Ebbw edge Pooler in tight cup tussle

Pontypool welcomed near neighbours and traditional Gwent rivals Ebbw Vale to a wet and gloomy Pontypool Park on Saturday afternoon in the third round of the Super Rygbi Cymru Cup round-robin competition, writes Ray Ruddick. It was a titanic battle and the result could have gone either way but it was the visitors who took the spoils with two late penalty goals. It was great to see Pontypool team manager Ryan ‘Bear’ Thomas at the game. Ryan has been extremely ill in the last three months or so and it was wonderful to see him smiling again – all the very best for your ongoing recovery, Ryan.

Pontypool kicked off attacking the scoreboard end of the ground. Pooler started the stronger and in the 7^th minute took the lead. Play was inside Ebbw’s 22 and the visitors were penalised to the left of the posts with home outside half Kieran Meek making no mistake with the shot at goal (3-0). Half way through the first half, the Steelmen replied when, from a lineout near the Pooler 22, a gap opened up in the home defence and Ebbw’s scrum half Gruff Tough went through to score a try to the left of the posts. Outside half Evan Lloyd converted (3-7). On the half hour Ebbw were caught offside in midfield, 30 metres from their goal line and Kieran Meek kicked the goal. There was no further scoring in a tight and tense first 40 minutes. Half-time – Pontypool 6 Ebbw Vale 7.

In just the second minute of the second period Ebbw Vale were on the attack putting the Pooler defence under pressure. After going through several phases, the ball was spun out to the right and flanker Kobi Rees was on the right wing to take the scoring pass and cross for an unconverted try in the corner (6-12). Ten minutes later Pontypool made their first change when Callum Davies took over from second row Ieuan Jones. Then Steelmen then made no fewer than seven changes at the same time. In the 63^rd minute loose head prop Kyan Best made way for Sam Cochrane for Pooler.

Four minutes later Pontypool were on the attack inside the visitors 22 and after several drives towards the Ebbw goal line, home number eight Morgan Allen powered over from close range to touch down near the posts. Kieran Meek added the extras to take Pooler into a slender one point lead (13-12). Ioan Duggan then came on for centre Tye Davies for the home side and in the 72^nd minute Harry Drane replaced tight head prop Kelvyn Williams in the Pooler front row. A minute later Pontypool were guilty of not rolling away at a ruck 30 metres from their goal line in midfield but the shot at goal went wide. In the 80^th minute Pooler were again penalised 15 metres in on Ebbw’s left just inside the home 22 and Evan Lloyd put his side in front with a successful shot at goal (13-15). In the second minute of added time Pontypool made three more changes with wing Walker Price, scrum half Owain Leonard and flanker and captain Mike Herbert were replaced by Mathew Powell, Archie Lloyd and Lewis Robey respectively. Then in the 86^th minute Pontypool were guilty of an illegal clear out near their 10-metre line in midfield and, with the last action of a hard-fought cup tie, Evan Lloyd made sure of an Ebbw victory with a successful shot at goal. Final score - Pontypool 13 Ebbw Vale 18.

The game was played in difficult conditions with a greasy ball and heavy under foot. In such a close contest where the game is won and lost by small margins, Ebbw Vale finished the stronger and came away with their win, so well done to them and good luck to the Steelmen for the rest of the competition. As for Pontypool, the players cannot be faulted for their effort and commitment, but it was unforced errors, lack of discipline and the lineout that did not function that contributed to their downfall. These things need to be addressed but there is only a six-day turnover before Pooler’s next match, which is on Friday next (21 February) when Aberavon will be the welcome visitors to Pontypool Park in a re-arranged Super Rygbi Cymru league match. The kick-off for the Wizards clash will be at 7.30pm.

Pontypool: Ewan Rosser, Walker Price (replaced by Mathew Powell), Tye Davies (replaced by Ioan Duggan), Joel Mahoney, Marcus Jones, Kieran Meek, Owain Leonard (replaced by Archie Lloyd), Kyan Best (replaced by Sam Cochrane), Connor Chapman, Kelvyn Williams (replaced by Harry Drane), Ieuan Jones (replaced by Callum Davies), Dan Hill, Scott Matthews, Mike Herbert (captain, replaced by Lewis Robey) and Morgan Allen.

Ebbw Vale: Morgan Richards, Ryan Gardner, Cameron Davies, Dom Franchi (captain), Hamish Anderson, Evan Lloyd, Gruff Tough, Morgan Williams, Ieuan Morris, Adam Court, Jack Pope, Curtis Gregory, Cameron Regan, Kobi Rees and Lewis Young. Replacements: Joe Franchi, Luke Garrett, Adam Williams, Dylan Bartlett, Jacob Hopkins, Rory Harries, Sion Parry and Ned Bennett.