Tries by Walker Price (2), Scott Matthews (2), Ieuan Jones, Owain Leonard, Harri Ford and Dylan Davies.
Conversions by Kieran Meek (4) and Harri Ford (2).
Penalties by Kieran Meek (2).
Tries by Ben Evans, Evan Yardley, Chris Williams and Rhydian Greenhall.
Conversion by Ben Burnell.
Penalty by Ben Burnell.
Pooler’s super second half showing stunned Bridgend
It was two traditional rivals doing battle at picturesque Pontypool Park on Saturday when Bridgend were the welcome visitors for a Super Rygbi Cymru clash in what was only the fourth home game of the season for Pontypool, writes Ray Ruddick. A quite sensational second half display shocked Bridgend with Pooler scoring 48 points with the Ravens managing just one try in that period.
Before kick-off Pontypool remembered three former players who had passed away in recent weeks – hooker Roy Taylor who played for the club in the 1960s, versatile Haydn Wilmott who played at centre then in the back row in the late 1970s up to the mid-1980s and winger Paul Gallagher who made 18 appearances during the record-breaking 1983-84 season when Pontypool became the then world record holders for the most points in a season, 1,607. The sizeable crowd stood for a moment’s applause.
Bridgend kicked off on a pleasant winter’s afternoon attacking the scoreboard end of the ground, with Pontypool wearing their changed strip of predominantly black and home skipper and flanker Mike Herbert making his 100th league and cup appearance for the club. Within 40 seconds Bridgend opened the scoring. Pooler received the kick-off and kicked to touch, midway between the home 22 and their 10-metre line on the visitors’ right. Bridgend threw into the line-out and moved the ball left for wing Ben Evans to cross for a try in the left corner. The conversion attempt hit the left upright (0-5). In the seventh minute Bridgend were penalised in front of their posts and home outside half Kieran Meek slotted the kick at goal to reduce the visitors’ lead (3-5). Six minutes later Bridgend extended their lead. Pontypool were penalised for collapsing a scrum near their line. The Ravens kicked to touch on their left and from the ensuing driving maul from the lineout, hooker Evan Yardley scored an unconverted try (3-10).
In the 17th minute Pooler hit back when play was inside Bridgend’s 22 and, after several drives towards the Bridgend goal line and the referee playing a Pooler advantage, Kieran Meek cross kicked towards the right corner. This kick was gathered by young wing Walker Price who crossed for a try in the corner. Meek added the extras with a fine kick from the tee to bring the scores level (10-10). With a dozen or so minutes to go until the break, Pontypool were guilty of a late tackle and the penalty was awarded where the ball landed – in midfield and 35 metres from the home goal line. Outside half Ben Burnell slotted the kick at goal to edge Bridgend back in front (10-13). In the 37th minute Bridgend broke out of defence from inside their half and scrum half Chris Williams scored a try under the posts which Ben Burnell converted. Half time score – Pontypool 10 Bridgend 20. Bridgend were worthy of their interval lead as they took their chances when the opportunities arose.
At the start of the second period Pat Lewis replaced Tye Davies in the centre for Pontypool. Inside the first minute Bridgend were penalised in front of their posts and Kieran Meek made no mistake with the shot at goal (13-20). Then, two minutes later, home centre and vice-captain Joel Mahoney made a great break in midfield which split the Bridgend defence and took play to the visitors’ 22 when he threw a long pass out to Walker Price who sprinted 20 metres to score an unconverted try in the right corner (18-20). Callum Davies, the energetic Pooler flanker took a knock to the right leg and he was replaced by Scott Matthews. In the 53rd minute hooker Sam Scarfe was replaced by Connor Chapman for Pontypool. Three minutes later play was inside the Ravens’ 22 and their defence was under pressure with Pooler making some telling drives and eventually Scott Matthews barged over from close range, 15 metres in from the left corner. Kieran Meek added the conversion as Pontypool took the lead for the first time in the match (25-20).
On the hour Pontypool were on the offensive again and after a couple of powerful surges, the ball reached Scott Matthews who crashed over for a try near the posts, and his side’s bonus-point try. Kieran Meek converted (32-20). Pooler scored again four minutes later when Pontypool’s driving maul, with the help of a couple of backs, was too powerful for Bridgend and second row Ieuan Jones benefitted when he scored an unconverted try wide out on the left (37-20). Pontypool then made a couple more changes with tight head prop Kelvyn Williams making way for Harry Drane and Adam Stratton took over from Ieuan Jones.
Back came Bridgend and in the 69th minute they scored their bonus-point try through replacement Rhydian Greenhall when he touched down in the right corner for an unconverted try (37-25). However, the last 15 minutes or so completely belonged to Pontypool as they went up a gear with some great rugby. In the 74th minute a super break out of defence from inside his 22 by full back Jordan Williams took play into Bridgend’s half and a three accurate passes later, scrum half Owain Leonard dived over for a try under the posts which Kieran Meek converted (44-25). That was Meek’s last action as he was then replaced by young Harri Ford. Two minutes later it was Ford himself who finished off a superb move which started near Pooler’s 10-metre line and, after some outstanding handling, he was on hand to take the final pass and went over for a try 15 metres in from the left corner and he duly converted (51-25). Pontypool made their final two replacements with Dylan Davies taking over from Owain Leonard and Dan Morgan came on in place of loose head prop Sam Cochrane. In the 86th minute and with last play Dylan Davies picked up from a ruck on the half way line, saw a gap in front of him and sprinted 50 metres to score a try to the left of the posts, going outside and then inside the last defender in the process. Harri Ford added the final two points with the conversion. Final score – Pontypool 58 Bridgend 25.
That was some performance in the second forty minutes by Pooler, one of the best showings in recent years and absolutely blew Bridgend away so many congratulations to all involved. For their part, Bridgend were well in the game until the final twenty minutes when Pooler went into overdrive, but the Ravens battled right to the final whistle. Both sides played open, expansive rugby and it was a thoroughly entertaining and enthralling encounter. Pontypool’s next two games over the Christmas period will be against local rivals and old friends from Ebbw Vale. Pontypool Park host the first of the matches the Saturday before Christmas (21st December) and the return at Ciner Glass Community Stadium (formerly known as Eugene Cross Park) will be on the Saturday between Christmas and the New Year (28th December), Both matches will kick-off at 2.30pm. Ebbw are flying high at the moment at the top of the Super Rygbi Cymru table so it promises to be a Christmas cracker of a game at Pontypool Park on Saturday.
Pontypool: Jordan Williams, Walker Price, Tye Davies (replaced by Pat Lewis), Joel Mahoney, Marcus Jones, Kieran Meek (replaced by Harri Ford), Owain Leonard (replaced by Dylan Davies), Sam Cochrane (replaced by Dan Morgan), Sam Scarfe (replaced by Connor Chapman), Kelvyn Williams (replaced by Harry Drane), Ieuan Jones (replaced by Adam Stratton), Dan Hill, Mike Herbert (captain), Callum Davies (replaced by Scott Matthews) and Morgan Allen.
Bridgend: Edd Howley (replaced by Tom Florence), Ben Evans (replaced by Rhydian Greenhall), Joseph Gatt, Ryan Wilkins (replaced by Jakob Williams), Macauley Rowley, Ben Burnell, Chris Williams, Harry Olding (replaced by Freddie Chapman), Evan Yardley (replaced by Corey Lewis), Matholwch Iorwerth-Scott (replaced by Liam Tobias), Dylan Burrows (replaced by Travis Huntley), Evan Hill, Alfie Llewellyn, Zac O’Driscoll (captain, replaced by Thomas Jevons) and Barnaby Waddell.