Pooler fall to disappointing defeat down west

Pontypool would have gone into this tough Super Rygbi Cymru encounter with Carmarthen Quins on Saturday with some confidence after an impressive home win over RGC 1404 the previous Saturday, writes Ray Ruddick. However, after a great start, Pooler fell away and poor discipline, along with bad decision-making and questionable game management led to their downfall.

Pontypool, in their changed kit of predominately black, kicked off, with the wind in their favour, attacking the town end of Carmarthen Park on a fine, dry and pleasant afternoon. It was the visitors who started the stronger and in the fourth minute struck first. After a great break by centre Pat Lewis who took play inside Quins 22, the ball was recycled, play went left and wing Marcus Jones squeezed over in the corner. Outside half Kieran Meek slotted a fine conversion (0-7). Nine minutes later Quins were penalised for holding on, 5 metres inside their half, 15 metres in on Pooler’s left and Kieran Meek kicked another good goal (0-10).

Carmarthen Quins then grew back into the game and in the 23^rd minute they tested Pooler’s defence with several drives towards the goal line. The pressure eventually paid off when scrum half Rhodri Davies dived over for an unconverted try to the left of the posts (7-10). Then, just before the half-hour mark, Pontypool’s wayward kick was gathered by Quins inside their half and broke through the Pooler defence for full back Eilir George to score a try to the left of the posts. This score was converted by outside half Aled Thomas to take the home side into a two-point lead (12-10). With just over 5 minutes to the break, Marcus Jones was yellow-carded for a high tackle inside Pooler’s 22, following a team warning a little earlier. Then on the stroke of half time, Quins second row Josh Helps was sin-binned for an offence deep inside the home 22. Half time score – Carmarthen Quins 12 Pontypool 10.

At the start of the second half, Callum Davies replaced flanker Adam Stratton for the visitors. Inside the first minute of the re-start Pooler were guilty of not rolling away on their 10-metre line in midfield and Aled Thomas kicked the goal (15-10). In the 45^th minute Quins were giving the ball some air and they breached the Pontypool defence with centre Jac Howells touching down for a try under the posts. Aled Thomas added the extra two points from the tee (22-10). Four minutes later the hosts extended their lead when hooker Lewis Morgan broke from a maul near the Pooler line to score his side’s bonus-point try, 10 metres in from the right corner, The conversion attempt went wide (27-10). Pooler captain and flanker Mike Herbert made way for Scott Matthews and Kelvyn Williams, making his 50^th league and cup appearance for Pontypool took over for tight head prop Owain James and a little later Harri Ford replaced Pat Lewis.

It was now backs to the wall for Pooler and see how they would react in letting in two tries early in the second period. Credit to Pontypool as they showed some spirit when in the 56^th minute impressive scrum half Morgan Lloyd broke from a Pooler scrum near the half way line, dummied and the youngster crossed for a fine individual try to the right of the posts, converted by Kieran Meek (27-17). On the hour, play was inside the home 22 and Pontypool were awarded a penalty. They chose to tap and drive towards the goal line and eventually Scott Matthews burrowed over to the right of the uprights from close range. Once again Kieran Meek slotted the conversion (27-24) – Pooler were now back in the game.

Carmarthen Quins reacted well and extended their lead in the 66^th minute when Lewis Morgan got over for his second try, 15 metres in from the right corner, following a powerful driving maul. Aled Thomas converted (34-24). In the next few minutes Pooler made several changes when Marcus Jones made way for Mathew Powell, loose head prop Sam Cochrane was replaced by debutant Travis Hawkins and Buster Bodkin took over from number eight Morgan Allen. In the 75^th minute, good off-the-top lineout ball won by Pontypool on Quins 10-metre line gave the exciting Harri Ford the opportunity to show his qualities as he broke through the home defence and passed to Morgan Lloyd in support, who crossed for his second touchdown of the afternoon and Pooler’s bonus-point try near the posts. Kieran Meek added his fourth conversion (34-31). There was everything to play for going into the last few minutes and it was Quins who dealt the final blow when, in last play, replacement Rhys Fawcett scored a try from close range wide out on the left, preventing Pooler from gaining a losing bonus point, and Aled Thomas’ conversion was the final action of another high-scoring Super Rygbi Cymru match, so well done to Carmarthen Quins on their deserved win.

Carmarthen Park has not been a happy hunting ground for Pontypool against Carmarthen Quins with only two wins (24-16 in September 2001 and 29-19 in October 2010) from now 13 visits. It has been an inconsistent season so far for Pooler, with some encouraging performances as well as a few frustrating ones. However, the positives from this defeat are that Pooler staged a good fightback and they secured another try bonus point. Pontypool need to re-group in the coming week as next Saturday they entertain traditional rivals and near neighbours Newport in a mouth-watering, eagerly-awaited derby, when the Black-and-Ambers visit Pontypool Park, kick-off will be at 2.30pm. Then on Thursday 24 October Pontypool travel to St Helen’s to take on Swansea which will be covered live on S4C Clic with the kick-off scheduled for 7.30pm.

Carmarthen Quins: Eilir George, Iori Badham, Jac Howells, Gabe McDonald, Louis Rees, Aled Thomas, Rhodri Davies, James Newnian, Lewis Morgan, Ifan James, Lee Taylor, Josh Helps, Tom Phillips (captain), Keanu Evans and Lewys Millin. Replacements: Rhys Fawcett, Sion Jones, Connor Allen, Ryan Bean, Iestyn Richards, Tom Curry, Luca Setaro and Callum Woolley.

Pontypool: Jordan Thomas, Ioan Duggan, Pat Lewis (replaced by Harri Ford), Joel Mahoney, Marcus Jones (replaced by Mathew Powell), Kieran Meek, Morgan Lloyd, Sam Cochrane (replaced by Travis Hawkins), Connor Chapman, Owain James (replaced by Kelvyn Williams), Dan Hill, Ieuan Jones, Mike Herbert (captain, replaced by Scott Matthews)), Adam Stratton (replaced by Callum Davies) and Morgan Allen (replaced by Buster Bodkin).