It may have turned into a slugfest at the Arms Park, but this was the first of three games in a row that will test their credentials to try to add the Indigo Premiership title to their trophy cabinet. Having beaten last season’s runners-up, and the 2022 champions, they now face the top two teams in the current campaign.
It will host Ebbw Vale on Thursday night and then go to Church Bank to face reigning champions Llandovery the following week. If anyone doubted they had what it takes to return to the top of Welsh club rugby, then think again.
“It wasn’t the best of games an there are lots of areas for us to work on. We don’t want to be conceding that many penalties again and making errors like we did,” admitted Pooler’s director of rugby, Leighton Jones.
“That said, I thought the boys showed superb character to go to the final whistle. The Arms Park is a difficult place to come, and they are a decent team, but I know we can definitely play a lot better than that.”
In the end it came to the desire of Pontypool’s Samoan centre Amosa Nove to chase down a kick that ensured the visitors scored the only try of the game in what was otherwise a dour arm-wrestle.
Nove charged down an attempted clearance by Blue & Blacks outside half Harrison James to claim the only touchdown after Cardiff thought they had snatched the draw when James sent over his third penalty to bring the teams level at 9-9 in the final minute of normal time.
Nove’s match winning intervention came from nowhere, seconds after the restart. The home side led 6-3 at half-time after 40 minutes characterised by badly directed kicking exchanges and the sound of referee Tom Spurrier whistling for infringements at the breakdown by whichever side happened to be attacking.
Cardiff enjoyed the better territory courtesy of some beefy ball-carrying by their forwards, but Pontypool were organised defensively and eager for any bit of contact that came their way. The most notable quality came from the boots of both No10s, who were responsible for all the first half points.
Pooler’s Matthew Jarvis was accurate from 45 metres in between two thumping efforts from the same distance by James. Jarvis drew the visitors level in the 42nd minute with the kick marking a more energetic period at the beginning of the second half for Pooler.
But it was short-lived. Both Jarvis and James missed long range penalty attempts before the end of the third quarter, during which Cardiff gradually reasserted themselves.
Jarvis and James shared two more penalties and had the game finished 9-9 it would have neatly summed up its sterility. The unforeseen ending at least created a memorable footnote as the vocal visiting fans savoured their victory.
Scorers: Cardiff: Pens: H James 3. Pontypool: Try: A Nove; Con: M Jarvis; Pens: M Jarvis 3
