PONTYPOOL hosted Abertillery/Blaenau Gwent RFC at Pontypool Park on Friday evening in an entertaining friendly match with both teams trying out new players.

The old Abertillery club fell on hard times in the 2003-04 season and only played a handful of matches in September and early October before it was decided to suspend fixtures as the club was unable to field a team. Alas, that was the end of 120 years of Abertillery RFC.

However, sterling work behind the scenes saw Abertillery RFC and Blaenau Gwent RFC (the town’s oldest rugby club) merge to form Abertillery/Blaenau Gwent RFC and the club played its first game in August 2004, beating Old Penarthians (away) 31-7 in the WRU Cup. Abertillery/Blaenau Gwent currently plays in Division Two East.

Pontypool met Abertillery/Blaenau Gwent for the first time last season, on Friday 9 November 2012 at Abertillery Park. The home side led 3-0 at half time and eventually won a tight game 10-7 scoring a try, conversion and penalty to Pooler’s try (by prop John Lavender) and conversion (by scrum half Josh Guy).

However, Pontypool played Abertillery 198 times from 1901 to 2001 with Pontypool gaining 108 victories, Abertillery winning 65, 23 drawn matches and 2 games abandoned.

Abertillery Blaenau Gwent opened the scoring with a penalty by outside half Chris Stephens. Pooler hit back with tries by centre Dan Hale and outside half Niall Martin, both converted by full back Clayton Gullis to take a 14-3 lead.

The visitors replied with a second Chris Stephens penalty to go into the break trailing by eight points.

Playing down the slope in the second half, Pooler scored further tries through replacement second row Josh Everett, converted by replacement outside half Brad Williams and an unconverted try by replacement full back Matthew Cummings to make the score 26-6.

The visitors rallied and replacement scrum half Luke Pegler crossed for a try which was converted by Chris Stephens but Pooler had the final say with a second unconverted try by Matthew Cummings.

In the Abertillery/Blaenau Gwent back row were Jack Goodey and Callum Davies, sons of former Pooler favourites Richard Goodey and Vince Davies. Final score Pontypool 31 Abertillery/Blaenau Gwent 13.

Pontypool starting XV: Clayton Gullis, Josh Hurley, Ashley Norton, Dan Hale, Trevor James, Niall Martin, Josh Guy, Luke Garrett, Matthew Prosser, Sam Evans, Ryan Thomas (captain), Derryn Jones, Tom Organ, Mike Barber, Matthew Thomas.

Also played for Pontypool: Matthew Cummings, Chris Laing, Joe Blackmore, Rhys Long, Tomos Howells, Steve Taylor, Brad Williams, Haydn Simons, Sam Mills, Aaron Quick, Sam Cook, Ben Parry, Josh Everett, Rhys Wells, Adam Stranton.

Abertillery/Bleanau Gwent starting XV: Luke Morgan, Curtis Hale, Darren Miles, Greg Thomas, Aled Penn, Chris Stephens, Greg Knapp, Andrew Rowlands, Nicky Thomas, Dan Meredith, Joe Phelps, Matt Catlin, Jack Goodey, Callum Davies, Kyle Griffiths.

Pontypool scorers: Tries by Matthew Cummings (2), Dan Hale, Niall Martin and Josh Everett. Conversions by Clayton Gullis (2) and Brad Williams.

Abertillery/Blaenau Gwent scorers: Try by Luke Pegler. Conversion by Chris Stephens. Penalties by Chris Stephens (2).

Referee: Mr Mike Griffiths (Bassaleg)