Pontypool 24 v 36 Whites
12 Dec 2009 - St Helens
Swansea had to come back from a 17 point deficit to record a bonus point victory over bottom side Pontypool and reach the summit of the Welsh Premiership. Number eight Steffan Jones was the pick of the bunch with two tries and an outstanding all round display.
The Whites began well as full back Hanno Dirksen broke clear of the Pontypool defence with Steffan Jones driving further towards the line and earning a penalty. James Dixon opted to chip to the corner but an elementary error at the lineout brought an end to the move. The home side embarked on another attack soon after but David Watts failed to get a pass out wide and the visitors began a counter attack through centre Phil Price and prop Jamie Jeune. Steve Taylor came close to scoring in the corner but his chip through sailed into touch.
Just a minute later Pontypool took a shock lead after a mistake in the lineout saw the ball fed out wide to Dan Connolly who scored in the corner. Geraint O’Driscoll converted. Pooler doubled their lead moments later after a superb burst through the middle by Dan Robinson set up a dangerous attack with Shaun Connor getting quick ball out to Morgan Allen, who managed to stay infield and score in the corner. O’Driscoll converted.
The visitors went further ahead with an O’Driscoll penalty goal after the Whites’ forwards piled over the top of a ruck. Connor had a drop goal charged down by Sam Lewis but O’Driscoll rescued the situation and pinned Swansea back inside their own twenty-two.
Powerful runs by Chris Shelmerdine and Roy Jones forced the Pooler defence to kill the ball. Dixon opted to kick for territory and from the lineout lock James Goode was driven over for a debut try. Dixon converted. Hooker Rhys Buckley took Swansea by surprise by throwing a quick lineout to Jeune before receiving a pass back to score in the corner. O’Driscoll converted. Dixon cut the gap to 14 points at the interval with a penalty goal after the visitors were caught offside in midfield.
Half time:- Swansea 10 Pontypool 24
Coach Richard Webster had stern words with his players at half time and it paid off just seconds after the restart when a Pooler mistake allowed Dirksen to pick up loose ball, use his strength to get across the twenty-two and send Leigh Bevan over for a try in the corner. Dixon failed to convert. Bevan should have scored another try after Shelmerdine pounced on a Price mistake to chip ahead, but the winger knocked on over the line.
A good build up by the Swansea pack almost resulted in a try but Dirksen was held up over the line. Steffan Jones broke through a couple of tackles to set up an attacking platform from which Bevan crashed over in the corner. Dixon converted to bring his side back to within two points.
Swansea began to pile pressure on the Pontypool line and it soon paid off when Rhodri Wells fired out a killer pass to send Steffan Jones over under the posts. Dixon converted. The visitors rallied and O’Driscoll broke clear of the Whites’ defence only for Watts to save the day with a try saving tackle on Taylor.
Replacement Ross Davies secured turnover ball and sent Dirksen sprinting through the middle but the supporting Shelmerdine was held up over the line. From the attacking scrum five man of the match Steffan Jones was driven over to round off an impressive comeback by the St Helen’s men. Dixon converted.
Swansea travel to second placed side Newport next week in a crunch match while Pontypool host fellow Dragons feeder club Cross Keys.
Full time:- Swansea 36 Pontypool 24
Venue:- St Helen’s, Swansea
Weather:- Sunny, 6C
Competition:- Principality Premiership
Referee:- Wayne Davies
Swansea scorers:- Goode (Try), Dixon (4 Cons, Pen), Bevan (2 Tries), S Jones (2 Tries)
Pontypool scorers:- Conolly (Try), O’Driscoll (3 Cons, Pen), Allen (Try), Buckley (Try)
Man of the match:- Steffan Jones
Swansea team:- 15 H Dirksen 14 L Bevan 13 C Shelmerdine 12 D Watts 11 N Jones (rep: D Karauna) 10 J Dixon 9 R Wells (rep: P Tucker) 1 Roy Jones (rep: T Evans) 2 S Baldwin (rep: A Joy) 3 A Clatworthy (rep: R Davies) 4 J Goode (rep: H Alford) 5 R Kelly 6 M Popham (rep: D Blyth) 7 S Lewis 8 S Jones
By Paul Hopkins
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