Much improved Pooler ease past Bridgend

That’s considerably better Pooler! In the last two games, both against Carmarthen Quins, Pontypool made slow starts, struggled in the first half and had much catching up to do in the second, writes Ray Ruddick. However, this first half performance against old friends and traditional rivals Bridgend at picturesque Pontypool Park on Saturday in the Super Rygbi Cymru was much improved and laid the platform for a comfortable win in the end. It was good to see the side playing more like a tightly knit team with an outstanding defence and they took their chances when the opportunities arose against a good side which started the game in third place in the league table.

Pontypool kicked off attacking the scoreboard end of the ground on a fine and dry autumn afternoon. In the third minute Pooler were on the attack inside Bridgend’s 22 and the visitors were penalised at a ruck in front of their posts with home outside half Kieran Meek slotting the shot at goal for an early Pooler lead (3-0). Bridgend hit back within a minute when they broke near the home 10-metre line and, after some good handling, scrum half Chris Williams scored a try, 15 metres in from the left corner. Unusually, the conversion attempt was charged down (3-5). In the 8^th minute Pooler regained the lead. They were putting the Ravens’ defence under all sorts of pressure with play near the visitors’ goal line and scrum half Morgan Lloyd spun out of a tackle and scored a try near the posts. Kieran Meek converted (10-5).

On 14 minutes play was inside Bridgend’s 22 with Pooler on the attack and flanker Scott Matthews linked up with fellow back rower Ieuan Jones on the left flank for the number eight to score a try in the corner which Kieran Meek goaled with a superb kick (17-5). There was no scoring for the next twenty minutes or so until the 36^th minute when Pooler again were asking questions of the Bridgend defence with play again near the visitors’ goal line. The ball was transferred to the right for wing Rhys Cole to score an unconverted try in the corner. Half-time score – Pontypool 22 Bridgend 5.

In the first minute of the second half home full back Carrick McDonough took a knock and was replaced by Walker Price and in the 50^th minute Ieuan Jones made way for Morgan Allen. Three minutes later play was inside Bridgend’s 22 following a good build up by the home side. A break by Kieran Meek put hooker Evan Wood over for the bonus-point try near the posts. Meek duly converted (29-5). Pooler then made a change with George Tuckley taking over from loose head prop Sam Cochrane. In the 57^th minute Pat Lewis picked up a loose ball on Pooler’s left, 30 metres out, and he managed to beat the defence to touch down under the posts. Kieran Meek added the extras (36-5). Pontypool then introduced fresh legs with centre Joel Mahoney, tight head prop Owain James and Scott Matthews making way for Ioan Evans, Owen Popple and Solomone Funaki respectively.

Soon after, Funaki was yellow carded as Pooler were giving away a succession of penalties and had been warned by the referee. Then two more changes by Pooler saw Evan Wood being replaced by Ewan Burrows and Kieran Meek made way for young Logan Franklin. Franklin is a scrum half so Morgan Lloyd, who started the game at nine, moved to outside half. Bridgend’s starting hooker Tyler Olding, who had been replaced earlier in the game had returned to the field and in the 75^th minute scored an unconverted try wide out on the right following a period of pressure (36-10). Four minutes later a mistake by Bridgend deep inside their 22 led to his second five-pointer of the game by Rhys Cole who crossed for the final try of this entertaining match in the right corner. Morgan Lloyd converted with a great strike (43-10). As the game entered its final minute visiting flanker and captain Zach O’Driscoll was shown the yellow card. Final score – Pontypool 43 Bridgend 10.

The hard work in training paid off in this impressive win for Pooler so congratulations to all involved. It was good all-round performance and six tries scored in the process to gain their first maximum two bonus point-win of the season. So, in the last two matches against Bridgend at Pontypool Park, Pooler have amassed 101 points, following on from a resounding 58-25 scoreline back in December 2024. Hopefully Pontypool will take this form into next Saturday’s match when they travel to the capital to take on Cardiff RFC at the Arms Park with a later-than-usual kick-off time of 4.25pm as it is part of a double header when Cardiff’s professional side face Edinburgh in the evening.

Pontypool: Carrick McDonough (replaced by Walker Price), Rhys Cole, Pat Lewis, Joel Mahoney (replaced by Ioan Evans), Marcus Jones, Kieran Meek (replaced by Logan Franklin), Morgan Lloyd, Sam Cochrane (replaced by George Tuckley), Evan Wood (replaced by Ewan Burrows), Owain James (replaced by Owen Popple), Joe Davies, Dan Hill, Scott Matthews (replaced by Solomone Funaki), Mike Herbert (captain) and Ieuan Jones (replaced by Morgan Allen).

Bridgend: Edd Howley, Jake Thomas (replaced by Lloyd Wilkins), Joseph Gatt, Ben Burnell, McCauley Rowley, Fraser Jones (replaced by Luke Price), Chris Williams (replaced by Harvey Nash), Marc Thomas (replaced by Harry Olding), Tyler Olding (replaced by Corey Lewis), Nathan Evans (replaced by Owen Hatherill), James Richards, Lewis Jones (replaced by Dylan Burrows), Thomas Jevons, Zach O’Driscoll (captain) and Benji Williams (replaced by Alfie Thomas).