Heroic Pooler fall agonisingly short in titanic derby battle

Very fine margins made all the difference in this hugely entertaining and intense derby, and a great advert for Super Rygbi Cymru rugby, at Rodney Parade on Thursday when, after a heroic performance by Pontypool, Newport edged ahead late on and managed to hold on for victory, writes Ray Ruddick. It must be devastating for the Pooler players as they gave absolutely everything and, but for the bounce of the ball on more than one occasion, knocks-on close to the goal-line, handling errors near the line, held up over the whitewash, striking the post and not going over etc, then it may well have been a different outcome. However, for the neutral who watched it live on S4C Clic, these traditional rivals and near neighbours produced an exciting and robust encounter, with some end-to-end stuff and several good tries were scored.

Newport kicked off attacking the changing rooms end of the ground on a pleasant but breezy evening. Pooler made a promising start against the wind but it was Newport who opened the scoring when, in the 10^th minute they were pressing inside Pooler’s 22 and a powerful scrum in front of the visitors’ posts led to a try by Joe Westwood, who touched down to the left of the uprights. The conversion attempt struck the outside of the left upright (5-0). Five minutes later Pontypool won lineout ball near the home 22. The Pooler pack made 15 metres with Sam Scarfe in possession at the back of the driving maul and he peeled off and went blind to score an unconverted try, 10 metres in on Pooler’s right (5-5).

Midway through the first half Pooler were awarded a penalty inside the Black-and-Ambers’ 22 on the visitors’ right. They decided to kick for the corner and from the catch and drive from the lineout, second row Liam Antrobus managed to get the ball down for a try to the right of the posts which outside half Kieran Meek converted (5-12). In the 25^th minute Newport responded with a try, wide out by left wing Morgan Williams, converted by outside half Harrison James. A yellow card was shown to Pooler skipper Mike Herbert for collapsing a driving maul near the Pontypool goal-line in the build up to the try. Just before the half-hour mark, Newport’s flanker was sin-binned for an offence at a ruck near the half-way line. In the 36^th minute Pontypool were on the attack inside the Black-and-Ambers’ 22 with the referee playing a Pooler advantage. Kieran Meek's to the right corner was gathered over the goal line, under pressure, by wing Ioan Duggan who scored a try, 5 metres in from the corner. The conversion went across the face of the posts. Half time – Newport 12 Pontypool 17.

In the second minute of the second period Pontypool were in possession 5 metres inside Newport’s half when a lovely chip by Kieran Meek was well gathered by Ellis Davies for the full back to sprint over for the bonus-point try near the posts. Kieran Meek added the extras to put his side into a twelve-point lead (12-24). There was some exciting play by both sides then in the 49^th minute a break by home centre Joe Westwood took play into Pooler’s 22 and a few passes later replacement hooker Henry Palmer scored a try near the uprights for the hosts, converted by full back Carwyn Penny (19-24). In the 54^th minute Pontypool flanker Callum Davies was replaced by Scott Matthews. A minute later Newport had a scrum feed near their opponents’ 22 with the referee playing a home advantage. Play went left and the ball reached replacement wing Noah Morgan who crossed for the bonus-point try in the corner to bring the scores level. The conversion attempt failed. The conversion attempt failed (24-24).

Just before the hour mark Pontypool responded well when Newport were penalised for hands in a scrum under pressure just outside their 22. Pooler kicked for the left corner and a long throw went to Joe Davies at the back of the line-out and he was brought down just short of the goal line. Scott Matthews picked up and powered over and scored an unconverted try, 15 metres in from the left corner (24-29). Pontypool then made a couple of changes when Owen Popple took over from tight head prop Luke Yendle and full back Ellis Davies was replaced by Pat Lewis, which meant some changes in the visitors’ back line. Lewis went into the centre, Marcus Jones onto the left wing and Carrick McDonough to full back. In the 65^th minute Newport were penalised 30 metres to the right of the posts but Meek’s attempt at goal struck the left upright and bounced infield for Newport to eventually clear. Shortly after Pontypool made a couple more changes when Ryan Jones took over from Mike Herbert in the back row and loose head prop Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths made way for Kyan Best. In the 70^thminute the Black-and-Ambers drew level with a try to the left of the posts by replacement Brogan Leary following a break by Kobi Rees, and Carwyn Penny put his side in front with a successful conversion (31-29). In the 73^rd minute Pooler replacement Pat Lewis made a lovely break along the right flank and fed Ioan Duggan on the wing. He was tackled near the home goal line. The ball was recycled but the visitors were held up over the line and a goal line drop-out resulted. From the drop-out Kieran Meek fielded the ball and attempted a drop goal but it went wide. Pontypool continued to put every effort into getting that winning score in the last few minutes and came close but could not get that all-important 3 or 5-pointer, which their efforts so richly deserved. Final score – Newport 31 Pontypool 29.

The outstanding performance of Pontypool hooker Sam Scarfe, who worked tirelessly throughout the game and was awarded player of the match by S4C, typified the effort of the whole team, who played with tremendous grit and purpose, and they deserved more than a narrow defeat. Well done indeed to both sets of players for producing such a great spectacle and congratulations to Newport on their win as they took their chances well when presented to them. It was good to hear the Pooler supporters in good voice, cheering their side on but, sadly, it wasn’t to be and it would be of no consolation for Pooler that they gained two bonus points (a try and a losing bonus). Next up for the Super Rygbi Cymru clubs are the play-offs. Pontypool will play in the wildcard round and will travel to Carmarthen Park on Saturday to face Carmarthen Quins, kick-off will be at 2.30pm.

Newport: Carwyn Penny, Chay Foster-Smith (replaced by Brogan Leary), Joe Westwood, Harri Ackerman, Morgan Williams, Harrison James (replaced by Noah Morgan, then Morgan was replaced by Tom Hoppe), Lucus Welch, Rhodri Jones (replaced by Tom Workman), Wade Langley (replaced by Henry Palmer), Ollie Drake (replaced by Liam Newstead), Josh Skinner (replaced by Cerrig Smith), Callum Bradbury, Hunter Ward, Kyle Tayler (replaced by Kobi Rees) and Ben Roach (captain).

Pontypool: Ellis Davies (replaced by Pat Lewis), Ioan Duggan, Marcus Jones, Joel Mahoney, Carrick McDonough, Kieran Meek, Ellis Lewis, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (replaced by Kyan Best), Sam Scarfe, Luke Yendle (replaced by Owen Popple), Joe Davies, Liam Antrobus, Dan Hill, Callum Davies (replaced by Scott Matthews) and Mike Herbert (captain, replaced by Ryan Jones).