Words by: Paul Hopkins
Photo by: Riley Sports Photography
It was back to league action for Swansea as they made it five wins out of five in all competitions thanks to a last gasp Josh Phillips penalty goal in a tough affair against Pontypool.
It seemed as though Joe Thomas’ men were nursing a plate final hangover as they fell to an 11 point deficit, but a much improved second half helped propel his side up to fifth in the Super Rygbi Cymru Trophy.
It looked as though it would be a promising start for the All Whites when fly half Phillips found touch on the Pontypool 22 with a penalty, and the Swansea men got quick ball out wide to full back Iwan Glynn, but he was well tackled and his side lost possession soon after.
Swansea were awarded a penalty at the scrum though and Phillips chipped up to the 22, but hooker Logan Lloyd’s lineout throw wasn’t straight.
Phillips’ long kick was diffused by full back Carrick McDonough, with the visitors awarded a penalty after the Whites failed to retreat, however the lineout was lost and Phillips cleared long.
Lock Ben Roberts took a lineout to allow scrum half Iwan Temblett to boot a high ball, which winger Louis Rees dropped, but the home side were penalised for a transgression at the breakdown.
The visitors continued to prolong their wave of attacks when winger Marcus Jones powered across the 22, and a long pass out wide looked dangerous, but Gwent men were unable to hold onto possession.
A clever pass from flanker Scott Matthews found number eight Morgan Allen, who powered over the 22, and the home side gave away a penalty. Fly half Kieran Meek turned down a kickable chance to chip into the corner, and lock Dan Hill collected the lineout, with a powerful rolling maul resulting in Matthews crashing over for a try. Meek missed the conversion.
Number eight Jacob Hopkins ran back a loose kick, but became isolated and gave away a penalty, with Meek finding touch inside the 22.
Flanker Ryan Jones took a scrappy lineout and the visitors looked dangerous, forcing Swansea to give away another penalty. This time Meek kicked the three pointer.
A poor lineout throw by Logan Lloyd was taken at the back by opposite number Sam Scarfe, but his side lost possession soon after. Instead, it was the visitors who attacked with Allen powering over the 22, giving Meek a platform to successfully drop a goal. To compound the Whites’ misery, flanker Iwan Shenton was yellow carded for a professional foul.
Glynn sprinted through the middle and made his way up to within metres of the line, but centre Joe Thomas couldn’t take a difficult pass and knocked on.
Roberts took a lineout on the Pooler 22 and Hopkins powered forward, forcing the visitors’ forwards offside. Scrum half Iwan Temblett took an orchestrated tap penalty and spread play out wide to Phillips, but an outstanding Pontypool defence earned a turnover penalty.
Lock Joe Davies took a lineout just shy of half way and winger Liam Lloyd misjudged scrum half Logan Franklin’s box kick, but managed to keep possession, and ill-discipline by Allen gifted Swansea a penalty.
Prop Kian Hire made good yards and the visitors were penalised for driving in at the side of a ruck. Phillips chipped to touch, but lock Chris Thompson lost the lineout.
Prop Daf Davies dropped a pass so Pontypool were able to counterattack, although Meek chipped for territory. The visitors were soon back in possession, but Meek chipped out on the full.
Liam Lloyd picked up a loose ball and chipped ahead, with a difficult bounce for McDonough, although the visitors were still able to keep hold of possession and cleared through Franklin.
Half-time: Swansea 0-11 Pontypool
The visitors were awarded a penalty at the scrum and Meek found touch on the 22, but Roberts rose high to steal the lineout. Then Phillips chipped long, but the ball sailed over the dead ball line with Pooler awarded a scrum on the opposing 22.
The home side finally used their backs to good effect, spreading play through the hands of Phillips and centre Jack Hoskins, out to Liam Lloyd, but his chip ahead was also taken agonisingly dead by the wind.
The Whites got the ball out of a retreating scrum quickly with Hopkins making a superb break, finding flanker Callum Bowden in support. Hoskins then sprinted towards the line, forcing Pooler to give away a penalty. A lineout followed, but Glynn spilled the ball forward over the line.
Sensing promising things were coming, Swansea finally got points on the board when replacement flanker Ethan Fackrell ran back at Pontypool following the goal line drop out, and Glynn sped in on a superb line to score in the corner. Phillips missed the conversion.
The visitors attacked from the restart and a free kick followed with Marcus Jones making good yards, before centre Ioan Evans was well tackled. The Whites finally gave away a penalty, and the visitors opted for a close range scrum, a decision which paid off as Allen peeled off the back of a scrum to score. Meek converted.
Glynn chipped ahead and a panicked Meek failed to deal with the danger, accidentally spilling the ball into his own man. The Whites were awarded a free kick at the scrum and got quick ball out through the backs for Brandon Wood to score in the corner. Phillips converted.
Replacement centre Callum Carson made a break and was brought down with a high tackle, with a superb touch finder by Phillips taking play up to the Pooler 22. Shenton took the lineout and the Whites worked the ball out to Glynn on the wing, but then forced a pass to Hire, who knocked on under pressure.
Brandon Wood then picked up a kick in his own 22 and kicked a superb 50/22 to give his side attacking possession, although the Whites lost the lineout.
However, the home side were soon back on the attack through Hopkins, but a mistake allowed Pontypool to clear. But the relentless Swansea attacks soon paid off when Temblett got the ball out wide for Brandon Wood to touch down for his side’s third try. Phillips pulled the conversion wide to leave Pooler leading by a single point going into the final 10 minutes.
The visitors were back on the attack from the restart with Hill powering forward and going through the phases, keeping possession up the jumper to run down the clock.
But Swansea managed to regain possession with replacement number eight Luca Giannini driving forward from the back of a scrum, and Liam Lloyd made a promising break, but his inside pass was well intercepted by the visitors.
Phillips then took a quick tap penalty, and made his way up to the 22, before the Pooler forwards transgressed again. Phillips kept his cool to slot his side into the lead for the first time with a minute left on the clock.
Swansea weren’t able to keep possession as Ryan Jones nipped in to steal the ball at the breakdown, giving the visitors a last gasp attacking platform with the last play.
The home side feared the worst after giving away a penalty at the scrum to give Meek one final opportunity to win the game. He stepped up bravely, but dragged his effort at goal wide as the Whites were able to breathe a sigh of relief with victory secured.
Next up for Swansea is a trip to Carmarthen, while Pontypool host Cardiff.
Full-time: Swansea 20-18 Pontypool
Swansea:
Tries:- Iwan Glynn (55), Brandon Wood (66, 73)
Cons:- Josh Phillips (67)
Pens:- Josh Phillips (80+2)
Yellow cards:- Iwan Shenton (28)
Pontypool:
Tries:- Scott Matthews (19), Morgan Allen (63)
Cons:- Kieran Meek (64)
Pens:- Kieran Meek (24)
DGs:- Kieran Meek (28)
Yellow cards:- Pat Lewis (80+2)
Match facts:
Venue:- Broadacre, Dunvant
Weather:- Sunny, 9C
Man of the match:- Brandon Wood
Attendance:- 300
Swansea team:
15 Iwan Glynn
14 Liam Lloyd
13 Joe Thomas
12 Jack Hoskins (rep: Callum Carson 64)
11 Brandon Wood
10 Josh Phillips (cc)
9 Iwan Temblett
1 Daf Davies (rep: Tom Crockett 46)
2 Logan Lloyd (rep: Rhodri King 46)
3 Kian Hire (rep: Ed Thompson 67)
4 Chris Thompson (rep: Matt Dodd 54)
5 Ben Roberts
6 Iwan Shenton
7 Callum Bowden (cc) (rep: Ethan Fackrell 54)
8 Jacob Hopkins (rep: Luca Giannini 79)
Replacements:
16 Rhodri King
17 Tom Crockett
18 Ed Thompson
19 Matt Dodd
20 Luca Giannini
21 Ethan Fackrell
22 Willis Wood
23 Callum Carson
Pontypool team:
15 Carrick McDonough
14 Louis Rees
13 Pat Lewis
12 Ioan Evans
11 Marcus Jones
10 Kieran Meek ©
9 Logan Franklin
1 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (rep: Kyan Best 74)
2 Sam Scarfe (rep: Anuerin James 67)
3 Owen Popple
4 Joe Davies
5 Dan Hill
6 Scott Matthews
7 Ryan Jones
8 Morgan Allen (rep: Ieuan Jones 67)
Replacements:
16 Anuerin James
17 Kyan Best
18 Kelvyn Williams
19 Ieuan Jones
20 Buster Bodkin
21 Harri Ford
22 Amosa Nove
23 Luke Daniel