Pooler’s second half comeback stunned Quins

As the saying goes, this was a game of two halves! Pontypool welcomed Carmarthen Quins to Pontypool Park on Saturday, for the return Super Rygbi Cymru fixture of a week ago when Quins took the spoils, writes Ray Ruddick. At half time all the indications were that unless Pooler improved, then it would be a long second half and potentially a heavy defeat. The game at Carmarthen Park saw Quins score all their points in the first half and Pooler notched all their points in the second and it was very similar in the return at Pontypool Park with Quins scoring all their points in the first period while Pooler scored all but three of their points in the second 40 minutes. Pontypool’s penalty goal in the first half proved to be the difference between the two teams.

Pontypool, in their changed strip of predominantly black, kicked off attacking the bandstand end of the ground on a drizzly, overcast and blustery afternoon. In the ninth minute Pooler’s loose head prop Tom Sims left the field with a leg injury and he was replaced by Sam Cochrane. Five minutes later Quins were penalised for offside near their 10-metre line in midfield and Pooler’s captain-for-the-day and outside half Kieran Meek slotted the goal (3-0).

In the 23^rd minute Quins’ hooker Lewis Morgan scored a try to the right of the posts from a driving maul following a lineout. This score was converted by outside half Elis Price (3-7). Just before the half hour mark, Elis Price was shown the yellow card for a high tackle inside Pooler’s half. In the 33^rd minute Quins extended their lead with a try by scrum half Rhodri Davies who touched down near the uprights as he went through poor Pooler tackling. Centre Gabe McDonald converted (3-14). Carmarthen Quins were now on top and looking to increase their advantage before the break. Two minutes before half time Quins struck again when, on the attack inside Pooler’s 22 and after several drives towards the home goal line, Gabe McDonald scored a try from close range to the left of the posts and he duly converted to make the half time score Pontypool 3 Carmarthen Quins 21, leaving Pontypool a mountain to climb in the second period. However, Pontypool had the advantage of the slope and the wind in the second half, but it would need a change in attitude and approach if the home side was to succeed.

At the start of the second period Pooler made two changes as hooker Ewan Burrows made way for Evan Wood and Owain James took over from tight head prop Kelvyn Williams. Then a few minutes later, the home side made a further four changes – wing Ioan Duggan, second row Dan Hill, flanker Evan Minto and number eight Lewis Robey were replaced by Walker Price, Liam Antrobus, Ryan Jones and Ieuan Jones respectively. It took until the 59^th minute for Pooler to score their first try when they were pressing near the visitors’ goal line and eventually Ieuan Jones powered over from short range, 15 metres in from the left corner. Kieran Meek added the extras to put Pooler back in the game (10-21). Carmarthen Quins then made several changes as the momentum started to swing in Pontypool’s favour and the introduction of Ieuan Jones, with his determined and powerful runs, certainly changed the dynamics of a game that was slipping away from Pooler.

In the 72^nd minute Pooler had a lineout 5 metres from Quins’ goal line and a catch and drive resulted in Ieuan Jones bagging his brace when he scored a try in the left corner, superbly converted by Kieran Meek (17-21). Game on! In the 77^th minute Sam Cochrane took a blow to the head, and he was replaced by the returning Kelvyn Williams. There was about 90 seconds to play when Pontypool’s powerful driving maul took play deep inside Quins’ 22 as Pooler were looking to score the winning try and Evan Wood obliged as he managed to get over the whitewash to the left of the posts and Kieran Meek converted (24-21). There was still time left however, but Pooler saw out the final 30 seconds or so and managed to hold on for a much-needed victory, which looked unlikely at half time. Final score – Pontypool 24 Carmarthen Quins 21.

For an hour Pooler were disappointing with an under-pressure scrum, little penetration and they struggled to gain any momentum. The last quarter saw a change in impetus with replacement number eight, Ieuan Jones, leading the charge for Pontypool. He scored two tries and helped the home side over the winning line, just. Congratulations to Pooler on a fine comeback and for their victory, as they overcame a tough Quins outfit, but there is so much to work on. There is no game next Saturday so Pontypool’s next match will be on Saturday 18 October when Bridgend will be the welcome visitors to Pontypool Park, kick-off will be the usual 2.30pm. This fixture was originally planned for the Brewery Field but the clubs have agreed to reverse the venue so Pooler will visit Bridgend on 3 January.

Pontypool: Carrick McDonough, Ioan Duggan (replaced by Walker Price), Pat Lewis, Joel Mahoney, Ewan Rosser, Kieran Meek (captain), Morgan Lloyd, Tom Sims (replaced by Sam Cochrane, then Cochrane was replaced by the returning Kelvyn Williams), Ewan Burrows (replaced by Evan Wood), Kelvyn Williams (replaced by Owain James), Joe Davies, Dan Hill (replaced by Liam Antrobus), Scott Matthews, Evan Minto (replaced by Ryan Jones) and Lewis Robey (replaced by Ieuan Jones).

Carmarthen Quins: Steff Evans, Ioan Jones (replaced by Jac Howells), Ilan Phillips, Gabe McDonald, Thomas Williams, Elis Price (replaced by Carwyn Leggatt-Jones), Rhodri Davies (replaced by Rhodri Lewis), Rhys Fawcett (replaced by Lewis Jones), Lewis Morgan (replaced by Ifan James), Connor Allen (replaced by Archer Holz), Ryan Bean Lee Taylor (replaced by Iestyn Wood), Iestyn Richards (replaced by Tom Phillips), Shaun Evans (captain) and Lewys Millin.