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!