By: Paul Hopkins
It was a difficult first day at the office for the All Whites as they fell to defeat against a well drilled Pontypool side.
It all began in a reasonably positive fashion as lock Cai Arnold took a lineout inside the Pooler half, but scrum half Matthew Aubrey’s high kick was well diffused by winger Marcus Jones. Aubrey repaid the favour and this time full back Lewis Edwards cleanly took the catch, although another high kick was taken by opposite number Rhodri Cole.
A superb chip through by Edwards caused trouble for full back Ellis Davies inside his own 22, but he stayed composed to allow his pack to create a platform for Cole to clear.
Pontypool were penalised for handling in the ruck and Edwards chose to kick at goal, but his effort strayed wide of the posts.
The home side earned a penalty at the first scrum after the Swansea front row drove in, and fly half Kieran Meek chipped to touch just shy of the Swansea 22. Number eight Morgan Allen burst through the middle from the lineout, but a solid Whites defence forced a mistake.
A second scrum followed and it was the same again as the visitors gave away a penalty. This time Meek kicked the straightforward three pointer.
A clever move between winger Sam Jones and Ellis Davies almost sent the latter racing down the wing, but the visitors tracked back to slide him into touch.
Edwards failed to take his own up and under and flanker Mike Herbert powered forward, but the home side kicked possession away. They were soon back in possession but a well-timed tackle by centre Jack Hoskins bundled hooker Evan Wood into touch.
Aubrey did very well to steady a Cole chip ahead inside his own 22, but Allen was hit backwards in the tackle and lost possession, with fly half Josh Phillips taking play up to the home 22 with a super kick.
However, the scrum half then dropped a regulation catch on his 22 and the home side threatened to batter the Swansea line, but a mistake allowed Swansea to clear.
Edwards collected a chip through and found winger Callum Dodd out wide, but another mistake gave the home side possession again. Replacement prop Kelvyn Williams was penalised for diving over the top of a ruck and Meek found touch just short of the Swansea 22 with his touch finder.
Allen charged forward from the lineout and the Pontypool backs spread play out wide to Marcus Jones, who was adjudged to have stepped into touch. The home side stole the resulting lineout though and a fight broke out between props Daf Davies and Owen Popple, before Cole took advantage to race clear for a try under the posts. Meek converted.
Lock Chris Thompson took a lineout on halfway and Edwards superbly collected a high ball, but winger Iwan Glynn’s chip ahead went into touch. Play was brought back for a Swansea penalty, which Phillips successfully slotted between the posts.
A superb run on the wing by Glynn set up a Swansea attack, but a poor pass out wide by Aubrey ended the move.
Replacement prop Kian Hire was penalised for failing to retreat from a kick, so Meek successfully converted a three pointer. At the same time, referee Maickel English unfortunately sustained an injury, with Swansea team manager JP Bevan standing in as touch judge for the rest of the match and Matthew Leon stepping up to referee the remainder of the encounter.
A powerful scrum by the visitors earned a penalty just shy of the 22 and this time Phillips chipped into the corner. Flanker Ben Roberts collected the lineout, but an outstanding maul prevented Swansea from getting the ball out, earning a crucial turnover.
A high tackle by Cole gave Swansea a penalty on half way and Phillips opted to kick at goal, but his effort strayed wide. The half time whistle blew, but an almighty dust up took place with coaches and stewards having to intervene, which could only prove to add spice to the second half.
Half-time:- Pontypool 13-3 Swansea
Things looked promising for the visitors after the interval when Phillips took a quick lineout to Edwards, who weaved past a few tackles and got the ball out wide, but a mistake ended the move.
The home side gave away a penalty at a scrum inside their own 22 and Phillips chose to dink the ball into the corner. Thompson took the lineout, but the home side defended the maul, before centre Callum Carson dropped the ball over the line.
Swansea were brought right back into the match when replacement winger Joe Thomas did well to evade a tackle, before his backs worked the ball out wide to Carson, who handed a scoring pass to try machine hooker Jamie Cox. Phillips converted.
The home side were back on the attack with flanker Scott Matthews charging forward, but the Whites were dogged in their defence, forcing Meek to grubber kick the ball into touch.
Pontypool were awarded a penalty at the scrum and this time Meek found touch deep in the corner, however a dummy throw by Wood gifted Swansea a free kick.
Cole made a mini break and the Pooler forwards provided good support, as they managed to get the ball out quickly to Allen, who used his strength to score. Meek missed the conversion.
Phillips found touch inside the Pontypool 22 with a penalty, but replacement hooker Rhodri King failed to throw straight into the lineout.
The Pooler forwards attempted to work their way out of the 22, but tried one too many move and gave away a penalty, which Phillips kicked from in front of the posts.
Superb work on the ground by Herbert earned the home side a penalty and Meek turned down a kickable penalty to instead chip into the corner. An incredibly clever short lineout by Wood saw the ball passed back inside for him dive over for an inventive try in the corner. Meek converted.
Replacement prop Kian Hire used his power to charge through but lost possession forward, with Cole hacking the ball forward into space, although Swansea got back to defend.
Then the Pontypool pack drove Swansea off the ball at a ruck and a well angled Cole box kick found touch inside the Swansea 22.
Replacement lock Matt Dodd lost the ball forward at a lineout and Marcus Jones raced towards the line, but unfortunately ignored the supporting centre Joel Mahoney on his flank. Play was stopped after another fight broke out, with Roberts and Williams given stern words by referee Leon.
Phillips found touch just short of the 22 as Swansea went in search of a losing bonus point, but replacement lock Liam Antrobus nipped in to steal the lineout and substitute winger Louis Rees raced down the flank, although the home side gave away a penalty, which Phillips again chipped up to the 22.
Matt Dodd tapped the lineout back this time, and Swansea looked to attack on the wing through Edwards, but he was crowded out into touch as the full time whistle blew.
Next up for Pontypool is a home match against RGC 1404, while Swansea travel to Llandovery.
Full-time:- Pontypool 25-13 Swansea
Pontypool:
Tries:- Rhodri Cole (27), Morgan Allen (59), Evan Wood (67)
Cons:- Kieran Meek (28, 68)
Pens:- Kieran Meek (13, 36)
Swansea:
Tries:- Jamie Cox (50)
Cons:- Josh Phillips (51)
Pens:- Josh Phillips (30, 64)
Match facts:
Venue:- Pontypool Park, Pontypool
Weather:- Light rain showers, 14C
Man of the match:- Mike Herbert
Referee:- Maickel English (rep: Matthew Leon)
Attendance:- 1,000
Pontypool team:
15 Ellis Davies
14 Sam Jones (rep: Louis Rees 51)
13 Ioan Evans (rep: Pat Lewis 60)
12 Joel Mahoney
11 Marcus Jones
10 Kieran Meek
9 Rhodri Cole (rep: Cai Wardman 74)
1 Tom Sims (rep: George Tuckley 51)
2 Evan Wood (rep: Ewan Burrows 73)
3 Owen Popple (rep: Kelvyn Williams 51)
4 Joe Davies
5 Dan Hill (rep: Liam Antrobus 68)
6 Scott Matthews
7 Mike Herbert ©
8 Morgan Allen (rep: Callum Davies 70)
Replacements:
16 Ewan Burrows
17 George Tuckley
18 Kelvyn Williams
19 Liam Antrobus
20 Callum Davies
21 Cai Wardman
22 Pat Lewis
23 Louis Rees
Swansea team:
15 Lewis Edwards
14 Iwan Glynn
13 Callum Carson
12 Jack Hoskins
11 Callum Dodd (rep: Joe Thomas 26)
10 Josh Phillips (cc)
9 Matthew Aubrey (rep: Iwan Temblett 77)
1 Daf Davies (rep: Tom Crockett 73)
2 Jamie Cox (rep: Rhodri King 60)
3 Ellis Fackrell (rep: Kian Hire 12)
4 Chris Thompson (rep: Oliver Jones 60)
5 Cai Arnold (rep: Matt Dodd 38)
6 Ben Roberts
7 Callum Bowden (cc)
8 Jacob Hopkins (rep: Ethan Fackrell 60)
Replacements:
16 Rhodri King
17 Tom Crockett
18 Kian Hire
19 Matt Dodd
20 Ethan Fackrell
21 Oliver Jones
22 Iwan Temblett
23 Joe Thomas