Welshpool’s spirited return to action

 

Welshpool showed why all is not lost for the season, as a depleted 1st XV battled for 80 minutes against visiting local rivals Newtown.

With the side down to a bare 15, things looked bleak for 'Pool, especially with the form that the visitors have been displaying of late.

However, within minutes, the home side took the lead through a Daley Jones penalty. Soon after, it was the turn of his half-back partner to shine, as scrum-half and captain Tom Carter forced an error from one of Newtown's wingers and scored under the posts. Jones' conversion gave the home side a 10-0 lead, and a measure of confidence seemed to be returning to Welshpool.

With winger Paul Davies leaving the field through injury, Welshpool were reduced to 14 men for the majority of the match, yet the visitors were only able to draw the score level by half time, two unconverted tries doing the damage.

With the extra man beginning to pay dividends, Newtown added a further two unconverted scores to their tally, and it seemed that they would begin to run away with the match.

 

Welshpool, however, were in no mood to capitulate, and forced their way back to the Newtown line, where concerted pressure allowed Daley Jones to score under the posts. With the addition of a conversion, the game hung in the balance at 17-20, and it seemed a shock victory might be on the cards.

Newtown, however, had no intention of allowing that to happen, and quickly bounced back with a pair of converted tries putting them ahead 34-17. A Daley Jones penalty narrowed the gap to 34-20, but the hosts were unable to gain anything more from the game, and a final Newtown try gave them a 41-20 victory.

Welshpool: Barry Williams, Jamie Jones, Dan Hulse, Nick Larder, Martin Gould, Gareth Gregory, Mark Williams, Fred White, Tom Carter (C), Daley Jones, Dan Lloyd, Andrew Thomas, John-Rhys Davies, Paul Davies, Gareth Conlin