces could survive week in week out in what would surely be a brutal and attritional first division.  Maybe it is time to accept the situation for what it is and hope that the players who seek their fortunes elsewhere don’t get too banged up to play for Wales. I am not sure even if you had the money of Croesus you could change things.

Welsh football is of course the complete opposite to rugby with success stories all over the place at club level and little to shout about at international level. Perhaps the Welsh rugby regions could learn from Swansea City who seem to be competitive on a much smaller budget than the Manchesters and Chelseas of this world. Cardiff City and Swansea City in the Premier league - how can rugby respond to that challenge?

Returning to the Lions squad, it was pleasing to note two Pontypool boys: Faletau and Vunipola making the touring party. Dan Lydiate has also played for Pontypool once or twice. I felt sorry for Ryan Jones and James Hook but you really can’t complain about the amount of Welsh representation. I think I would have preferred to see Best rather than Hartley and possible Zebo instead of Maitland but, all in all, it looks a strong selection if lacking a little in flair. You have to admire Jonny Wilkinson not only for his play on the field but also for being totally professional and honest and turning down a place on the tour. I still have some fears about Farrell in pressure situations after watching him lose the plot against Wales and again for the Saracens against Toulon.

The season is over for Pontypool but there are still rumours abounding about changes in the league structure and rules for promotion and relegation. Could the WRU please tell us what the plan is for the next five years and then stick to it? It would be nice wouldn’t it but it would probably better to consult Mystic Meg.     

Pontypool steal it

The Pontypool resurgence continues with yet another hard-fought victory, this time against Tata Steel at Pontypool Park in the final game of the season. Admittedly, judging by the plethora of changes to the Tata team that were announced before the kick off, the opposition were not at full strength. Nevertheless, when the drubbing that Pooler received at the hands of Tata in the away fixture is considered, this represents a significant turnaround.

The game was played in excellent conditions but was very scrappy and error-strewn. From the off Tata looked superior in virtually every department and quickly took the lead with a smartly taken try when their right wing kicked ahead and gathered. As it turned out, this was the only try of the match as Tata squandered a series of very promising positions. Pontypool’s first-up tackling was often ineffective and the away side’s back three frequently made major incursions. Pontypool for their part never really looked like scoring a try but managed to keep in touch through penalties kicked by their fullback Gullis and their tenacious scrambling defence. To be only losing 6-11 at half-time was not a bad outcome for a half when the home side were frequently outplayed.

The second half was equally scrappy although Pooler playing down the slope seemed to get a bit more of a foothold in the game. Tata still looked much the more likely to score a try but the Pontypool last ditch defence kept them out on several occasions as they hammered away close to the try line. There was an exchange of penalties to take the score to 9-14 and then another penalty for Pooler to close the gap to 12-14. Even when Tata were reduced to 14 men by a yellow card, they still looked the likely winners. With about 10 minutes remaining and against the run of play Pooler were awarded a penalty close to the halfway line. Gullis converted with an excellent kick to give the home side the lead for the first time in the match at 15-14. From then on, it was almost constant pressure from Tata who were camped in the home 22. They even got the ball down over the line only for the try to be disallowed. The home supporters’ nerves were frayed as the seconds seemed to tick away agonisingly slowly. Then blessed relief as the final whistle came at last.

Pontypool have finished the season strongly with 6 wins in 7 matches which is all the more astonishing when you consider they had only won one other game in the rest of the season and that against bottom side Whitland. I don’t think anyone should get carried away and think that Pooler have a side that can go on and win the league next season but it has certainly made the long-suffering and loyal supporters feel a whole lot better.

Pooler are full of the joys of spring

What could be better than spending a lovely spring afternoon in Pontypool Park? Answer a lovely spring afternoon accompanied by a win for Pontypool RFC. Yes, Pontypool’s recent good form continues with a narrow victory over Narberth.

Narberth seemed to hold all the aces with a taller, heavier pack and the usual pacy set of West Walian backs. Pontypool, however, had other ideas and produced a tenacious, committed display that never let Narberth settle and gain control of the game. Frequently out-muscled in the scrums and forced to concede territory by the away side’s driving maul, Pooler countered with strong tackling and gained the edge at the breakdown forcing a series of turnovers. Once the home side got the ball they showed their attacking intent with, at times, excellent handling with backs and forwards combining well.

The two sides scored three tries each but it is the manner in which the tries were scored that is rather surprising. In a reversal of roles, the West Wales club’s tries all came from forward dominance - a push-over try and a penalty try from scrums and a forward try from close to the line. Pooler, on the other hand, scored their tries from distance following excellent work by the backs and forwards in unison. The Pontypool backs seemed to be revelling in the dry conditions and are looking a far more potent unit than they did only a few weeks ago.

Pontypool spent most of the match narrowly in the lead but Narberth never allowed them to gain a decisive lead. Pooler’s third try finally opened up and 8 point lead at 23-15 with not much time remaining. Narberth came storming back and exerted tremendous pressure on the Pontypool line and eventually closed the gap to just 1 point at 23-22 folowing a penalty try. Pooler survived a tense few minutes to gain a narrow but deserved victory. Finally, a word of praise for the referee who allowed the game to flow and helped to make it an enjoyable spectacle.

Only one game left now and a home win over Tata Steel would finish a difficult season on a high note. Hopefully, over the closed season, we can strengthen the squad and approach next season with a degree of optimism and leave the dark days behind.

Congratulations to Ebbw Vale on winning the Championship. They have looked by far the best side in the league and it is a travesty that they cannot take their place in the Premiership. I am sure that they would have been more than a match for most of the teams in that league this season as their narrow defeat by Pontypridd (champions elect) in the Cup demonstrated. The standard in the Premiership seems to be patchy at best and I’m not sure that it is achieving its objectives (whatever they were!). The lack of relegation seems to have allowed a degree of complacency amongst some of the WRU’s favourite clubs.

Congratulations also to Cardiff City on their promotion to soccer’s Premier League. This will put even more pressure on the regional rugby to provide a competitive product. I still do not detect any signs of any progress on charting a way forward. Then again, I’m not really surprised.