Marcus Jones delighted with return to action

Marcus Jones was delighted to mark his return to the team with a try as Pontypool returned to winning ways against Neath.

Jones was named in the starting line-up for the first time this season and played the entire game, managing to cross over the whitewash towards the end of the game to secure the victory over the Welsh All Blacks.

His only other minutes in this campaign had come as a second-half replacement in the WRU Premiership Cup defeat at Aberavon.

“It feels fantastic,” he said.

“I’ve been biding my time and have been patient.

“I’ve been training week in, week out and it’s so nice to get the jersey back on my back.

“I’m very happy with it.

“That’s all I was aiming for today, to get involved throughout the game and I was happy to go away with a try at the end.”

Jones’ score helped Pooler claim a hard-fought in difficult conditions at Pontypool Park.

Neath came into the game still searching for their first victory but did not look like a team short of confidence as they showed good resolve in defence and ambition in attack.

However, Pooler were able to match that as Matthew Jarvis kicked them into the lead with a penalty before Kelvyn Williams forced his way over the line.

A penalty try followed before Morgan Kneath and Ryan Griffiths both touched down for the visitors to give them some hope.

Jones then supplied the finish touch to a rampaging run from Scott Matthews, who was named man of the match, to put the game beyond doubt.

“We could have performed better,” admitted Jones, who now has 11 tries in 18 games.

“We’ve got to make mistakes to learn.

“It was one of those games where we did make a lot of mistakes but the analysis will show that on Tuesday and we’ll make those wrongs right and move forward.”

Pooler now face back-to-back away games at Bridgend Ravens and RGC 1404 before a two-week break ahead of the festive Gwent Derby with Newport at Pontypool Park on 23^rd December.