Second half blast seals win (From Free Press Series)

Second half blast seals win

EXCUSE the clich but it was definitely a game of two halves at Pontypool Park on Saturday.

In blustery conditions, Pontypool overturned a 24-7 half-time deficit against Llanharan to run out 37-24 victors.

Whatever coach Steve Jones said at half-time, it worked as with the wind at their backs, Pooler found another gear in the second period and scored 30 unanswered points.

Jones was modest about his team talk but told the Free Press: "Let's just say a few choice words were spoken in that dressing room. The boys knew they hadn't performed and they were eager to put things right.

"We have a very young team and they are learning all the time. This was another lesson for them but they should take confidence from the second-half showing.

"That was our best 40 minutes of the season so far. We played some nice stuff."

The victory is the second of the season for Pooler after their heroics against Swansea the previous Saturday and the side showed character to bounce back from their 19-12 Gwent derby defeat to Ebbw Vale last Wednesday night.

But Jones knows that his side will face tougher opposition this season, starting on Saturday when Cae Trayhern's men travel to Llanelli.

Llanelli will be in confident mood after inflicting a rare Premiership 27-13 defeat on last season's champions Newport to move up to fourth in the table.

Jones said: "You are never quite sure how strong a side Llanelli will put out but their team trains with the Scarlets side and they have some great players so it will be very tough for us."

Saturday's game started brightly enough for the home side with a full-back scoring a try in the second minute, which was converted by Sam Mills.

But Llanharan hit back strongly with four first-half tries from centre Nicky Morgan (2), flanker Neil Lewis and wing Gareth Dyer. Two of these were converted by Wayne Jervis.

In the second period, Pooler moved ahead through tries by winger Mohammas Shabaj Ali and centres Richard Jenkins and Adam Sliczney.

All three were converted by Mills who also kicked a penalty to give Pooler a seven point lead.

But Pooler almost hit the self-destruct button late on when Ali was sin-binned for deliberate obstruction in the 73rd minute, but then two late Mills penalties sealed the victory.