Fixture

Pontypool were putting their unbeaten, in the Championship, record on the line for the 60^th time.  They were ruthlessly efficient at close range and swift, accurate and decisive with ball in hand.  Surprisingly, given the discrepancy in the scores, Beddau competed well for periods of a game which was an entertaining affair.

Pontypool were twice awarded a penalty in the opening minutes.  The first went to the left touchline but Beddau were equal to that and snuffed out the drive only for Mr Mills, who had a good game, to raise the arm again.  This produced a lineout on the right.  The charge was led by Ben Sparks and though he was held the ball had been smuggled to hooker Lewis Ball for the try.

Some neat work in midfield allowed Kieran Meek to link with his threequarters and an opening on the left was exploited by Jordan Thomas for a try that Meek converted.  A ball that had gone to ground in a collision was gathered up by Ben Sparks and the Number 8`s powerful surge opened the door for Aaron Quick to score. Meek`s conversion made it 0-19.

A long kick out of defence bounced tantalisingly near Beddau`s 22 and the ball eluded Beddau hands but was safely controlled by former Green and Gold Marcus Jones who touched down an unconverted try.

To their credit Beddau kept pressing and when the home support felt Sparks had been dealt with leniently for a tackle on Adam Ashford that seemed high the penalty to touch saw the lineout stolen by Pontypool.   In following the downfield kick, though, loose head Aaron Coundley was shown yellow for an entirely unnecessary high challenge in an unthreatening passage of play.  Mighty Pooler had no loose head on the bench and scrums were uncontested while Coundley sat in the bin.

The 14 men though launched a huge kick downfield and Marcus Jones swept it up in stride to complete a fine score that Kieran Meek converted for a 31-0 lead at half time.

Beddau had ended the half with both Lewis Egal and Carl Lewis showing signs of wear and depressingly both became added to the long injury list soon into the second period.  Egal`s injury appeared to be a groin strain which, fingers-crossed, may not be long term.  Carl Lewis damaged an ankle and these injuries are unpredictable.  Sam Edwards had replaced Lewis Egal and was quickly in action with a strong burst in midfield.  Pontypool`s relieving kick was fielded by James Davies who showed a clean pair of heels to defenders before linking with Adam Ashford.  The centre, in turn, stepped his marker before releasing James Davies for an excellent score that the youthful Morgan Davies converted.

For a time Beddau were calling the shots but a lineout win by Pontypool led to a scramble that appeared to be going nowhere until the referee awarded a try to the burrowing Lewis Ball.  Beddau flanker Sam Tiley suffered a leg injury which saw him hobbling on crutches with another period on the sick list beckoning.

Some swiftly won ball at a collision gave Kieran Meek some room and he put Pat Lewis away on a blistering break that created a try for Geraint Walsh which Meek converted.  Beddau hadn`t given up and Tom Marley dummied his way through some tackles before giving the speedy Gareth Hopkins the chance for a good score on the left which Morgan Davies again improved.

Pooler`s pressure had, however, taken its toll and from a lineout a tiring defence was unable to prevent replacement scrum half Owain Leonard scampering in for a try converted by another replacement in Matthew Lewis.  A close range try from Curtis Gregory was also converted by Matthew Lewis before Pooler finished with a flourish when a brek from deep went through a number of hands before Pat Lewis finishes at the flag.

Pooler`s return of 5 tries in each half will have cheered them but Beddau, too, took some positives from the game.