Pooler’s superb second half showing stunned Llandovery

Pontypool’s final home game of the season in Super Rygbi Cymru saw them welcoming Llandovery to Pontypool Park on a fine and dry Easter Saturday afternoon, writes Ray Ruddick. The visitors had the best of the first half while Pooler dominated the second with a rousing performance, scoring 26 unanswered points to pick up a double bonus-point win over one of the most consistent teams in the league.

Pontypool, playing in their changed strip of predominantly black, kicked off attacking the bandstand end of the ground. In the third minute Pontypool full back Ewan Rosser took a knock to the upper leg and he was replaced by Ellis Davies. It was in the eleventh minute when Llandovery opened the scoring when, after a driving maul from a lineout following a penalty award inside Pooler’s 22, flanker Dan Gemine scored a try to the left of the posts and outside half Jack Maynard converted (0-7). Seven minutes later, Llandovery were on the attack, providing quick recycled ball and looking dangerous when left wing Aaron Warren scored a try in the left corner but the conversion failed (0-12). Halfway through the first half once again Llandovery looked sharp and attacked from deep as Pooler dropped off tackles which resulted in Aaron Warren scoring his second try of the match, and a fine one it was, touching down 15 metres in from the left corner. The conversion attempt went wide (0-17).

In the 22^nd minute Pontypool responded well and they were in possession inside the visitors’ 22. Play went right for wing Ioan Duggan to dash over for a try to the right of the posts, which outside half and captain Kieran Meek converted (7-17). Nine minutes later the Drovers secured their try bonus point when a pre-planned move went blind from a lineout near the Pooler line and hooker Cameron Lewis scored in the right corner, converted by Jack Maynard (7-24), so Llandovery had a comfortable lead approaching half-time. However in the 36^th minute visiting scrum half and captain Lee Rees was yellow-carded for not releasing following a Pooler break inside the visitors’ 22. With less than two minutes left of the first period Pontypool were on the attack and applying pressure, testing the Llandovery defence near their line with the referee playing a Pontypool advantage. After couple of drives towards the goal line, home second row Lance Randall barged over for a try, 15 metres in from the left corner and with Kieran Meek adding the extras, it brought Pontypool back into the game with a ten-point deficit at the break. Half-time score – Pontypool 14 Llandovery 24.

Words must have been said in the Pontypool changing room at half time as they came out for the second half with a positive mindset. In the fifth minute of the restart home hooker Sam Scarfe was sin-binned for an infringement near the Pooler line so a temporary replacement was required to cover hooker, so Aneurin James took the field for Ioan Duggan. Pooler then made some changes as four minutes later Lance Randall was replaced by Joe Davies; in the 54^th minute tight head prop Kelvyn Williams made way for Kyan Best and second row Liam Antrobus made way for the welcome return of club captain Mike Herbert after over 5 months out with injury. It was also good to see Callum Davies back in Pooler colours after suffering broken ribs on his 100^th appearance for the club against Cardiff at the Arms Park in the cup match on 19 February. Just before the hour mark Pontypool were on the attack inside Llandovery’s 22 and following some fine handling, replacement Ellis Davies went through a gap in the visitors’ defence and reached out to score a try, 15 metres in from the left corner. Kieran Meek slotted the conversion to bring Pooler back to within three points (21-24).

In the 62^nd minute Pooler kicked for the right corner following a penalty and the powerful driving maul from the line-out gave Sam Scarfe the opportunity to seal Pontypool’s bonus point with a try, 10 metres in from the right corner to put the home side in front for the first time in the match. Kieran Meek obliged from the tee (28-24). With just over 10 minutes left of this intriguing clash, Pooler were on the attack again and applying more pressure near the Drovers’ goal line. The referee was playing a Pooler advantage. All action number eight Scott Matthews picked up and dived over for a try, 5 metres in from the left corner but the conversion attempt failed (33-24). It was a different Pooler in the second half as they played with more confidence and determination and took the game to their opponents. In the 74^th minute Pontypool broke from deep and several phases later scrum half Ellis Lewis saw a gap and went over for a try, 15 metres in from the right corner. Keiran Meek converted with his fourth kick and Pooler stretched their lead to 16 points for a winning bonus point (40-24). Towards the end, more fresh legs entered the fray for the home side when Amosa Nove replaced centre Joel Mahoney, Scott Matthews made way for Aneurin James who went to hooker and Sam Scarfe to number eight, Nathan Davies took over from loose head prop Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths and Ellis Lewis was replaced by Logan Franklin. Llandovery asked questions of the home defence in the final moments, but Pooler held firm and took six league points from this impressive and very pleasing victory. Final score – Pontypool 40 Llandovery 24.

Many congratulations to the Pooler players and coaches on a well-deserved win and for believing that they can turn things around after a few disappointing and difficult weeks. When Pontypool play well, they are a match for anyone in the league, but inconsistency has been their problem throughout the season. Pontypool’s final league match will be on Thursday 9 April when they made the short journey to Rodney Parade to take on arch-rivals Newport, kick-off 7.30pm, in what promises to be a mouth-watering clash. Hopefully Pontypool will take confidence from the success over Llandovery and go into the Newport game determined to finish the league season off on a high. Then the following weekend will be the two wildcard play-off matches and Pooler will be in one of them, depending on the results of the last round of matches on Saturday 11 April.

Pontypool: Ewan Rosser (replaced by Ellis Davies), Ioan Duggan (temp replaced by Aneurin James), Marcus Jones, Joel Mahoney (replaced by Amosa Nove), Carrick McDonough, Kieran Meek (captain), Ellis Lewis (replaced by Logan Franklin), Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (replaced by Nathan Davies), Sam Scarfe, Kelvyn Williams (replaced by Kyan Best), Lance Randall (replaced by Joe Davies), Liam Antrobus (replaced by Mike Herbert), Dan Hill, Callum Davies and Scott Matthews (replaced by Aneurin James).

Llandovery: Harri Doel, Llien Morgan (replaced by Gryff Watkins), Kian Abraham, Adam Warren, Aaron Warren, Jack Maynard (replaced by Steffan-Jac Jones), Lee Rees (captain, replaced by Lucca Setaro), Jamie Hughes (replaced by Tom Phillips), Cameron Lewis (replaced by Finn Thomas), Gabe Hawley (replaced by Berian Watkins), Harry Holden, Joe Powell, Dan Gemine, Cerith Davies (replaced by Cai Howell) and Evan Sheldon (replaced by Kai Jones).