Points galore in North Wales as Pooler fall short

Over one hundred points were scored in a points spree at Stadiwm CSM in Colwyn Bay when RGC 1404 (Rygbi Gogledd Cymru) faced Pontypool in a highly entertaining Super Rygbi Cymru match last Saturday, writes Ray Ruddick. The home side were powerful up front and slick behind, looking to attack at every given opportunity but Pontypool dug in and competed well in the second half as they clawed their way back into the game but it was RGC who deservedly took the spoils in a fast and open contest.

Pontypool kicked off attacking the changing rooms end of the ground on a fine and dry afternoon. In the absence of Pontypool club captain Mike Herbert, centre Joel Mahoney led the side for the first time. Pooler started well and in the third minute they were on the attack inside RGC’s 22. After several drives towards the line, the ball went left and number eight Morgan Allen scored to the left of the posts. Outside half Kieran Meek converted (0-7). Two minutes later the Gogs replied when full back Dion Jones scored a try, 15 metres in from the right corner, converted by outside half Billy McBryde (7-7). Then in the ninth minute Pooler re-took the lead when Kieran Meek kicked out of defence by chipping over the RGC players on Pooler’s left. The ball was gathered by visiting wing Marcus Jones who then sprinted into RGC’s half before kicking ahead and he won the race to the touchdown, and Kieran Meek added the extras (7-14). Two minutes later Pooler’s mistake in defence led to a try for RGC by left wing Sam Stoddart who dived on a loose ball over the goal line, 5 metres in from the left corner. Billy McBryde slotted the conversion with a great strike (14-14). After a quarter-of-an-hour, RGC won a lineout on their right near Pooler’s 22, following a penalty. The ball was passed along the back line for Sam Stoddart to score his second try in the corner. The conversion was missed (19-14). Half way through the first half, Pontypool were penalised at a scrum in the shadow of their posts and Billy McBryde made no mistake in slotting the easy goal (22-14).

In the 27^th minute Pontypool were guilty of side entry to a ruck in midfield on their 10-metre line and up stepped Billy McBryde, once again, to kick another three points for the home side (25-14). On the half-hour, Adam Stratton replaced Scott Matthews in the Pooler back row. Three minutes later Pontypool hit back with a try by second row Ieuan Jones near the posts following a lineout inside the home 22. Kieran Meek kicked the conversion (25-21). In the 39^th minute Kyan Best took over from loose head prop Sam Cochrane for the visitors. In the first minute of injury time the Gogs scored their bonus-point try from close range by second row Ilan Evans, who barged over near the left corner. This score was converted by Billy McBryde (32-21). Four minutes later and on the stroke of half time, RGC extended their lead with a try in the right corner by wing Rhys Tudor, converted by Billy McBryde. Half time score – RGC 1404 39 Pontypool 21.

As early as the second minute of the second period, Pontypool were penalised near their 10-metre line to the left of the uprights and Billy McBryde kicked the goal (42-21). A minute later RGC capitalised on another mistake by the visitors when number eight Sam Williams scored an unconverted try in the right corner (47-21). In the 47^th minute Pontypool secured their try bonus point when Kieran Meek received a pass from Adam Stratton and scored near the posts and Meek duly converted (47-28). Pontypool made a couple of changes when tight head prop Kelvyn Williams was replaced by Harry Drane and scrum half Matthew Flanagan made way for Dylan Davies. On 55 minutes, Pooler were awarded a penalty inside RGC’s 22. They took the tap penalty and Dylan Davies dived over for a try near the posts. Kieran Meek added a further two points from the tee (47-35).

Pooler centre Pat Lewis was then replaced by Tye Davies and in the 65^th minute right wing Mathew Powell and flanker Callum Davies were replaced by Ioan Dugan and Ryan Jones respectively. Three minutes later Pontypool were applying pressure deep inside the home 22. The ball went right and Ioan Duggan dived over for a try, 15 metres in from the right corner. Once again, Kieran Meek was accurate with the conversion (47-42). The visitors were now back in the game but ill-discipline and three penalties kicked in quick succession took the game away from them Firstly they were guilty of holding on inside their 22, 15 metres in from the left touchline and Billy McBryde kicked his fourth penalty of the afternoon (50-42). In the 71^st minute Pontypool were penalised again, this time a metre inside RGC’s half near the 5-metre line on the Gogs’ left and a huge goal was kicked by replacement full back Sam Earl-Jones (53-42). Three minutes later and Pooler were again guilty of holding on, 2 metres inside the Pooler half in midfield and Billy McBryde struck the ball well for another three points (56-42). On 78 minutes RGC centre Afan Bagshaw was yellow carded for an offence near the home 22. In the first minute of injury time, front row cover Owain James took the field in place of Tye Davies. Then the 8^th and final minute of added time Pooler were on the attack trying to get another try and conversion to secure a losing bonus point but the home defence held them out. RGC secured the ball and went up field and eventually Sam Stoddart scored his try hat trick following a neat cross kick to the left corner. The conversion attempt struck the upright but, as the Gogs won by 15 points or more, they gained an extra bonus point, a new points system introduced this season. Final score – RGC 1404 61 Pontypool 42.

A crowd of 933 witnessed a 13-try extravaganza in an enthralling encounter with unforced errors and poor discipline costing Pooler the game against a well organised and dangerous RGC outfit. Former Pontypool and Wales captain and British Lion Terry Cobner, who is the current WRU President, attended the game and he nominated Billy McBryde as the player-of-the-match, who had a match haul of 23 points. 42 points is the second highest total in one game Pontypool have scored and lost. The highest is 45 when Pooler lost 47-45 to Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets in April 2011. The home fixture against Llanelli the month previous saw Pooler win 46-40. Pontypool will not have to wait long to put the wrongs right against the Gogs, as the North Wales side visit Pontypool Park next Saturday for the return fixture, kick-off 2.30pm.

RGC 1404: Dion Jones (replaced by Sam Earl-Jones), Rhys Tudor, Afon Bagshaw, Danny Cross (captain), Sam Stoddard, Billy McBryde, Connor Dever (replaced by Tudur Jones), Jessie Williams (replaced by Gareth Parry), Rhodri King (replaced by Jac Petch-Jones), Pedr Jones (replaced by Patrick Nelson), Tal Taylor, Ilan Evans (replaced by Billy McQueeney), Dan Owen (replaced by Celt Ffransis-Roberts), Charlie Probert (replaced by Ethan Fackrell) and Sam Williams.

Pontypool: Huw Anderson, Mathew Powell (replaced by Ioan Duggan), Pat Lewis (replaced by Tye Davies, then Tye was replaced by Owain James), Joel Mahoney (captain), Marcus Jones, Kieran Meek, Matthew Flanagan (replaced by Dylan Davies), Sam Cochrane (replaced by Kyan Best), Connor Chapman, Kelvyn Williams (replaced by Harry Drane), Ieuan Jones, Dan Hill, Scott Matthews (replaced by Adam Stratton), Callum Davies (replaced by Ryan Jones) and Morgan Allen.