A bad day at the office for Pooler

For only the second home match of 2026, Pontypool welcomed traditional rivals Cardiff to picturesque Pontypool Park for a Super Rygbi Cymru league game on a very pleasant early spring afternoon, writes Ray Ruddick. Pontypool seemed to struggle to get any momentum throughout the match, while Cardiff, on the other hand, looked well organised, sharp and dangerous, which was reflected in the final score.

Cardiff kicked off attacking the scoreboard end of the ground. The early exchanges were about even then, in the 16^th minute the visitors were penalised for a high tackle, 35 metres out from their goal line to the left of the posts and home outside half Harri Ford put his side in front with a successful shot at goal (3-0). Midway through the first half Pooler hooker Sam Scarfe took a knock and was replaced by Aneurin James. Soon after Cardiff won a lineout against the throw inside their half, moved the ball left and full back Matty Young scored a try near the posts, converted by outside half Harri Wilde (3-7).

In the 26^th minute Cardiff broke through Pooler’s defence and scrum half Ethan Lloyd was on hand to take the scoring pass, touching down near the posts. Harri Wilde added the extras (3-14). Two minutes later and Cardiff were on the attack again. They kicked ahead and Matty Young won the race and scored an unconverted try in the right corner (3-19). Three minutes before the interval Cardiff took a quick tap penalty near the Pooler line and second row and captain Craig Hudd barged over for the visitors’ bonus-point try under the posts. Harri Wilde converted (3-26). From the restart Cardiff moved the ball and pierced the Pontypool defence again for centre Osian Darwin-Lewis to score a try in the left corner. This score was converted by Harri Wilde with a fine kick (3-33). On the stroke of half-time the visitors made another break out of defence but the ball went loose which was gathered by Pontypool right wing Rhys Cole who kicked ahead and Harri Ford gathered and scored an unconverted try in the right corner to make the half-time score Pontypool 8 Cardiff 33.

At the start of the second half Joel Mahoney replaced Ioan Evans in the centre for Pontypool. In the 47^th minute Cardiff were applying pressure inside the home 22 when replacement prop Ioan Emanuel powered over under the posts from close range with Harri Wilde slotting the relatively easy conversion (8-40). Pontypool then made two changes when back rowers Ieuan Jones and Ryan Jones were replaced by Buster Bodkin and debutant Luke Daniel. From the restart, a loose ball was kicked ahead by Pontypool. Home left wing Marcus Jones gathered inside Cardiff’s 22 and offloaded to Rhys Cole who scored an unconverted try in the right corner (13-40). In the 54^th minute Cardiff responded with a try wide out by Craig Hudd, converted by Harri Wilde with another good kick (13-47). On the hour mark Cardiff were awarded a penalty near the Pooler line and took a tap for Ioan Emanuel to crash over from close range, 10 metres in from the left corner. The conversion attempt failed (13-52). Pooler then made a change at scrum half when another player making his Pooler debut, Ellis Lewis, replaced Logan Franklin.

Shortly after Pooler were in possession near half-way and chipped ahead. The ball was gathered by speedy home full back Carrick McDonough who sprinted over for a try near the posts. Kieran Meek kicked the conversion (20-52). Pooler’s tight head prop Owen Popple was then replaced by the experienced Kelvyn Williams. With less than five minutes to go, Cardiff’s replacement hooker Gavin Parry was yellow carded for an offence in midfield. Despite Pooler’s efforts to get a fourth try which would have secured at least a bonus point, it wasn’t to be and they finished the game frustrated once again. Final score – Pontypool 20 Cardiff 52.

Congratulations to Cardiff on their comprehensive and well-deserved victory as they were, by far, the better team on the day. For Pontypool, much work is required if they are to lift themselves off the foot of the table. Pontypool’s next game is a very important bottom-of-the-table clash with old friends Aberavon at the Talbot Athletic Ground next Saturday with the usual kick-off time of 2.30pm.

Pontypool: Carrick McDonough, Rhys Cole, Pat Lewis (replaced by Kieran Meek), Ioan Evans (replaced by Joel Mahoney), Marcus Jones, Harri Ford, Logan Franklin (replaced by Ellis Lewis), Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (replaced by Kyan Best), Sam Scarfe (replaced by Aneurin James), Owen Popple (replaced by Kelvyn Williams), Joe Davies, Dan Hill, Scott Matthews (captain), Ryan Jones (replaced by Luke Daniel) and Ieuan Jones (replaced by Buster Bodkin).

Cardiff: Matty Young, Joe Goodchild, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Tom Williams replaced by Jason Harries), Dewi Cross, Harri Wilde (replaced by Lloyd Lucas), Ethan Lloyd (replaced by Joe Williams), Joe Cowell (replaced by Ioan Emanuel), Tom Howe (replaced by Gavin Parry), Will Davies-King (replaced by Tom Harper), Craig Hudd (captain), Ethan Phillips, Lucas de la Rua, Nathan Hudd (replaced by Sonny McCabe) and Aled Ward (replaced by Ben Fry).