Pontypool 47 Cardiff 27

Impressive Pooler’s great victory over top-of-the-table Cardiff in thriller

Pontypool welcomed old rivals Cardiff to a damp Pontypool Park on Saturday for the last match of the regular season in the Super Rygbi Cymru before the play-offs, writes Ray Ruddick. Heavy rain fell in the morning but had disappeared by early afternoon as Pontypool kept what was probably their best performance of the season until this showing in recording a resounding 47-27 success over the capital city club, who are top of the league table.

Cardiff kicked off attacking the scoreboard end of the ground. In the ninth minute Cardiff were caught offside on their 22 in front of the posts and Pooler outside half Kieran Meek slotted the shot at goal (3-0). Seven minutes later home number eight Morgan Allen was shown the yellow card for what seemed to be a deliberate knock on inside the home 22. From the ensuing penalty, kick to the corner and driving lineout, the visitors opened their account with an unconverted try, 10 metres on from the left corner, by flanker Nathan Hudd (3-5).

Midway through the first period, Cardiff extended their lead with a try by full back Joe Goodchild when he touched down 5 metres in from the right corner. The conversion failed (3-10). In the 27^th minute Pooler were guilty of holding on at a ruck on their 10-metre line in midfield and outside half Harri Wilde put Cardiff 10 points clear with a successful kick at goal (3-13). Then on the half hour mark, a great break by home flanker Ryan Jones took play into Cardiff’s 22. The ball was recycled and Ioan Duggan passed to Kieran Meek who, in turn, spun a long pass out to Harry Jarvis on the left flank and the full back ran behind the sticks for a well-worked try which Kieran Meek converted (10-13). Four minutes later Pooler scrum half Morgan Lloyd was sin-binned for a deliberate knock on near the home 22. Cardiff then kicked for the corner, won the line-out and scrum half Ethan Lloyd touched down in the right corner. Harri Wilde converted with a good kick (10-20). In the second minute of injury time at the end of the first half Cardiff’s loose head prop Cam Tyler-Grocott was yellow-carded for tackling a player within 10 metres after a quick tap penalty near the Blue-and-Blacks’ line. Then, in the sixth minute of added time Pooler were putting their visitors under pressure with several powerful drives towards the goal line and eventually flanker Scott Matthews burrowed his way over for a try to the left of the posts. Kieran Meek converted. Half-time score – Pontypool 17 Cardiff 20.

In the fifth minute of the second half some good inter-passing by Pontypool resulted in a try by Morgan Lloyd 15 metres in from the left corner which put Pooler back in front. Kieran Meek was on target with the conversion attempt (24-20). Seven minutes later Cardiff were penalised at a ruck on their 22 to the left of the uprights and Kieran Meek made no mistake with his shot at goal (27-20). In the 56^th minute Cardiff were again penalised at a ruck, 30 metres out to the right of the posts and Kieran Meek slotted another penalty goal (30-20). Just before the hour mark Adam Stratton replaced flanker Ryan Jones and a couple of minutes later second row Dan Hill made way for Ieuan Jones and Harry Drane took over from tight head prop Kelvyn Williams for the home side.

In the 65^th minute Cardiff were penalised for collapsing a scrum, 35 metres out and 15 metres in from the right touchline. Up stepped Kieran Meek who kicked a good goal (33-20). Then Pooler made three more changes when left wing Marcus Jones, Morgan Lloyd and Morgan Allen were replaced by Mathew Powell, Rhodri Cole and Callum Davies respectively. With around ten minutes remaining Pontypool took a quick tap penalty deep inside Cardiff’s 22 and Adam Stratton was on hand to take the scoring pass when he barged over for his side’s bonus-point try to the left of the posts. Kieran Meek added the extras (40-20). Then Kyan Best took over from loose head prop George Tuckley for the hosts. In the 76^th minute Pooler had a scrum feed inside their 22 but the clearing kick was charged down and Cardiff scored their bonus-point try when Joe Williams touched down in the right corner. Harri Wilde converted (40-27). Two minutes later Pooler hooker Evan Wood was replaced by debutant Matt Cotton. Then as the game was entering added time some good passing by the home side released Harry Jarvis who did well to score his brace as he touched down 15 metres in from the left corner. The ever-reliable Kieran Meek converted as he finished with a match haul of 22 points and Pontypool secured two bonus points – the try bonus and another bonus for winning by 15 points or more. Final score – Pontypool 47 Cardiff 27.

Pontypool have now recorded home wins over the top three teams – Cardiff, Ebbw Vale and Newport and a very narrow home defeat (and only home league defeat) to fourth placed Llandovery in the first match of the season. With a little more consistency, there is no reason why Pooler can’t challenge for a top four spot next season. Well done to everyone involved with Pontypool on this wonderful team effort against the Blue-and-Blacks. Congratulations also to Cardiff on finishing top of the table at the end of the regular league campaign and it is now on to the play-offs. Pontypool will make the trip to Church Bank to take on Llandovery in the play-off quarter-final on Saturday 3 May. The kick-off time is to be confirmed.

Pontypool: Harry Jarvis, Ioan Duggan, Pat Lewis, Joel Mahoney (captain), Marcus Jones (replaced by Mathew Powell), Kieran Meek, Morgan Lloyd (replaced by Rhodri Cole), George Tuckley (replaced by Kyan Best), Evan Wood (replaced by Matt Cotton), Kelvyn Williams (replaced by Harry Drane), Steve Cummins, Dan Hill (replaced by Ieuan Jones), Scott Matthews, Ryan Jones (replaced by Adam Stratton) and Morgan Allen (replaced by Callum Davies).

Cardiff: Joe Goodchild, Kodie Stone, Luke Pollock (replaced by Ioan Penry), Osian Darwin-Lewis, Tom Bowen, Harri Wilde, Ethan Lloyd (replaced by Joe Williams), Cam Tyler-Grocott (replaced by Marc Thomas), Gavin Parry (replaced by Charlie Manship), Christian Brooke (replaced by Tom Harper), Ethan Phillips, Sean Moore (captain, replaced by Evan Rees), Aled Ward (replaced by Will Jameson), Nathan Hudd and Luca de la Rua (replaced by Benji Williams).