Pontypool 0 - 9 Rangers (386158973)

The 11956 fans in attendance at Pontypool RFC Arena were roasting in the hot sun. Jean-Pierre Flüeler was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Leif Pettersson and Puhi Busby. Pontypool started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. Starters: Landry - Thomas, Watkins, Thomas, Weale - Croft, Parker, Day, Maybery - Bowen, Brooks.

Rangers had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players took the field: Dervaux - Oswyn, Vanetta, Smole, Gurra - De Dycker, Nash, Rodzeń, Sass-Jaworski - Dolphin, Davies.

Rangers clearly had decided to counter-attack when they could. The terraces were silenced after 13 minutes when Rangers's G. Davies put the guests ahead 0 - 1, following an attack on the right. M. Maybery of Pontypool was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. A defender managed to keep the ball from crossing the goal-line after a curling shot coming in from the right from A. De Dycker after 35 minutes, and prevented Rangers from going up another goal. After 39 minutes, Rangers's G. Davies burst through the central defence and let loose a cannonball of a shot, scoring for 0 - 2. After 41 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave A. De Dycker a chance to increase the lead for Rangers, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 0 - 3. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 3. Rangers had most of the ball, with 66 percent of possession.

G. Croft didn't pace himself at all, and after a series of daring offensive runs he was too tired to help out in the defensive play. G. Sass-Jaworski increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 0 - 4. After 70 minutes, a mistake by the home side's left defence allowed G. Vanetta to get through. He outclassed the home side's keeper, adding another goal for the visitors. 0 - 5. By now, the players in Rangers felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. A. De Dycker's speed is always a threat when he gets a little room to move, and 73 minutes into the match was no different as he broke free of his man to send a delightful through ball to G. Davies who knocked it in for Rangers. 0 - 6! At that, G. Davies was noted down for a hat trick! With 74 minutes played, Rangers put themselves up 0 - 7 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. The scorer was A. Nash. Pontypool's D. Bowen got himself booked for a foul. A loud groan was heard from the fans of Rangers, as L. Gurra left the pitch in too much pain to finish the match. O. Freyre took his place on the field. A. De Dycker wanted to play on, but the Rangers coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 78 minutes into the game by B. Chaplin. The coach of Rangers was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 80 minutes, N. Blackwell came on for A. Nash. Rangers increased their lead after 82 minutes when D. Oswyn broke through on the right, upping the score to 0 - 8, much to the home crowd's dismay. 83 minutes into the match, the visitors put themselves ahead 0 - 9 as N. Blackwell finished off an attack from the left with a spectacular scissors kick. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Rangers, with 70 percent of the ball.

Pontypool's top performer was clearly G. Croft. However, F. Landry made a disastrous appearance. The most dominating Rangers player was without a doubt G. Davies. G. Vanetta turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 0 - 9.