Poor first half display proved costly for Pooler

For their final home match of the season, Pontypool welcomed Merthyr to Pontypool Park on Wednesday in the Indigo Premiership, writes Ray Ruddick, in this, his 300^th Pooler match report. A very disappointing showing in the first half left Pooler with a mountain to climb but it was too much to pull back, despite the home side’s best efforts in the second period as Merthyr ran out worthy winners.

Pontypool wore their changed strip of predominantly black and were led out by Peter Lloyd who was making his 50^th appearance for the club, The home side kicked off attacking the scoreboard end of the ground on a fine, dry and pleasant spring evening. In the seventh minute Pontypool hooker Jack Gillard took a knock to the leg and hobbled off the field with some assistance. He was replaced by debutant Tomoya Adachi. Merthyr were asking questions of the Pooler defence and, in the 11^th minute opened the scoring, when after several drives towards the home goal line, left wing Adam Hoskins scored a try, 15 metres in from the left corner. Outside half Gareth Thompson converted (0-7). Midway through the first half Merthyr second row Callum Bradbury was sin binned for an offence at a ruck near the Merthyr line. However, three minutes later, the Ironmen extended their lead with a try to the left of the posts by Gareth Thompson and he duly added the extras (0-14).

On the half hour mark Pontypool’s loose head prop Morgan Williams, who was making his debut, was yellow carded after a scrum collapsed deep inside Pooler’s 22. The home side was then forced to make a change when replacement prop Marc Thomas took the field in place of wing Amosa Nove to cover the front row. Five minutes later another yellow card was issued, this time to home flanker Adam Stratton for collapsing a driving maul near Pooler’’s line, so it was 13 against 15. The numerical advantage told as Merthyr claimed their third try of the evening when the moved the ball left for Callum Bradbury, who was in space, to touch down in the corner. This score went unconverted (0-19). In the third minute of added time the Ironmen got their bonus-point try when the ball went wide and Adam Hoskins ran in unopposed in the left corner. The conversion failed (0-24). In the tenth minute of injury time, visiting tight head prop Dave Whiting was sin binned for side entry into a driving maul close to the visitors’ line. Pooler were glad to hear the half time whistle as they could re-group and put behind them an awful first half performance. Half time score – Pontypool 0 Merthyr 24.

In the sixth minute of the second half, Pooler outside half Matthew Jarvis made a break and took play inside Merthyr’s 22. Play went left and centre Pat Lewis was on hand to take the scoring pass and cross for an unconverted try in the corner (5-24). Then after 50 minutes Pooler made four changes when wing Mathew Powell, scrum half Owain Leonard, second row Will Gregory and flanker Callum Davies made way for Walker Price, Matthew Flanagan, Dan Hill and Mike Herbert respectively. Three minute later Pooler number eight and captain Scott Matthews was replaced by Ben Moa. Shortly after Pooler were on the attack and kicked ahead towards the visitors’ goal line. Pooler’s replacement wing Walker Price was about to field the ball and touch down for a try but was pushed and the referee awarded the home side a penalty try and yellow carded Adam Hoskins (12-24). Tight head prop Peter Lloyd was then permanently replaced by Marc Thomas for the home side.

On the hour, Merthyr were putting width on the ball and full back Morgan Meaclem crossed for an unconverted try in the left corner (.12-29). However back came Pooler and they were applying pressure inside Merthyr’s 22. In the 63^rd minute, the ball reached Mike Herbert, who powered over for a try to the right of the posts. Outside half Matthew Jarvis converted (19-29). Three minute later Matthew Jarvis was sin-binned at a ruck near half way, so it was going to be difficult for Pooler to go on and win the game. In the 3^rd minute of added time play was deep inside Merthyr’s 22 and Pontypool’s driving mauls were testing the Ironmen’s defence and the pressure told when Ben Moa crashed over for the bonus-point try under the posts which Matthew Jarvis converted. Alas it was too late to affect the result as the referee blew up for full time and Pooler just failed in overturning a huge deficit at the interval, but picked up a losing bonus point as well as the try bonus. Final score – Pontypool 26 Merthyr 29.

Once again, Pooler’s discipline and unforced errors let them down. It was a disappointing end to their home campaign but they have performed well throughout the season in guaranteeing a top six finish, which is fully deserved. Pontypool’s final game of the season will be on Saturday when they make the long trip north to take on RGC 1404 at Stadiwm CSM (Eirias Park) in Colwyn Bay, kick-off 2.30pm.

Pontypool: Matt Bancroft, Mathew Powell (replaced by Walker Price), Pat Lewis, Joel Mahoney, Amosa Nove (temporary replaced by Marc Thomas), Matthew Jarvis, Owain Leonard (replaced by Matthew Flanagan), Morgan Williams, Jack Gillard (replaced by Tomoya Adachi), Peter Lloyd (replaced by Marc Thomas), Will Gregory (replaced by Dan Hill), Ashley Sweet, Adam Stratton, Callum Davies (replaced by Mike Herbert) and Scott Matthews (captain, replaced by Ben Moa).

Merthyr: Morgan Meaclem, Jack Kathrens, Cole Swannack, Morgan Sieniawski, Adam Hoskins, Gareth Thompson, James Soanes, Callum Lewis, Ellis Shipp, Dave Whiting, Craig Locke (captain), Callum Bradbury, Cerith Lloyd, Kian Jones and Thomas Jevons. Replacements: Evan Wood, Louis Jones, Craig Davies, Logan Hannah, Jordan Carpenter, Ethan Lloyd, Tom Hughes and Lloyd Rowlands.