Free Press Sport
Pooler miss out in cup showdown
2:10pm Wednesday 1st February 2012
Pontypool 11 Neath 23 PONTYPOOL were the architects of their cup downfall in more ways than one against traditional big-hitters Neath at the Park.
A lengthy injury list allied to the impending departure of chairman Geraint Hawkes have led to the Blacks displaying topsy-turvy form of late.
That led to many predicting a cup upset, but while Neath survived it was Ebbw Vale and Bargoed who produced the giant-killing antics.
The two previous Pontypool Park cup meetings between the clubs had produced two epic finishes.
The Blacks took the 1987 quarter-final, 15-9, on the back of a last-gasp try from flanker Phil Pugh.
Fast forward 12 years, and tries from wing Martin Cawley and lock Alex Brown, along with five Matthew Silva goal points, saw Pooler turn the tables via a 15-14 success.
Neath entered the latest clash 3-2 up on the cup head-to-head along with 12 straight league wins over their old rivals.
And though the tie was expected to be tight, Pooler shot themselves in the foot for failing to capitalise on blanket first-half possession. They failed to impact down the slope, only leading 11-10 at the turnaround, and when Neath upped the ante on the restart, Pooler found nothing.
Instead they made errors that made life all the easier for the six-time winners.
This was all the harder to take for the likes of hooker Ryan Prosser, prop Dan Barlow, lock Dale Critchley and flanker Craig Attwell, who didn't deserve to be on the losing side.
But lose they did, as Neath turned that 11-10-interval deficit into an unassailable 20-11 lead by the 46th minute.
"This was a really frustrating defeat, as we had enough good players in our midst to really challenge Neath," said Pontypool and Dragons backs coach Shaun Connor, a former Neath fly-half.
"More to the point and with the future in mind, many of our players failed to showcase their talent."
Fly-half Tom Hancock atoned for an early penalty miss in potting a more difficult 10th-minute goal kick.
The first hint that it might not be Pooler's day emerged in the 20th minute when ex-Newport man Gareth King crossed for a try, goaled by former Cross Keys fly-half Dai Langdon.
Back came Pooler via a second Hancock penalty on the half-hour - and it was soon accompanied by a stunning try.
Former Pontypool, Wales and British Lions prop Graham Price appreciated the rumble from the Pooler forwards that ultimately set up a corner try for wing Gareth Williams.
The touchline conversion from Hancock fell just short, and Neath reduced half-time arrears to 11-10 through a Langdon penalty.
He struck again on the restart, and the game was all up for Pooler once Neath captain and flanker Gareth Gravell mustered a try at the posts for full-back Alec Jenkins, goaled by Langdon.
Though Pooler made strenuous attempts to reduce the leeway, Neath signed off with a 78th-minute Langdon penalty.