Newbridge 23 v Pontypool 24 (Cup)

In this keenly contested Konica Minolta Cup tie, ‘Pooler’ coasted to a commanding 19-0 interval lead against our boys, but they certainly suffered some heart-stopping moments in the closing minutes as we staged a storming second half fightback.

In fact, we had two great opportunities to snatch the win. First, outside-half Sam Walcott missed a vital conversion kick. Then, deep into injury time, full back Sean Thomas was just short with a 46-metre penalty goal attempt.

Pooler regained the upper hand in the dying minutes and, when outstanding flanker Cae Trayhern gratefully slammed the ball into touch on the home 22-metre line, referee Mr Huw David (Bridgend) blew the final whistle. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife, and for many it echoed some of the great battles of yesteryear.

No 8 Nicky Coughlin, inside-half and captain for the day Gareth Betts and wing Nathan Daniels snapped up the visitors’ tries, while full back Darren Pearce kicked a hat trick of penalty goals.

After shrugging off a disappointing opening we bounced back with tries from highly promising inside-half Tom Edwards, skipper and lock Rhys Bowen and wing Luke James. Sam Walcott, who also had a good game, kicked two penalty goals and a conversion.

Pontypool, still smarting after their recent first league defeat of the season at Llantrisant, were far too strong in the opening stages and they enjoyed the added advantage of a cold wind at their backs. The front-row trio of Jamie Cross, Jamie Jeune and Nicky Blake gained the upper hand at the scrums, while Trayhern and Coughlin started to create havoc in the loose.

It took Pontypool’s Coughlin just five minutes to open Pooler’s account with a try from a five-metre scrum. Pearce then peppered the posts with his three penalties including one splendid effort from 45 metres. Betts raced over for a smart solo touchdown after a blindside break in the 34th minute – taking advantage of a gaping hole in the Newbridge defence after the home side had been reduced to 14 men in the 28th minute when Rhys Bowen was sin-binned for upending an opponent at a lineout.

Inside-half Edwards kick-started the fightback seven minutes after the restart and on the heels of Walcott’s first penalty. A Newport Gwent Dragons Academy player, Edwards burst upfield and then booted the ball over the visitors’ line to win the chase for the touchdown.

Our newly appointed backs and fitness coach Byron Hayward joined the fray as replacement for injured centre Neil Lewis midway through the second half and added to Pooler’s discomfort with some perfectly timed passes to free up space for his fellow attackers – not least James, who sprinted over for a fine 78th-minute try after an attack from the halfway line.

That came just two minutes after Bowen had claimed a try beneath a pile of bodies that had crashed over the Pooler line. Pooler’s only response in the second half was a well-worked corner try for wing Nathan Daniels in the 71st minute.

After being previously beaten 25-10 by our rivals, the management, players and supportors will certainly take heart from the much-improved second-half showing as we resume our league programme in the coming weeks.

Head coach Mark Thomas said: “We are bitterly disappointed we didn’t win but we are very pleased with our second- half performance. If we can put in displays like that in our league games then I think we can say we have turned the corner. With Byron Hayward now on board as well, we can go into our next league matches against Caerphilly, Beddau and Blackwood with a lot of heart.’

Gareth Lintern, Pontypool’s head coach, said after the game: “I’m pleased that the spirit and character of the side shone through against difficult opposition. Newbridge have changed their coaching set-up and they have clearly benefited by bringing in some new players. We needed to see if we could cope with the pressure after our disappointing defeat at Llantrisant.”

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NEWBRIDGE:
S. Thomas, S. Smith, D. Morris, N. Lewis (B. Hayward 56), L. James, S. Walcott, T. Edwards, R. Morgan (A. Oliver 76), J. Jenkins (B. Roberts 80), N. Curtis, W. Sims (L. Martin 80), R. Bowen (C), N. Tucker, M. Rosser & R. Miles.

Tries: T. Edwards (47 mins), R. Bowen (76 mins) & L. James (78 mins); pens: S. Walcott (45 and 58 mins); con: S. Walcott.

PONTYPOOL:
D. Pearce, S. Roko, J. Hill, P. Price, N. Daniels, R. Jenkins, G. Betts (C) (A. Quick 69), J. Cross, J. Jeune (L. Jones 55), N. Blake, J. Williams, D. Cox, B. Salt (R. Nash 73), C. Trayhern & N. Coughlin.

Tries: N. Coughlin (5 mins), G. Betts (34 mins) & N. Daniels (71 mins); pens: D. Pearce (14, 19 and 25 mins).

Referee: Mr Huw David (Bridgend).