Pooler's improved showing in comfortable victory over Wanderers in Ely

Pontypool travelled to the capital on Saturday to face Glamorgan Wanderers at the Memorial Ground in Ely in the WRU Admiral National Championship on a damp and grey afternoon, writes Ray Ruddick. This was a much better performance than that against Ystrad Rhondda seven days earlier and the try bonus point was bagged before half time.

Glamorgan Wanderers kicked off attacking the scoreboard end of the ground. In the 6^th minute Pooler were on the attack inside the home 22. The ball reached Ashley Sweet and the experienced second row beat several defenders to score a try to the right of the posts. Outside half Matthew Jarvis converted (0-7). On the quarter-of-an-hour mark home flanker and captain Max Wootton was yellow-carded for an apparent illegal use of the boot at a ruck near Pooler’s 22. Midway through the first period, Pooler recycled ball inside the Wanderers’ 22, play went left, and young full back Huw Anderson scored a try, 5 metres in from the left corner. Matthew Jarvis slotted a very fine conversion (0-14).

In the 25^th minute the Pooler pack were getting on top of their opponents and from a driving lineout on Pooler’s left, second row Luke Fleming-Jones scored a try in exactly the same place as the previous score with Matthew Jarvis expertly converting (0-21). Three minutes later Pooler spread the ball from deep. Left wing Deon Smith received a pass and sprinted along his wing reaching the home 22. He cleverly kicked infield for centre Pat Lewis, who was making his 50^th appearance for Pontypool, to gather and scored his side’s bonus-point try to the left of the posts. Once again, Matthew Jarvis obliged from the tee, despite slipping (0-28). Three minutes before the interval Pat Lewis made a good break along the left touchline, having been put into space by Matthew Jarvis. He passed inside to the supporting Dan Babos and the scrum half ran behind the posts for his side’s fifth try of the first half. This score was easily converted by Matthew Jarvis to make the half time score Glamorgan Wanderers 0 Pontypool 35.

Two minutes into the second period and in a good build up with Pontypool showing some impressive handling, Ashley Sweet scored his second try of the game in the left corner and Matthew Jarvis added the extras with another cracking kick (0-42). On 51 minutes Pooler had a lineout near the Wanderers’ line, following a penalty. Hooker Sam Scarfe threw short to Luke Fleming-Jones and, with the line at his mercy, he duly scored his second try of the afternoon, 5 metres in from the right corner. Matthew Jarvis is a wonderful goal kicker with a very high percentage rate of success, but this conversion attempt surprisingly went across the face of the posts (0-47). Then Pooler made five changes with Mathew Powell, Owain Leonard, Sam Cochrane Tom Piper and Ieuan Jones replacing Deon Smith, Dan Babos, loose head prop Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, tight head prop Kelvyn Williams and captain and flanker Scott Matthews respectively.

In the 67^th minute Sam Scarfe left the field and Kelvyn Williams returned with Tom Piper moving to hooker and shortly after No 8 Cameron Regan was replaced by the returning Scott Matthews. Ten minutes from time Pooler scored their eighth and final try of the match when, after more great handling by the visitors, centre Joel Mahoney crossed to the right of the posts. Mr Consistency Matthew Jarvis slotted his seventh conversion, despite slipping once again (0-54). In the 76^th minute Pooler replacement wing Mathew Powell was sin-binned for a late tackle between Pooler’s 22 and 10-metre line near Pontypool’s left touchline. Final score – Glamorgan Wanderers 0 Pontypool 54.

Pontypool put some of the wrongs in last week’s game right in this entertaining encounter with some sublime handling skills and a strong defence. They scored some well-worked tries and could have scored several more as they created numerous opportunities. There is no game next Saturday as Wales face New Zealand at the Principality Stadium. Pontypool’s next game is a mouth-watering, top-of-the-table clash with Bargoed at Pontypool Park on Saturday 12 November, kick-off 2.30pm. This should be a cracker of a game involving two of the form sides with Pooler winning all six of their league games and Bargoed are on a winning run of six matches with their only reverse against Neath at The Gnoll in the first match of the season.

Glamorgan Wanderers: Amir Saleh, Will Adams Jones, Morgan Williams, Will Trethaway, Ian Cooper, Aled Evans, Steffan Davies, Brynley Toms, Morgan Hughes, Freddie Barnes, Rob Weston, Huw Thomas, Max Wootton (captain), Alfie Llewellyn and Tommy Walsh. Replacements: Joe Page, Gareth Gibbs, Alex Washbourne, Tommy Taylor and Tom Francis.

Pontypool: Huw Anderson, Ewan Rosser, Pat Lewis, Joel Mahoney, Deon Smith (replaced by Mathew Powell), Matthew Jarvis, Dan Babos (replaced by Owain Leonard), Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (replaced by Sam Cochrane), Sam Scarfe (replaced by the returning Kelvyn Williams), Kelvyn Williams (replaced by Tom Piper), Luke Fleming-Jones., Ashley Sweet, Scott Matthews (captain, replaced by Ieuan Jones), Callum Davies and Cameron Regan (replaced by the returning Scott Matthews).