Pontypool 10 v RGC1404 78 - reports by Team Manager Ian Harrison and Project Manager Chris O'Callaghan
If the score line is perhaps unbelievable the performance was more so. Pontypool, long remembered for its famous front row and for the traditional powerful packs it has produced over the years were pushed all over Pontypool Park. The power of the RGC 1404 pack being epitomised by the 20 and 25 metre rolling mauls the crowd witnessed in the first half. The domination of the pack enabled the backs to produce some training ground moves and entertain an otherwise subdued crowd.
This was an awesome 24 man display. 24 because every replacement got his chance and took it to such an extent that the exchanges did not seem to effect the RGC 1404 domination in any way. Replacements scored tries in the same way the ones they had replaced had done before them.
However, although Pontypool tackled poorly and had no answer to being pushed around, they didn’t lie down and give in. They applied a lot of muscle and power in the rucks and won a lot of turnover ball which against any other defence would have resulted in tries. But as in other recent matches against the RGC defence was like a rock with bone crushing tackles that stopped Pontypool runners in their tracks.
This was achieved without fly half stalwart Connor Braid who had to return to Canada for family reasons. Coach Clive Griffiths shuffled the midfield around with an untried formation taking the field.
It took just seven minutes for the first score to appear on the scoreboard. Flanker Jebb Sinclair broke through on the left to score a try that went unconverted. From the kick off RGC caught the ball formed a maul and pushed the Pontypool forwards back 20m before Jeb Sinclair again broke with t ball which found its way to centre Nick Blevins who score a try converted by Rhodri Carlton Jones, 12-0. Again almost from the kick off, Nick Blevins went over for his second try again converted by Rhodri Carlton Jones, 19-0.
On twenty two minutes, Blevins broke down the middle into the Pontypool 22m passed the ball to scrum half Josh Leach who went in under the posts. Rhodri Carlton Jones again converted, 26-0. Four minutes later, a poor and unnecessary pass from RGC allowed Pontypool to gain possession on the half way line and Paul Price was put away to score an unconverted try, 26-5. RGC thought they had scored again three minutes later when Luke Cudmore went over but a forward pass had been spotted by the referee and it was not allowed. From the scrum RGC won the ball and the ball was passed out to the right and then back to the left for Jeremy Kyne to score in the corner. Rhodri Carlton Jones converted again, 33-5.
Loose head Hubert Buydens was the next on the scoresheet with a converted pushover try on thirty eight minutes. Again from the kick off a rolling maul was formed from which Josh leach got ball, broke down the middle and passed to captain Sean White to score just left of the posts. Rhodri Carlton Jones converted to make the half time score 47-5 with the scoreboard operators being some of the busiest people on the park.
Straight from the kick off RGC were again on the offensive. Jebb Sinclair losing the ball just short of the line and RGC won the scrum against the head and went over. The referee adjudged the ball to have been held up. The was a five minute lull in scoring to allow the scoreboard operators to have a breather, before Mike Hall got the ball at the front of the lineout and went over from 10m for an unconverted try, 52-5. Three minutes later RGC won another scrum against the head with Jeremy Kyne picking up the ball to score and Rhodri Carlton Jones to convert, 59-5.
Pontypool were next on the scoreboard on sixty six minutes with number 8 Luke Dickhoff scoring a well worked but unconverted try. 59-10. With RGC now making wholesale changes, Pontypool may have glimpsed a chance of bringing some level respectability to the score. It was not to be as two minutes later Tom Seddon went over under the posts for replacement full back Gareth Evans to convert, 66-10. Again three minutes after this, a great handling move from the RGC 22m ended with replacement prop Joe Sproston scoring, 71-10.
The final score on seventy four minutes came from Dylan Gwyn Owen who sprinted 40m to score under the posts and for Gareth Evans to convert to make the final score 78-10. The scoring bonanza was clearly too much for the scoreboard operators who missed two of RGC’s conversions and showed the final score, incorrectly, as 74-10. The PA announcer then hesitated when searching for a Pontypool man-of-the-match and thanked RGC 1404 for an entertaining match. A look at the faces of the departing crowd showed some shell shocked appearances.
RGC 1404 have played six matches against premiership opposition, winning 4 and losing 2. The average score for those six matches is 40-15 to RGC scoring 241 points to 92 with a try average of nearly 6 a game. Not too long ago North Wales’ sides were the underdogs against South Wales’ opposition, now it has turned around.
Leicester Tigers have withdrawn from the match on 16th April and the fixture has been replaced by one against the Ospreys ‘A’ in Swansea. Another challenge for the Gogs to surmount.
Power Pack Punish Pooler.... report by Chris O Callaghan
The case for the necessity of reform of the Welsh Premiership was firmly made today at Pontypool Park, when RGC1404 routed a hapless Pontypool 78 – 10
Completing the fourth win against Premiership opposition in consecutive weeks, the RGC1404 squad containing 14 North Walian players, demolished table tail-enders Pontypool with a 12 – 2 try count. Playing down the famous slope and under the watchful eye of former Pooler Legends Ray Prosser and Graham Price, RGC1404 steamrollered the once mighty Pontypool pack with a series of devastating driving mauls. With Buydens, Hall and Marshall controlling the scrums, Phelan and Cudmore dominating the line outs, the back row of Davies, Kyne and in particular Sinclair ran riot.
With Sean White controlling events at 10, RGC1404 led 47-5 at half time with a brace of tries from centre Nick Blevins and further scores from Josh Leech, Jebb Sinclair, Jeremy Kyne, Hubert Buydens and the impressive White with the extras added by full back Rhodri Carlton Jones. Pontypool’s only response was a try after twenty five minutes from centre Phil Price.
The second half saw Kyne collecting his second try of the match with others from Mike Hall, Tom Seddon, Joe Sproston and the last score from Dylan Gwyn Owen with conversions from Gareth Evans. Pontypool’s only retort was from No.8 Luke Dychkoff.
HT: 5 – 47
FT: 10 - 78
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