Pooler leave it very late to secure superb victory at Merthyr

Pontypool looked to increase their winning run in the league to four matches when they visited The Wern to take on Merthyr in an Indigo Premiership match, writes Ray Ruddick. Both sides were evenly matched and there was very little to choose between them. However, it was Pontypool, who backed themselves in the final moments of a pulsating game, and came away with a magnificent hard-fought victory with Amosa Nove’s winning try scored with last play.

The match kicked off a little earlier than usual, at 1.00pm, as Wales took on Argentina in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Marseille at 4.00pm. Pontypool kicked off attacking the enclosure end of the ground on a chilly afternoon. Merthyr started the stronger and, in the third minute opened the scoring through hooker Liam Wiggins, following a driving maul near the Pooler line. Centre Josh Lewis converted (7-0). After a quarter-of-an-hour’s play, Pooler were on the attack near Merthyr’s 22. The ball was recycled and reached Joel Mahoney and the centre sold a dummy, splitting the Merthyr defence and his determination got him to the line to score a try, 15 metres in from the right corner. This score was converted by outside half Matthew Jarvis (7-7).

Nine minutes later, Merthyr’s right wing Morgan Meaclem was shown the yellow card and from the resulting penalty on the home 10-metre line, 15 metres in from touch on Pooler’s left, Matthew Jarvis slotted a fine penalty to take the visitors into the lead (7-10). On the half our mark play was on half way on Pooler’s right near the touchline. Pontypool’s young scrum half Morgan Lloyd made a great break on the narrow blindside, drew his man and put right wing Ewan Rosser clear who raced over for a try, 5 metres in from the corner. Matthew Jarvis converted with a great kick (7-17). In the third minute of injury time at the end of the first period, Pooler were caught offside 30 metres from their goal line to the right of the uprights and Josh Lewis kicked the penalty to reduce the deficit to seven points at the interval. Half time score – Merthyr 10 Pontypool 17.

Pooler were now playing into a strong wind and, in the second minute of the second half, they were guilty of holding on near their goal line, 15 metres in from touch on Merthyr’s left and Josh Lewis kicked the goal (13-17). In the 54^th minute Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths replaced Sam Cochrane at loose head for the visitors and five minutes later they made another change when Ben Moa took over from flanker Mike Herbert. Just after the hour mark Ollie Drake replaced Kelvyn Williams at tight head for the visitors and then, five minutes later Pooler made a further three changes with Matthew Flanagan, Peter Lloyd and Lewis Johnson taking over from Morgan Lloyd, hooker Sam Scarfe and second row Lance Randall respectively.

Merthyr were putting the Pontypool defence under pressure and it eventually told in the 68^th minute when, following a lineout deep in Pooler’s 22, replacement hooker Dan Wall crashed over to put the Ironmen back in front. The conversion was kicked by Josh Lewis (20-17). Two minutes later Pontypool made their final two changes with flanker Callum Davies made way for Alex Grey and young left wing Walker Price was replaced by Amosa Nove. In the 72^nd minute Merthyr were penalised at a scrum, 30 metres from their line in midfield but the shot at the uprights went wide. Two minutes later Pontypool were caught offside near their 10-metre line on Merthyr’s right and, again, the attempt at goal failed.

With the game in the balance and approaching injury time, Pontypool were on the attack and asking questions of the Ironmen’s defence which held up well. However, Pontypool were awarded a penalty in a very kickable position but turned down the option to go for goal as a successful kick would bring the scores level and then Pooler would be back in their half with Merthyr putting pressure on them. Whereas Pontypool were still in possession, and therefore in control, and they felt confident they could get the winning score. Pooler kept the pressure on and then, in the 84^th minute and with last play, Pooler had a scrum feed 5 metres from the Merthyr line on Pooler’s right. The scrum went forward and the referee played a Pontypool penalty advantage. The ball was released, and went left reaching full back Matty Bancroft who managed to dive pass out to Amosa Nove on the left wing to put him clear and he dived over in the corner for the winning score. The difficult conversion failed but Nove’s try was enough to seal a great victory at a ground where it is very tough to win. Final score – Merthyr 20 Pontypool 22

This was an enthralling encounter and the result could have gone either way, which kept the crowd engrossed in the final tense moments. It is a testament to Pontypool’s self-belief, resolve, grit and determination that got them over the winning line, so well done to all involved. Pontypool’s next Indigo Premiership match will be on Saturday when Pontypridd will be the welcome visitors to Pontypool Park. Then the following Saturday 28 October it will be a trip to the capital for Pooler to take on Cardiff at Cardiff Arms Park. The kick-off for both matches reverts back to the usual 2.30pm.

Merthyr: Ben Jones, Adam Hoskins, Morgan Sieniawski, Josh Lewis, Morgan Meaclem, Gareth Thompson, Ethan Lloyd, Louis Jones, Liam Wiggins, Dave Whiting, Craig Locke, Callum Bradley, Paddy McBride (captain), Lennon Greggains and Ben Fry. Replacements – Dan Wall, Travis Hawkins, Rhys Lewis, Sam Evans, Jack Perkins, James Soanes, Rhys Davies and Lloyd Rowlands.

Pontypool: Matty Bancroft, Ewan Rosser, Pat Lewis, Joel Mahoney, Walker Price (replaced by Amosa Nove), Matthew Jarvis, Morgan Lloyd (replaced by Matthew Flanagan), Sam Cochrane (replaced by Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths), Sam Scarfe (replaced by Peter Lloyd), Kelvyn Williams (replaced by Ollie Drake), Lance Randall (replaced by Lewis Johnson), Ashley Sweet, Mike Herbert (replaced by Ben Moa), Callum Davies (replaced by Alex Grey) and Scott Matthews (captain).