Tries by Jac Howells, Lewis Morgan, James Newnian, Gruff Williams and Gabe McDonald.
Conversions by Ellis Payne (2).
Tries by Kieran Meek (2), Morgan Lloyd and Morgan Allen.
Conversions by Kieran Meek (3).
Penalties by Kieran Meek (3).
Pooler secured rare away win over Carmarthen Quins
Pontypool made the long trip west to Carmarthen Park to take on Carmarthen Quins in the second round of the new Super Rygbi Cymru Cup competition, writes Ray Ruddick. The tournament, introduced this season, splits the 10 Super Rygbi Cymru clubs into two pools of five, and the pool winners will face each other in the final. In the first round of matches Pooler squeezed past Swansea at Pontypool Park with a late try and conversion to secure a 32-31 victory while the Quins went down 24-7 at Ebbw Vale. It was always going to be a tough ask for Pooler to get a result at a ground where they have only managed two wins (24-16 on 15 September 2001 and 29-19 on 16 October 2010) in 13 previous meetings against Carmarthen Quins, so for Pontypool to come away with a victory is commendable and fully deserved.
Carmarthen Quins kicked off defending the Tesco end of the ground on a fine, dry but a little chilly afternoon with Pontypool playing in their changed strip of predominately black. Pontypool managed to hold off early pressure by the Quins and, in the 10th minute took the lead. The home side were caught offside inside their 22 in front of the posts and visiting outside half Kieran Meek slotted the relatively easy kick at goal (0-3). Five minutes later the Quins were in possession on their left and kicked ahead. Pooler failed to gather the ball which had crossed the goal line and home centre Jac Howells dropped on the ball to score an unconverted try wide out (5-3).
After half and hour’s play Carmarthen Quins were again penalised for offside in front of their posts and Kieran Meek again kicked the goal to put his side back into the lead (5-6). In the 38th minute Quins were on the attack and, following a penalty and the resulting driving maul, home hooker Lewis Morgan scored an unconverted try wide out on Quins’ right (10-6). In the fifth minute of injury time at the end of a tight first period, Pooler regained the lead when, after a penalty and a driving lineout, and several Pooler backs joined the maul, Kieran Meek was the last up with the ball as he managed to score a try in the right corner. His conversion attempt failed but Pooler went into half time with a slender one point lead. Half time score – Carmarthen Quins 10 Pontypool 11.
In the third minute of the second half the visitors extended their lead when they attacked down their left flank. They were awarded a penalty inside Quins’ 22 and Morgan Lloyd took a quick tap and go. He offloaded to Kieran Meek who scored his second try of the afternoon when he touched down near the left corner and he duly converted with a fine kick (10-18). Pooler’s young second row Buster Bodkin was then replaced by the experienced Scott Matthews with Morgan Allen moving from number eight into the second row and Matthews slotting into the back row. In the 48th minute Pontypool were on the attack inside Quins’22 on the visitors’ left and they went further ahead when nippy scrum half Morgan Lloyd ran round to score a try near the posts. Kieran Meek converted (10-25). Just before the hour Pontypool made three changes with tight head prop Kelvyn Williams, flankers Mike Herbert (captain) and Adam Stratton were replaced by Harry Drane, Lewis Robey and Ryan Jones respectively.
In the 62nd minute Carmarthen Quins were applying pressure inside Pontypool’s 22 and asking questions of the visiting defence. Eventually home captain and loose head prop James Newnian barged over for a try to the left of the posts which outside half Ellis Payne converted (17-25). Five minutes later Pooler had a throw in just outside Quins’ 22. Scott Matthews made the initial break and passed to Morgan Allen on the charge who blast through the home defence and his power and strength took him over the line for a try, Pontypool’s bonus-point try, 15 metres in from the right corner. Kieran Meek added the extras (17-32). Pontypool then made their final substitutions with around ten minutes remaining – loose head prop Kyan Best made way for Dan Morgan, Callum Davies took over from Morgan Allen, then Connor Chapman took over from hooker Sam Scarfe and Morgan Lloyd was replaced by Archie Lloyd. In the 73rd minute Carmarthen Quins scored their bonus-point try through replacement prop Gruff Williams but the conversion went wide (22-32). Going into the last five minutes or so the home side were penalised near their 22 on Pooler’s left and Kieran Meek kicked the goal to take Pooler out to a 13-point lead. However, in the 82nd minute and with last play, Quins scored the final try of an absorbing cup match when centre Gabe McDonald touched down to the right of the posts after Pooler failed to deal with a loose ball. This score was converted by Ellis Payne. Final score – Carmarthen Quins 29 Pontypool 35.
This was a workmanlike performance by Pontypool against a tenacious Carmarthen Quins outfit. Both sides contributed to an entertaining encounter in which a total of nine tries were scored and Pooler outside half Kieran Meek bagged 25 points. Pooler are top of Pool B with two wins out of two. Pontypool look forward to welcoming Gwent rivals Ebbw Vale to Pontypool Park on Saturday 15 February for round three of the SRC Cup. Kick off will be at the usual 2.30pm. Then on Friday 21 February, kick-off at 7.30pm, Pontypool face Aberavon at Pontypool Park for a re-arranged Super Rygbi Cymru league match.
Carmarthen Quins: Eilir George, Iestyn Gwilliam, Jac Howells, Gabe McDonald, Dylan Richards, Ellis Payne, Rhodri Lewis, James Newnian (captain), Lewis Morgan, Ifan James, Iestyn Wood, Ryan Bean, Taine Morgan, Tom Curry and Keanu Evans. Replacements: Gruff Williams, Lewys Jones, Rhys Fawcett, Josh Helps, Osian Williams, Iestyn Richards, Rhodri Davies and Ryan Davies.
Pontypool: Tye Davies, Mathew Powell, Amosa Nove, Joel Mahoney, Marcus Jones, Kieran Meek, Morgan Lloyd (replaced by Archie Lloyd), Kyan Best (replaced by Dan Morgan), Sam Scarfe (replaced by Connor Chapman), Kelvyn Williams (replaced by Harry Drane), Buster Bodkin (replaced by Scott Matthews), Dan Hill, Mike Herbert (captain, replaced by Lewis Robey), Adam Stratton (replaced by Ryan Jones) and Morgan Allen (replaced by Callum Davies).