The Drovers proved too strong for plucky Pooler
Church Bank is always a difficult place to get a positive result for visiting teams and Pontypool found it tough going on their visit last Friday evening when they took on Llandovery in the Super Rygbi Cymru, writes Ray Ruddick. Some unforced errors by the visitors put the Drovers on the front foot and they capitalised.
Llandovery kicked off attacking the clubhouse end of the ground on a cold by dry evening with Pontypool playing in their changed strip of predominantly black. In the fourth minute Llandovery’s second row Chris Long was injured and it took a while to treat him, and he left the field on a stretcher. Everyone at Pontypool RFC wishes him a full and speedy recovery. A minute later Llandovery opened the scoring with a well-worked try by right wing Kian Abraham after a lovely loop move. Full back Jack Maynard kicked the conversion (7-0). In the 16th minute Llandovery were caught offside 30 metres from their goal line and to the left of the posts. Visiting outside half Harri Ford was successful with his shot at goal (7-3).
Midway through the first half Pontypool were on the attack inside Llandovery’s 22 and moved the ball wide with some good handling and number eight and captain-for-the-day Morgan Allen crashed over for a try, 10 metres in from the right corner. Harri Ford converted with a fine kick (7-10). In the 28th minute some sloppy tackling by Pooler let in the Drovers when second row Harry Holden touched down to the right of the posts. Jack Maynard added the extras (14-10). On the half hour George Tuckley was replaced by Jake Wisniewski at loose head for Pontypool. A minute later Pooler were guilty of not rolling away at a ruck, just outside their 22, 15 metres from touch on Llandovery’s left and Jack Maynard stretched his side’s lead to seven points with a successful kick at goal (17-10). On the stroke of half time Pontypool were penalised for not releasing on their 10-metre line in midfield and Jack Maynard slotted another penalty goal to make the half-time score Llandovery 20 Pontypool 10.
Ten minutes into the second period, Evan Minto replaced Morgan Allen. Shortly after, sustained pressure by the home side resulted in a second try of the evening by Harry Holden near the posts. Jack Maynard converted (27-10). Just before the hour, Pooler flanker Scott Matthews was shown the yellow card. Kelvyn Williams then made way for Kyan Best at tight head prop and Harri Ford was replaced by Kieran Meek for the visitors. Within a minute Llandovery scored their bonus-point try when hooker Cameron Lewis barged over from close range near the posts. Jack Maynard slotted the conversion (34-10). Pooler then introduced Lloyd Riley and Rhys Cole to the action and they took the places of second row Dan Hill and right wing Ioan Duggan respectively.
In the 68th minute Evan Minto took a blow to the head and he was replaced by Ewan Burrows. Pooler then played with a little more confidence and upped the tempo. From a powerful driving maul deep inside the Drovers’ 22, left wing Marcus Jones scored a try to the left of the posts and Kieran Meek converted (34-17). With eight minutes remaining Pooler were again on the attack inside the home 22 and moved the ball right. Young flanker Ryan Jones popped up on the wing to squeeze over in the corner for a try which Kieran Meek converted with a superb kick (34-24). Logan Franklin replaced full back Carrick McDonough for Pooler. However, back came Llandovery and Kian Abraham stripped the ball and scored a try near the uprights with only a three of minutes remaining. Jack Maynard was, once again, on target with the conversion (41-24). In the last action of a keenly contested match, Llandovery were applying pressure near the Pooler line and the visitors were guilty of holding. Jack Maynard rounded off an impressive display with the boot by slotting his third penalty and a match haul of 19 points. Final score – Llandovery 44 Pontypool 24.
Llandovery are a quality outfit with solid and powerful forwards and dangerous backs. They took advantage of Pooler’s mistakes and ran out worthy winners in the end so congratulations to them. For Pontypool it was a plucky display having played well in patches but a little disjointed at other times. They could not put together an eighty-minute performance so there will be plenty to work on in training ahead of Pooler’s next match, which is the mouth-watering local derby clash with old adversaries Newport, who will be welcome visitors to Pontypool Park on Friday with a 7.30pm kick-off.
Llandovery: Jack Maynard, Kian Abraham, Adam Warren, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren, Ioan Hughes, Lee Rees (captain), Jamie Hughes, Cameron Lewis, Gabe Hawley, Chris Long, Harry Holden, Osian Davies, Jordan Evans and Joe Powell. Replacements: Finn Thomas, Tom Phillips, Jac Pritchard, Evan Sheldon, Tom Curry, Gryff Watkins, Steffan-Jac Jones and George Macdonald.
Pontypool: Carrick McDonough (replaced by Logan Franklin), Ioan Duggan (replaced by Rhys Cole), Ioan Evans, Joel Mahoney, Marcus Jones, Harri Ford (replaced by Kieran Meek), Morgan Lloyd, George Tuckley (replaced by Jake Wisniewski), Aneurin James, Kelvyn Williams (replaced by Kyan Best), Joe Davies, Dan Hill (replaced by Lloyd Riley), Scott Matthews, Ryan Jones and Morgan Allen (captain, replaced by Evan Minto, then Minto was replaced by Ewan Burrows).
