Pontypool made it seven consecutive wins in a row as they put aside fellow Gwent side Ebbw Vale 25-20 in an enthralling game at Pontypool Park.
The last time Pooler had faced The Steelmen was back in August 2015 when Ebbw Vale won convincingly 33-0.
Tries from Pooler’s Joel Mahoney, Dylan Keller-Griffiths and Joel Mahoney were accompanied by two penalties and a trio of conversions by Matthew Jarvis proved to be the difference.
It was the visitors that got off the better, as after five minutes, Ryan Jenkins drove his way over Ponty’s line to open up proceedings. Shortly afterwards Matthew Jarvis got the first points of the evening for the home side after slotting a conversion.
Hooker Sam Scarfe made a powerful run and offloaded the ball quickly for outside centre Joel Mahoney to cross for his fourth of the season, and put Pooler in front.
On the stroke of half-time, the visitors were applying huge amounts of pressure on Ponty’s line and when Ebbw spread the ball wide, winger Walker Price accidentally knocked the ball on.
Referee Craig Evans deemed it to be a deliberate knock-on and awarded the visitors a penalty try with Price getting sent off for 10 minutes.
HT: Pontypool 10-17 Ebbw Vale
After struggling to start the first-half on the front foot, 14-man Pooler created huge amounts of pressure on The Steelmens defence at the start of the second half. It soon paid off as replacement hooker Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths crossed for his second try of the season.
However, Jarvis slipped when trying to convert the extras and this meant his shot diverted just shy of the posts and Ebbw Vale remained two points in front with plenty of time left on the clock.
On the hour mark the visitors had an opportunity to go eight points clear, however Evan Lloyd’s shot went wide and it remained a five-point game going into the final 10 minutes.
What a final 10 minutes it was, as replacement Alex Grey was only on for around a minute and impacted the game sincerely scoring his first try of the season. This time around Matthew Jarvis held his nerve as Ponty went in front for only the second time in the match.
It was a nail-biter of a finish at Pontypool Park, but up stepped Matthew Jarvis yet again and he put his side five points clear with 3 minutes remaining on the clock.
There was one last big push from the visitors but with the lineout not going straight Ponty regained possession with seconds left on the clock.
Former Ebbw Vale player Matthew Flanagan kicked the ball dead and with this win Pontypool are joint second with The Steelmen in the Premiership with fellow Gwent side Newport just sitting above them.
FT: Pontypool 25-20 Ebbw Vale
Pontypool XV
15. Matt Bancroft, 14. Pat Lewis, 13. Joel Mahoney, 12. Amosa Nove, 11. Walker Price, 10. Matthew Jarvis, 9. Morgan Lloyd, 1. Sam Cochrane, 2. Sam Scarfe 3. Kelvyn Williams, 4. Lance Randall, 5. Ashley Sweet, 6. Mike Herbert, 7. Callum Davies, Scott Matthews (C).
Tries: 18’ Joel Mahoney, 48’ Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, 70’ Alex Grey
Conversions: Matthew Jarvis x 3
Penalties: Matthew Jarvis x 2
Yellow Card: 40’ Walker Price
Replacements: 16. Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, 17. Peter Lloyd, 18. Ollie Drake, 19. Lewis Johnson, 20. Alex Grey, 21. Mathew Flanagan, 22. Josh Malson, 23. Ben Moa, 24. Adam Stratton, 25. Marcus Jones
Ebbw Vale XV
15. Morgan Richards, 14. Carrick McDonough, 13. Ethan Phillips, 12. Dom Franchi, 11. Jordan Thomas, 10. Evan Lloyd, 9. Jon Evans, 1. Morgan Davies, 2. Rhys Francis (C), 3. Harry Drane, 4. Dylan Bartlett, 5. Jakub Malecki, 6. Cameron Regan, 7. Lewis Young, 8. Ryan Jenkins
Replacements: 16. Ieuan Morris, 17. Luke Garrett, 18. Adam Court, 19. Curtis Gregory, 20. Chad Thomas, 21. Rory Harries, 22. Kieran Meek, 23. Gethin Williams.
Tries: 5’ Rhys Jenkins, 40’ Penalty Try
Conversions: 5’, Evan Lloyd
Penalties: Evan Lloyd x 2
Yellow Cards: Morgan Davies
Referee: Craig Evans
Attendance: 2,500
Player of the Match: Morgan Lloyd
Written By Harry Tovey.
HTSPORTSNEWS 