Autumn Frolics

Blessed relief, the sun was shining at Pontypool Park on Saturday. Although there was a stiff breeze blowing down the valley it was but a zephyr compared with the howling gale at Port Talbot the previous week. Pontypool were entertaining Cardiff Met University who were the only team to lower Pooler’s colours in the Championship last season. Both teams were not at full strength- Cardiff Met opting to prioritise inter-university rugby while Pontypool used the opportunity to give squad players a run out.

Pontypool played up the slope and against the breeze in the first half and needed to stamp their authority on the game from the off. This they duly did by monopolising possession and putting the students under extreme pressure. It took a while to break the Cardiff Met defence but the first try came when Thorley was first to a kick ahead that bounced invitingly over the try line in the right hand corner (5-0). A few minutes later, a trademark driving lineout saw Jeune score a try that was converted by Meek (12-0). Towards the end of the first quarter Robinson scored the home side’s third as the Pooler pressure continued. With the conversion, Pontypool had opened up a 19-0 lead and the game seemed to be effectively over.

Cardiff Met didn’t believe that and, after being awarded a series of penalties that took them deep into the home twenty two, Howard crossed for a try that was converted to close the gap to 19-7. It was clear that Pontypool were well on top in the forward exchanges and the students were in for a difficult afternoon. Two more lineouts near the Cardiff Met resulted in two more driving mauls and two more tries for Jeune one of which was converted. This gave Jeune his hat trick and delivered Pooler’s bonus point as a one-sided half drew to a close with the score 31-7.

If last week’s clash with Tata Steel had been full on and red blooded this was far more anaemic and with Pooler playing with the wind and down the slope in the second half a cricket score was in prospect.

Cardiff Met had clearly decided that to use their backs to run at Pontypool at every opportunity was the only way for them to play in the second half. There followed a period where Pontypool used the wind to kick the ball into the Cardiff Met twenty two and the students duly ran it back with gusto. As they reached the Pontypool half, stern defence resulted in a turnover and Pooler kicked the ball back down the field and the process started again. The students were playing high risk rugby and eventually this led to an interception by Molson who was tackled just short of the try line. He did manage to offload the ball to the supporting Gullis who scored the try (36-7).

A few minutes later another Cardiff Met attack broke down and this time Molson took full advantage as he sprinted thirty metres or so to score (41-7). The game was littered with handling errors as both teams threw the ball about as if it was a hot potato. It took a short range plunge over the try line from home prop Bale to re-establish normality (48-7).

In the final quarter it was all Pontypool and they scored three more tries in a period of just over five minutes. One from Thomas when he ran a lovely line to split the students’ defence and this was sandwiched by tries by Thorley and Meek who successfully chased kicks ahead. Two were converted by Meek which took the score to 67-7.

The students continued to run everything and they were rewarded with a consolation try by Keane which was converted (67-14). Pontypool had the last laugh, however, when Herbert crossed for a try in the last play of the game. Meek’s conversion gave a final score of 74-14.

This was a very frenetic game of rugby with Pontypool always in the driving seat. At times it resembled what we used to call “Barbarians’ rugby” and it was certainly a relief after last week’s nerve-tingling encounter. Pooler continue to carry all before them in the Championship and now take their unbeaten record to Newcastle Emlyn next week.

I watched the Ospreys v Dragons game on the TV on Friday night. It was a curious affair with the Osprey’s virtually monopolising possession and territory. A combination of the Ospreys’ toothless attack and the Dragons’ strong defence meant that the scoreboard didn’t really reflect that dominance for much of the game. Indeed when the Dragons were able to attack they looked far more potent with Amos looking particularly lively. Still the Dragons failed to get an away win in the league for the umpteenth time but they do seem to be improving week by week under the new regime.

The Welsh Squad announcement brought many talking points but the one that I find most strange is the omission of Thomas Young who is playing out of his skin week in week out in one of the toughest leagues in the world. Who am I to second guess Warren Gatland and in fairness Sam Cross did look very good in his first ever game of professional rugby but still…..

With the Autumn Internationals looming, we enter a fallow period in the Championship. Almost farcically, after the trip to Newcastle Emlyn next weekend, Pooler’s next league match is not until December 9^th. It will be almost like starting a new season but at least there will be plenty of time to do the Xmas shopping.

Come on Pooler!

The Strife of Brian

As we motored down the M4 towards Port Talbot being battered by storm Brian, we could have easily been forgiven for thinking that no one in their right mind would play (or watch) rugby in the prevailing conditions. Strong winds and teeming rain did not make our trip to watch Pontypool play Tata Steel a particularly attractive prospect. But we are hardy souls and we pressed on regardless.

When we arrived, it was clear that the game was going to go ahead although there was not the usual enthusiasm from the players to get out on to the pitch for their warm-up. Despite the dismal weather, the pitch looked in good condition and the players were just going to have to find a way to combat the elements. This was going to be a classic “wind game” with the wind howling down the pitch bringing with it a faint whiff of sulphur from the coke ovens of Margam Works. Playing against the wind in the first half, it was all about keeping the opposition out and trying to sneak a few points. Playing with the wind you needed to build a substantial lead in order to hold off the expected onslaught in the second half. This was a 15-20 point wind in our estimation and Pooler were playing with the wind in the first half so they had some work to do.

The first quarter of hour of play almost exclusively took place inside the home twenty two. Pontypool pressed hard but the home defence was tough and restricted the visitors to just two penalties by Jones (0-6). From the kick off after the second penalty, Pooler failed to secure the ball and ended up giving away a penalty and the big boot of Bradley managed to propel the ball successfully over the bar (3-6).

A few minutes later, Watkins, the lively Tata scrum half, scooted away from a lineout and found his team mates in support for flanker Lewis to cross under the posts. Bradley took the conversion rather too close to the posts and Pontypool managed to charge it down. This was not going to plan with Pooler losing 8-6 even though they were playing with the elements.

Pooler had twenty minutes to build a lead and they went about their task with gusto. The forwards were on top in the scrums and put together some impressive driving lineouts as they went in search of points. After a strong forward surge, scrum half Quick darted over for a try. This was converted by Jones to put Pooler back into the lead (8-13).

Tata were proving hard to break down and made things difficult by slowing down Pooler’s ball at the rucks. Eventually they transgressed once too often and they were reduced to fourteen men by a yellow card. As the first half came to a close, the Pooler scrum were heading for a pushover try when the scrum disintegrated. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try (8-20). Half time followed shortly afterwards and we doubted whether a twelve point lead was enough as the wind and rain continued unabated.

The second half was pretty similar to the first but this time it was Tata camped in the Pooler twenty two as they tried to close the gap in the scores. Pontypool held on grimly for the first quarter with their defence scrambling to keep out the powerful surges of the home team. The one area that the away side had a distinct edge was in the scrum and a number of penalties awarded against Tata gave the occasional chance for a relieving kick.

Pontypool held Tata out for twenty minutes or so but then Nash was sin binned for a high tackle. This gave the Tata pack numerical supremacy and they capitalised on it when Llewellyn barged over for a try. The successful conversion from Bradley put the home side in touching distance at 15-20. Things were looking distinctly ominous for Pontypool but they continued to defend as if their lives depended upon it.  Things got even more precarious when Bradley closed the gap to just two points with ten minutes left when he blasted over a penalty from well inside the Tata half (18-20).

Pontypool were restored to their full complement when Nash returned and a series of substitutions brought some much needed fresh legs on to the field. The Pontypool scrum took charge and gained a series of penalties which allowed Pontypool to work their way into the home twenty two for the first time in the second half and also wind down the clock. As the final whistle went, Pooler were just short of the Tata line. The Pooler fans sigh of relief was almost as strong as the wind. Final score 18-20. That charged down conversion proved vital in the end!

This was by far Pooler’s most difficult encounter of the season and to come out of it with a victory speaks volumes for the courage and commitment of the team. It was certainly not a day for attractive running rugby but one for dogged forward effort in attack and defence. Well done Pooler!

I did watch a bit of European rugby on the TV and sadly both the Scarlets and Ospreys lost in the Champions Cup and may well be heading for a Wexit at the group stage. The Scarlets were undone by Bath’s superior game plan in awful conditions with the Bath forwards and half backs controlling the game in the second half. Ospreys really gave the mighty Saracens a fright or two in a pulsating game which saw them come away with two bonus points – maybe they have turned the corner after a poor start to the season. We are at that stage of the Challenge Cup when no one knows which teams are taking it seriously. Still there were good away wins for Dragons and Blues to boost their hopes of progressing.

I also watched the Australia v All Blacks test on Saturday morning. Worryingly for Wales’ prospects in the Autumn Series, both sides look to be playing a far superior brand of rugby to that we have been seeing in Wales so far this season.  We have such a small pool of international class players that you wonder at any measures that are introduced which weaken the coaching team’s hand it terms of selection. I didn’t much care for Gatland’s law and I am not sure that the latest idea is going to do us (and especially Rhys Webb) any favours either. Of course, as most things in life these days, it is all about money and we in Wales just haven’t got enough of it to compete with the deep pockets in England and France. It’s easy to criticise but I don’t know what the answer is to make the underperforming regions competitive. Stifling the development of young players by stopping them playing in a more competitive and higher standard of rugby may not be it though.

Next Saturday Pontypool entertain Cardiff Met University at the Park. Let us hope that we can steer clear of storm Brian’s children and have a more entertaining and less harrowing encounter.

Come on Pooler!

Pooler Light the Afterburners

Pontypool were hoping to continue their winning run in the Championship when they took on Beddau at Pontypool Park on a dull but dry day. Beddau have always proved tough opposition particularly on their own patch and we looked forward to a competitive encounter.

Pontypool played up the slope in the first half and against a light breeze but made a sluggish start. Beddau seized the initiative and were soon in front through a penalty (0-3). As the home side struggled to find their rhythm, Beddau sensed that an upset was on the cards. They certainly looked the more likely to score the first try even though the Pooler defence was characteristically strong. As the game went into the second quarter, Beddau centre, Ashford, powered through the home defence to score near the posts and with the conversion things began to look ominous for Pontypool at 0-10.

Pooler needed to react and react they did a few minutes later. At last, a period of continuity with the ball being spread across the field by backs and forwards alike. It ended with a fine try when fullback Davies took the scoring pass wide on the right. Jones converted and the scoreboard looked a whole lot better at 7-10. The game was now evenly poised but there were signs that Pooler were just beginning to get the better of their opponents in the forward exchanges. As the half drew to a close, Nash powered over after a strong forward drive and Pontypool took the lead at 12-10.

One suspected that a few words of homespun advice were offered in the home changing room at half time as Pontypool started really strongly after the interval. Beddau managed to keep them out for five minutes or so but then followed one of the most breath-taking fifteen minutes of rugby that I have seen Pontypool play. It was if someone had lit the blue touch-paper on a firework. The Pontypool backs lit the afterburners and cut loose. Jones threw well-timed and accurate passes to get the three-quarters moving and fullback Davies provided the penetration with his well-timed interventions. It was Davies who opened the flood gates as he popped in support of Prothero in the left corner (17-10). Then came a candidate for try of the season as Meek, Jones and Davies combined for wing Thomas to score (24-10). Not to be outdone, the forwards got in the act when hooker Jeune picked a lovely angle to power over under the posts (31-10).

Before Beddau could get their breath back, Davies was at it again with a brilliant break that deserved a try. As he was tackled just short of the line, he popped up the ball for Jones who scored and then nailed the conversion (38-10). Moments later it was Gullis making a break and, despite the attentions of the Beddau defence, managed to stagger over the line for a try. This was converted by substitute Hancock (45-10). Pontypool had scored five tries and amassed 33 points in around fifteen minutes of high octane rugby and completely blown their dumbfounded opponents away.

Pontypool had made their substitutions and the game settled back into a more sedate pace as everyone on and off the field seemed to be stunned by what had just happened. Pontypool were still well on top but the team needed time to adjust to the fresh players. The truce did not last long though and Pooler were soon at it again piling on another three tries in the final ten minutes. A pushover try from Nash, a try by Meek following a break by Prothero and the final try coming from substitute scrum half Luckwell. All three were converted moving the score on to 66-10.

As the game came to an end, there was time for Beddau to get a consolation try as Francis took a quick tap penalty and scuttled over with the Pooler team looking on. Final score 66-17.

Well what can you say after a game like that? The Pooler “purple patch” was just incredible with the backs showing what a dangerous outfit they can be. Davies at fullback was outstanding but he was well supported by his team mates with Thomas on the wing showing bags of potential. Fantastic!

I did watch South Africa v New Zealand when I got home from the match and you have to say the Springboks were a little unlucky to lose. As I wrote last week, Wales are going to have a tough autumn even if they are going to come up again second or third choice players from the Southern Hemisphere. With the exodus of our best players from the Welsh regions, it will be interesting to see whether Gatland’s Law survives. Next week will show just how competitive the regions are (or aren’t) as they take on top flight opposition in the European cups.

For Pontypool there will be the visit of Skewen to the Park. Let’s hope we can reach the dizzy heights of Saturday again.

Come on Pooler!