Disappointing Pooler slipped to an early season home defeat

Pontypool welcomed their visitors from North Wales RGC 1404 to Pontypool Park on Saturday for a Super Rygbi Cymru encounter but the inclement weather had a bearing on the quality of the game with many handling errors on both sides, writes Ray Ruddick. It was a very grey and wet afternoon with heavy showers falling throughout the game making playing conditions extremely difficult, but the Gogs seemed to adapt better and ran out worthy winners.

RGC kicked off attacking the scoreboard end of the ground. Pontypool opened the scoring in the third minute when left wing Marcus Jones made a great break, taking play deep into the visitors’ half and, several phases later, full back Walker Price scored a try to the right of the posts. The conversion attempt failed (5-0). Two minutes later RGC’s second row James Brown was shown the yellow card for a high tackle just outside Pooler’s 22.

Midway through the first period and the visitors saw yellow again when centre Delwyn Jones went to the sin bin for a trip in front of RGC’s posts. From the resulting penalty, outside half and captain-for-the-day Keiran Meek slotted the kick at goal (8-0). Seven minutes before the interval the Gogs opened their scoring when they had a scrum five wide out on their left and flanker Dafydd Thirsk scored a try to the left of the posts which outside half Billy McBryde converted (8-7). Pooler wing Louis Rees was injured and replaced by Ioan Duggan. Three minutes later Pooler were guilty of playing the ball on the ground in front of their uprights and Billy McBryde nailed the shot at goal to put his side into the lead for the first time in the game. This was a closely fought first half with Pooler on top in the first half-an-hour but the visitors fought back in the last 10 minutes and went into the break with a slender two-point advantage. Half-time score – Pontypool 8 RGC 1404 10.

In the third minute of the second half Pooler tight head prop Kelvyn Williams took a knock and was replaced by Kyan Best and five minutes later Tom Sims and Scott Matthews took over from loose head prop George Tuckley and second row Ieuan Jones with Dan Hill, who started at blind side flanker, moving up into the second row for Scott Matthews to slot in at flanker for the home side. In the 57^th minute Pontypool were caught offside, eight metres inside their half in midfield but the attempt at goal went wide.

On the hour mark Pontypool made further changes when Pat Lewis, Rhodri Cole and Ryan Jones took over from Walker Price, scrum half Morgan Lloyd and flanker Callum Davies respectively. Four minutes later RGC picked up their third yellow card when loose head prop Gareth Parry was binned for an offence at a ruck near the Gogs’ goal line, 15 metres in on Pooler’s right and Kieran Meek slotted the goal to put his side back in front (11-10). In the 66^th minute Pontypool were penalised for pulling on an arm at a lineout, 30 metres from their goal line and 15 metres in from touch on RGC’s left. Up stepped Billy McBryde to take his team back into the lead with a successful shot at goal (11-13)

As the game was entering its last ten minutes or so, the visitors were guilty of holding on, 35 metres from their line to the left of the posts and Kieran Meek restored Pooler’s narrow lead when he kicked his attempt at goal (14-13). Pooler hooker Evan Wood was then replaced by Ewan Burrows. In the 79^th minute Pontypool were penalised for not rolling away at a ruck, 35 metres from their goal line in midfield. The reliable Billy McBryde fired over the shot at goal to take his side into the lead once again (14-16). Time was now against Pontypool, and they seemed to lack composure in the remaining ninety seconds or so which ultimately led to their downfall. Pontypool were in possession near the half-way line, but a stray pass went to ground. The loose ball was kicked ahead and right wing Caio Parry gathered and crossed for a try near the posts. Billy McBryde added the extras with the final action of the game. Final score – Pontypool 14 RGC 1404 23.

Congratulations to RGC who fully deserved their victory as tactically they were better than their hosts and had a superior kicking game. As for Pontypool, this was a bad day at the office and a below par performance. Discipline and game management were poor and, even though the North Walians had three players yellow-carded, Pooler still could not take advantage. There will be much work to do in training in the week to iron out the flaws in this performance in readiness for a tough trip next Saturday to Carmarthen Park to take on Carmarthen Quins, kick-off 2.30pm.

Pontypool: Walker Price (replaced by Pat Lewis), Louis Rees (replaced by Ioan Duggan), Ioan Evans, Joel Mahoney, Marcus Jones, Kieran Meek (captain), Morgan Lloyd (replaced by Rhodri Cole), George Tuckley (replaced by Tom Sims), Evan Wood (replaced by Ewan Burrows), Kelvyn Williams (replaced by Kyan Best), Ieuan Jones (replaced by Scott Matthews), Liam Antrobus, Dan Hill, Callum Davies (replaced by Ryan Jones) and Morgan Allen.

RGC 1404: Dion Jones, Caio Parry, Danny Cross (co-captain), Delwyn Jones, Louis Williams (replaced by Christian Hone), Billy McBryde, Connor Dever (replaced by Tudur Jones), Gareth Parry, Osian Burt (replaced by Jac Petch-Jones), Scott Bullock (replaced by Patrick Nelson), Will Kellett (replaced by Tal Taylor), James Brown, Dafydd Thirsk (replaced by Harper Chamberlain), Charlie Probert and Sam Williams (co-captain).