Caerphilly earned themselves a draw against the Asda Welsh League
Division 1 East leaders Pontypool, at Pontypool Park last Friday night.
It could, however, had been a different story for either side, as
both squandered chances on a night dominated by defence. The first
ten minutes a battle of the kickers, exchanging numerous penalties
as both sides looked for weaknesses in the midfield areas.
Caerphilly had the better of the first 20 minutes as they mounted
attack after attack on the Pooler line, only to come away empty handed.
Indeed it was the home side that opened the scoring as they stole
ruck ball on the half way line after 27 minutes. Breaking away, livewire
scrum half Gareth Betts feigned a couple of passes as he ran around
the Caerphilly defence. Drawing in the cover defence the ball worked
its way through the backs, before finally falling into the hands of
left wing Gary Wilks. As he approached the one on way exchange, a
deft chip ahead fell nicely into the winger’s hands, scoring
and converting his own try, giving Pooler a 7-0 advantage.
5 minutes later, Wilks was on hand again to slot a penalty on this
occasion. Pooler ripping the ball from the attacking Caerphilly side,
Full back Nathan Gittings was forced to hack the ball into touch,
as Poolers carefully weighted chip ahead fell teased the sideline.
From the resultant lineout, Pontypool collected their ball and set
about driving ahead. Failing to gain any ground, the attackers pealed
from the sides, forcing the Caerphilly defence to kill the ball on
the deck.
Caerphilly were unlucky not to score on the stroke of half time, centre
Lee Mullane breaking. The Cheesemen failing to hold on to the ball
however, allowing the home team to drive ahead, winning an unconverted
penalty.
The second half started badly for the visitors, soaking up pressure
from the home side. It took Pooler just 1 minute to amend the scoreboard,
winning a centre field penalty, Wilks stepped up to increase their
lead by 13 points to 0.
To their credit, the Castletown men failed to lie down. Continuous
warnings to the Pooler side, regularly killing the ball on the floor,
failed to convince referee Gary Davies to reach for his cards. During
another strong Caerphilly attack on 53 minutes, Pooler were once again
guilty of killing the ball in the 22, giving outside half Dean Watkins
the opportunity to put the visitors on the score sheet, which he accepted
gracefully.
The penalty served as a catalyst for visitors as they mounted sustained
pressure on the Pooler defence. Reward came on 65 minutes as the visitors
pressurised the Pooler back line into a rare mistake. Attacking from
the half way line, the ball was passed out through the Pontypool back
line, falling eventually into the hands of right wing Wilks lying
deep in his own territory. Chasing the wide ball Winger Steffan Sankala
and centre Huw Locke forced an error out of the winger, forcing him
to spill the ball. A good advantage by referee Davies allowed Sankala
to break away with the ball, scoring unopposed under the posts, Dean
Watkins converting, to set up a scintillating finish.
Referee Davies’s patience finally ran out, sending both sides
flankers to the bin, as constant scuffles off the ball broke out.
Caerphilly had a chance with a difficult penalty from the 10 mtr line
on 78 minutes. Full back Nathan Gittings kick falling just short of
the mark.
2 minutes into injury time, Pooler were again found guilty of killing
the ball on the deck, awarding the visitors a penalty in front of
the posts. Easy pickings for Gittings, who duly slotted the ball between
the uprights to earn the Castletown men a much deserved draw.
The result put Pooler clear at the top of the league on 50 points,
3 points clear of Caerphilly, and 4 points ahead of Bargoed, who have
a game in hand. Caerphilly entertain division newcomers Rumney this
Saturday at Virginia park, hoping to repeat their bonus point win
at the beginning of the season. Kick off 2.30pm.
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