Pooler leave it very late for a dramatic cup win over Swansea

Pontypool welcomed traditional rivals Swansea to Pontypool Park on Saturday for round one of the new Super Rygbi Cymru Cup competition and it took a try and conversion deep into injury time for Pooler to gain victory by the narrowest of margins, writes Ray Ruddick. The new tournament is on a round robin basis with the Super Rygbi Cymru clubs split in two pools of five. Each club will play two home games and two away with the pool winners meeting in the final.

Swansea kicked off attacking the scoreboard end of the ground on a fine but chilly afternoon. In the 5^th minute Swansea were penalised just outside their 22 on Pooler’s right and outside half Kieran Meek slotted the kick at goal to put the home side into an early lead (3-0). Three minutes later Meek doubled his side’s advantage with another successful penalty goal when the All Whites strayed offside on their 22 in front of the uprights (6-0). In the 10^th minute Swansea flanker Geraint Powell was shown the yellow card for a dangerous tackle in the air. Pooler then took advantage of their numerical advantage when, in the 13^th minute, Kieran Meek made a great break near the visitors’ 22 and gave the scoring pass to scrum half Owain Leonard who touched down to the right of the posts. Meek duly converted (13-0). After 16 minutes home full back Jordan Thomas was sin binned for using bad language.

So for the first quarter, it seemed that Pontypool looked comfortable and Swansea were chasing the game. Then, in the space of six minutes, the All Whites scored three tries. The first was after 28 minutes when play was inside Pooler’s 22 on Swansea’s left. The ball went right for wing Callum Dodd to score a try in the right corner, which was converted by full back Josh Phillips with a fine kick (13-7). A couple of minutes later Swansea centre Joe Thomas broke through the Pooler defence and eventually scrum half Matthew Aubrey touched down under the posts for a try which Josh Phillips converted to put the visitors into a slender one-point lead (13-14). Swansea were now playing with more confidence and this showed when they scored their third try through Matthew Aubrey again, after some good inter-passing. Outside half Harri Williams added the extras (13-21). Pooler were left stunned and just before half time Josh Phillips added a penalty when Pooler infringed at a ruck in front of their posts. Swansea, therefore, scored 24 unanswered points in the last 12 minutes of an error-strewn first half. Half time score – Pontypool 13 Swansea 24.

Pontypool made a good start to the second period and in the 43^rd minute they were on the attack deep inside Swansea’s 22. The visitors were penalised near their posts and Pooler chose to tap and go rather than take the relatively easy shot at goal on offer. This decision paid off when, after several drives towards the All Whites goal line, the ball reached second row Ieuan Jones who barged over for a try near the posts. Kieran Meek converted so the home side were back in the game (20-24). In the 52^nd minute Pooler made three changes with Kelvyn Williams, Mike Herbert and Morgan Allen taking over from tight head prop Harry Drane, flanker Scott Matthews and number eight Lewis Robey respectively. Just after the hour mark Pooler’s loose head prop Sam Cochrane took a knock and he was replaced by Kyan Best.

In the 66^th minute Swansea had a scrum feed on their left inside Pooler’s 22, the ball went along the back line for Callum Dodd to cross in the right corner for his second try of the afternoon. Josh Phillips converted with a splendid kick so Swansea are now back two scores ahead (20-31). Owain Leonard then made way for Dylan Davies for the home side. It wasn’t long before Dylan Davies made an impact when, in the 70^th minute he made a break which took play inside Swansea’s 22. The ball went loose and Pooler kicked ahead and the ball went over the goal line. The Swansea defender missed the ball but Pooler wing Mathew Powell managed to get to the ball and score a try, 15 metres in from the right corner. The conversion attempt failed (25-31). Three minutes later Tye Davies replaced centre Scott Williams and shortly after Buster Bodkin took over from Dan Hill in the second row for Pontypool. The game was deep into injury time when Dylan Davies took a blow and was replaced by Dan Morgan. Swansea gave away two penalties in quick succession which passed momentum to Pontypool and action was in the All Whites’ 22. In the 89^th minute and with last play, the home side were putting the Swansea defence under enormous pressure with some powerful drives towards the goal line and the referee playing a Pontypool advantage. Their determination was rewarded when, to the delight of the Pontypool faithful, Morgan Allen powered over for a try from close range near the posts. However, the conversion needed to be kicked for Pooler to obtain an unlikely victory and Kieran Meek made no mistake as the ball sailed between the posts. Final score – Pontypool 32 Swansea 31.

Swansea must be very disappointed with this result having looked odds on they would secure the win, particularly being two scores ahead with time running out. However Pontypool had other ideas and, despite it not being Pooler’s best performance, credit to them for persevering and their patience paid off in the end as they played their “get-out-of-jail-free card”. Pontypool’s next match in the Super Rygbi Cymru Cup will be on Saturday with a long trip west to Carmarthen Park to take on Carmarthen Quins in round two, kick-off will be at the usual 2.30pm.

Pontypool: Jordan Thomas, Mathew Powell, Joel Mahoney (captain), Scott Williams (replaced by Tye Davies), Amosa Nove, Kieran Meek, Owain Leonard (replaced by Dylan Davies, then Davies was replaced by Dan Morgan), Sam Cochrane (replaced by Kyan Best), Connor Chapman, Harry Drane (replaced by Kelvyn Williams), Ieuan Jones, Dan Hill (replaced by Buster Bodkin), Scott Matthews (replaced by Mike Herbert), Adam Stratton and Lewis Robey (replaced by Morgan Allen).

Swansea: Josh Phillips, Tom Edwards, Joe Thomas, James Price, Callun Dodd, Harri Williams, Matthew Aubrey (replaced by Aron Hemmings), Ed Thompson, Jamie Cox (replaced by Llew Phillips-Taylor), Ellis Fackrell (replaced by Chris Davies), Chris Thompson (replaced by Matt Dodd), Ben Roberts, Geraint Powell, Owen Thomas (captain, replaced by Callum Bowden) and Joe Greaves (replaced by Sam Pailor).