Jarvis remains modest after penalty heroics

Match-winner Matthew Jarvis claimed he was simply doing his job after his excellent long-range penalty secured a battling victory over Swansea at Pontypool Park.

With the score tied heading into the final 10 minutes in the sweltering heat, Pooler piled on the pressure and earned themselves a penalty a few metres from the halfway line.

The ground fell silent. Jarvis looked up and struck the ball between the posts with expert precision to send the supporters wild and earn Pontypool their first victory since returning to the Premiership.

Rhys Jones opened the scoring for the visitors with a penalty of his own but Pooler hit back almost immediately through winger Huw Anderson with Jarvis converting.

Harvey James handed the lead back to the All Whites but captain Scott Matthews powered his way to the line on the stroke of half time, with Jarvis again converting.

Having missed an earlier kick, Jarvis was determined to showcase his ability from the tee and struck a sublime effort from the halfway line but a late score from Matthew Jenkins saw the visitors draw level.

That’s when Jarvis stepped up and showed immense composure to fire over the winning kick from impressive range.

“It’s my job at the end of the day,” exclaimed a modest Jarvis.

“I missed one early on and that was annoying.

“It was a frustrating game, I felt we could have got more out of it, on the scoreboard, than we did.

“We had a lot of territory first half but we just couldn’t get those points.

“We didn’t have as much territory in the second half than we did in the first half but we dug out a win.

“It was a good squad effort and was nice to get our first Premiership win after last week. We just need to build on that now.

“I think it could have gone either way.

“When their nine went to ten, it changed the game for them a bit and sped it up.

“We dug in defensively and lost a bit of discipline and it could have gone either way but it was great to get that win and get four points.

“We were unlucky not to get one or two points last week but now we’ve got points on the board.”

It proved to be a historic day as Pooler secured their first win, and points, on their return to the Premiership after such a long and arduous journey to reach the competition.

“It’s massive for the club and this is where we, as players, and the club want to be, as well as the fans,” added Jarvis, who has won the Premiership with Merthyr.

“They are the bedrock of the club. They gave us great support today and great support last week and long may it continue.

“They do make a difference for us and we do hear their support on the pitch. We want to make this place like a fortress and a tough place to come.

“It’s massive for everyone involved after what has gone on but we just need to focus on the present and move forward building confidence and momentum.”