SKEWEN V Pontypool
On Saturday the 14th October Skewen RFC travelled to Pontypool Park to take on unbeaten league champions Pontypool.
Early play was evenly matched with Skewen just failing to take the lead when a 40 yard penalty by fly half Adam Rowlands fell just short of the cross bar.
Pontypool took the lead on the 10th minute. A penalty kick to touch inside the Skewen 22 was cleanly won and a series of driving mauls and quick release rucks stretched the Skewen defence enabling wing Rhodri Usher to cross in the corner. Try converted by Mathew Jones. Skewen 0 Pontypool 7
A few minutes later Skewen capitalised on a Pooler offside on the 10 Yard line when Adam Rowlands converted a 40 yard penalty. Skewen 3 Pontypool 7.
Pontypool increased their lead on the 30th minute when again a series of phase plays stretched the Skewen defence allowing the wing to cross for an unconverted try. Skewen 3 Pontypool 12
On the 35th minute winger Rhodri Usher scored his 2nd try when a clever kick ahead by fly half Mathew jones was not secured by the Skewen defence leaving usher to win the race to the try line, converted by Mathew Jones Skewen 3Pontypool 19.
Skewen were able to put the Pooler defence under pressure when a quickly taken penalty by scrum half James Ball turned the defence. Some good driving play by the forwards took the ball into the pooler 22. Quick ruck ball was fed to full back Gareth Walter who switching back inside was able to step inside several defenders to cross under the post for a try converted by Adam Rowlands.
Half time score Skewen 10 Pontypool 19.
Pooler increased their lead within 8 minutes of the second half when an attacking lineout close to the Skewen line was driven forward and the ball fed to winger Rhodri Usher who crossed for his hat trick, converted by Mathew Jones Skewen 10 Pontypool 26.
On the 25th minute again from a penalty lineout and driving maul scrum half crossed near to the post for a try converted by Mathew Jones Skewen1 0 Pontypool 33
Despite some very aggressive Skewen defence pooler were able to dominate possession with clinical kicking by outside half Mathew Jones. This led to a 5 yard attacking scrum in the Skewen 22. A clever wheel trapped the Skewen back row giving the Pooler scrum half the gap needed to race across the line for an unconverted try.
Final Score Skewen 10 Pontypool 38
Despite the score, overall a good team performance by all. Most facets of play were well matched for the first hour but the pooler pack strength and clinical finishing proved to be the deciding factors at the end of a very well fought, physical game where no quarter was given or asked.
Skewen Team V Pontypool
15 Gareth Walters Replaced by Anthony Busselli
14 Mathew Watson replaced by Alex Dukes
13 Kevin James
12 Andrew Collins Capt. Replaced by Gareth Walters
11Mathew Billet
10 Adam Rowlands
9 James Ball)
8. Johnny Vaughan
7. Ceri White
6 Lee Dunsford
5 Aled Mogford replaced by Johnny Gethin
4 Ollie Thompson
3 Mark Jones
2 Rhodri Hughes Replaced by Lucus Edwards
1Steffan Bond replaced by James Reeves
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