Last kick cup agony for Pooler at Church Bank

It was a case of Pontypool snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory in their Super Rygbi Cymru Cup semi-final against Llandovery at Church Bank on Saturday, writes Ray Ruddick. Pooler managed to recover from being 23-10 down to leading 24-23 with about a minute left on the clock but they gave away a kickable penalty and the Drovers’ outside half made no mistake leaving the Pooler supporters hugely frustrated and the Pontypool players bitterly disappointed after they put in so much effort.

Pontypool kicked off attacking the clubhouse end of the ground on a fine and dry but breezy late February afternoon. After a quarter-of-an-hour’s play Llandovery were caught offside at a ruck, 35 metres from their goal line and 15 metres in from touch on Pooler’s right. Up stepped captain and outside half Kieran Meek who slotted the kick at goal (0-3). Ten minutes later the Drovers were on the attack inside Pooler’s 22 with the referee playing a home advantage. Llandovery moved the ball right and wing Harri Doel squeezed over in the corner for a try which outside half Ioan Hughes converted with a fine kick, with the assistance of the left upright (7-3). In the fourth minute of added time at the end of a tight first half, Llandovery’s loose head prop Jamie Hughes was shown the yellow card for an offence inside the home 22. Pontypool decided to run the resulting penalty and number eight Morgan Allen powered his way over for a try, 10 metres in from the left corner. Kieran Meek converted to make the half time score Llandovery 7 Pontypool 10.

In the second minute of the second half Pontypool overthrew at a lineout on the half-way line. The ball was picked up by Llandovery’s number eight Evan Sheldon who took play into the visitors’ 22 and offloaded to the supporting Ioan Hughes who scored a try under the posts and he duly converted (14-10). Two minutes later Pooler were penalised at a ruck, 7 metres inside their half and to the right of the posts and Ioan Hughes extended the home advantage with a successful shot at goal, again with the help of the posts (17-10). In the 50^th minute Pooler were caught offside at a ruck, 35 metres from their goal line and 10 metres in from touch on Llandovery’s right with Ioan Hughes slotting another penalty goal (20-10).

On the hour mark Ioan Hughes punished more Pooler indiscretion when he kicked his third penalty goal of the afternoon after the visitors were penalised at a ruck just outside their 22, 10 metres in on the Drovers’ right (23-10). In the 64^th minute Pontypool changed their whole front row with Jake Wisniewski, Aneurin James and Kyan Best taking over from loose head prop Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, hooker Sam Scarfe and tight head prop Owen Popple respectively. Shortly after home flanker Osian Davies was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle. Pontypool then made a couple more changes with centre Joel Mahoney being replaced by Ioan Hughes and Marcus Jones taking over from left wing Carrick McDonough and in the 74^th minute Kieran Meek made way for Harri Ford for the visitors.

Three minutes later Pontypool had a scrum feed inside the home 22. Play went left and right wing Ewan Rosser glided over for a try to the left of the posts which Harri Ford converted (23-17). The game went into injury time at the end of a titanic but entertaining encounter with Pooler seeking that winning try and conversion when, in the second minute of added time, Pontypool went on the attack inside Llandovery's 22 and flanker Ryan Jones made a half break. The ball was recycled and play went left. The ball reached full back Huw Anderson who dashed over for a try, 15 metres in from the left corner. Harri Ford stayed calm and kicked the conversion to put his side into a slender one-point lead with time running out (23-24). There was still time for the re-start and Pooler were trying to run down the clock. However, in the 84^th minute and with last play, they were penalised for sealing off at a ruck, about 38 metres out and 15 metres in from touch on the Drovers’ left. So, with the final kick of the game, Ioan Hughes kicked the goal in dramatic fashion to put his side into the final and absolute heartache for Pontypool. Final score – Llandovery 26 Pontypool 24.

It was so near yet so far for Pontypool in this semi-final clash, despite outscoring their hosts by three tries to two. Congratulations to Llandovery on their win and best wishes to them in the final. Once again, the travelling Pooler fans made their voices heard as the Pooler players left everything out on the pitch. Well done to every Pontypool player who took the field as the supporters could not have asked any more of them. Hopefully the players will use this huge disappointment to spur themselves on in the remaining league matches and climb the league table, as they are playing with renewed confidence. Pontypool’s next game will be on Saturday when they travel to the Brewery Field to take on Bridgend in a re-arranged Super Rygbi Cymru league game. Kick off will be the usual 2.30pm.

Llandovery: Kian Abraham (replaced by Jack Maynard), Harri Doel, Corey Baldwin (replaced by Rhodri Jones), Adam Warren, Llien Morgan, Ioan Hughes, Lee Rees (captain), Jamie Hughes (replaced by Dino Dallavalle), Cam Lewis (replaced by Finn Thomas), Berian Watkins (replaced by Aneurin Morgan), Griff Evans, Joe Powell, Osian Davies (replaced by Tiaan Sparrow), Stuart Worrall and Evan Sheldon (replaced by Harry Holden).

Pontypool: Huw Anderson, Ewan Rosser, Pat Lewis, Joel Mahoney (replaced by Ioan Evans), Carrick McDonough (replaced by Marcus Jones), Kieran Meek (captain, replaced by Harri Ford), Logan Franklin, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (replaced by Jake Wisniewski), Sam Scarfe (replaced by Aneurin James), Owen Popple (replaced by Kyan Best), Joe Davies, Dan Hill, Scott Matthews, Ryan Jones and Morgan Allen.