Pooler sports review of 2004 (From Free Press Series)

Pooler sports review of 2004

Pooler sports review of 2004

JANUARY

Pooler began the year by extending their winless streak to three months. The Gwent side had been brought down to earth with a bump in their first year back in the Welsh top-flight after the euphoria of their promotion the year before.

Defeats against Bridgend and Cardiff had heightened relegation fears around Pontypool Park but coach Steve Jones was doing his best to steady the ship.

"I think everyone is worrying about relegation, but we need to look at the positive side of what we can do if we pull together," he said. The result against Bridgend had been particularly disappointing as for the first time this season Pooler failed to register a single point.

FEBRUARY

The gloom of Pooler's dark, dark winter showed no signs of lifting in February and as the players prepared for life at the sharp end of the season, with a relegation run-in looming, Pooler captain Cae Trayhern opened up, revealing the pressure he and his colleagues were feeling.

"It's a difficult time for the players. These last few months have definitely had an effect on us. With all the pressure we have been trying too hard in some respects, which in turn has had an adverse effect and we end up making silly mistakes and errors," he said.

However, worse was to come for the young flanker and his team-mates, as - on a night that coach Steve Jones described as the worst of his life - Pooler were beaten by bottom club Ebbw Vale making them favourites for the drop in their first season back in Welsh rugby's top division.

MARCH

Pontypool coach Steve Jones wasn't mincing his words this month as Pooler's make or break season neared its climax. "Against Ebbw Vale there were two tries scored against us, that should not have been, because individuals let us down. This cannot happen again," he said.

And after the WRU confirmed its top 16 clubs would not be ring fenced and protected from relegation that season, Jones threw down the gauntlet to his ailing side insisting "win four games and we'll stay up." It seems the squad responded to this new no-nonsense approach as a narrow victory against Llanelli followed by a comprehensive demolition of Cross Keys - described by Jones as the best performance of the year - reignited Pooler survival hopes.

APRIL

It was a case of two down and two to go according to Steve Jones as the Pooler coach insisted his team needed only a couple more wins to preserve their Welsh Premiership status going into the final stretch of the season.

But Pooler's survival hopes - buoyed by a double victory at the back end of March - were dealt a crushing blow as they withered against Newbridge in the Gwent derby. Speaking after the game Pontypool team manager Tony Clarke was obviously unhappy with the defeat but was not giving up hope. "It's embarrassing if we're being truthful.

But the players are committed and realise that if there is no premiership side in Torfaen, then fans have nowhere to go. The lads we have can pull us through, you can see it in them," he said. But with only two home games left and two wins required, Pooler still had some work to do to save their season.

"I know we have lost seven games at home this year but we should still be looking to win these final two home matches. Our only aim is to pick up the full six points," said Clarke.

MAY

As it turned out Pontypool's Premiership status did not quite go down to the wire despite that seemed inevitable just a few weeks earlier. A narrow, nerve-jangling victory against Bedwas at Pontypool Park secured at least one more year's top-flight rugby for the Gwent club - providing they didn't lose to Neath in the next match by over 95 points without scoring a single try.

Pooler avoided this unlikely pitfall ending months of worry for Pooler supporters. Speaking after the game team manager Tony Clarke said: "I don't think we'll go down now. We would have preferred to get the third try to make everything certain before the Neath game but the main thing is we won. Clarke also paid tribute to the players that had fought so hard for the Pooler cause.

"The players have been terrific and it's been a privilege to work with them. Last year was great when we won the league and got back up to where we are now, but this season has been better because the players have been so united and committed," he said.

JUNE

With their place in the Welsh Premiership retained Pontypool players and staff were taking a well-earned rest after an emotionally draining end to the season.

But off the field there was some sad news as it was revealed Pooler were unlikely to ever return to their former club house, Elm house.

The building on Park Road - owned by former Pontypool backer Bob Jude - still housed much prestigious Pooler memorabilia but was unlikely to house Pooler fans again as Mr Jude was no longer associated with the club. Instead club officials were keen to improve links with local councillors in an attempt to get their new clubhouse, at Pontypool leisure centre, refurbished.

JULY

The Free Press further cemented their relationship with Pontypool RFC in July with the announcement they would be the club's 2004-2005 official sponsors.

Elsewhere, the Welsh Premiership fixtures were released with Pooler facing the ultimate test on the opening day - away to reigning champions Newport.

Meanwhile it was revealed Cae Trayhern would continue as captain for another season with Steve Jones, Nigel Callard, Kevin Weaver and Dave Smith also remaining. The only addition was the appointment of Dave Smith as the new team manager.

In a month of positive news Pooler fans received a further boost at the end of July with the news Nathan Daniel was back in training following a knee injury that had kept him out for 18 months.

AUGUST

A month before the start of the new season Pontypool coach Steve Jones raised doubts over the fitness of his side stating performance could improve by up to 40 percent if his squad trained more regularly.

Pooler were only training twice a week while other Premiership sides held double that many sessions. Jones said: "Ideally we should be training three or four times a week, which is what we need to try and do. I know the best sides are doing this. As semi-professional players our players need to be putting themselves out more."

Jones' comments came after his side had been blown away by Bristol Shoguns in a pre-season friendly. "There is no way we can beat these organised sides if we are not training more," Jones added.

SEPTEMBER

On the eve of the new season Pooler announced something of a transfer coup with New Zealand development squad member Andre Boon to sign for the Gwent club.

The kiwi's arrival seemed to do nothing to inspire Pontypool in their opening matches though as they lost successively, 20-16 to Newport and 16-11 to Cross Keys - sparking fears that a repeat of the disastrous 2003/2004 campaign could be on the cards.

Defence coach Kevin Weaver tried to allay fan's concerns. "We will not fall in the same trap as last season with all those defeats," he pledged. Pooler went some way to supporting Weaver's view with a 34-17 defeat of Swansea in their next match though some fans still feared a long nine months may lie ahead.

OCTOBER

An inspired second half performance gave Pooler the points in a thrilling game against Llanharan at the start of October. But if fans were starting to relax after two consecutive wins, Pontypool made sure the worry lines were well and truly etched across their foreheads by the end of October with a draw and two defeats coming in the next three games.

Arguably more concerning were new suggestions that some Pontypool players were not putting in the training required to succeed in Wales' top division. Captain Cae Trayhern said: "You cannot come to training looking to get fit, you should be fit already. Some of us need to be more professional and start taking it on board to improve ourselves outside normal training."

NOVEMBER

Defeats to Cardiff and Llan-dovery at the beginning of the month left Pooler fans fearing a repeat of last year's relegation scare could be on the horizon.

Worried supporters hit out at the club over their poor start to the season and the fact that over the summer, they failed to reinforce a squad that had struggled with the demands of top-flight rugby the previous year. Pontypool team manager Gordon Thomas responded to the criticism.

"While finances are secure, there is no cash to entice players to the club. What we need to do is look to clubs below us who have players who can fit in at our level. That is what I'm actively doing," he said. Pooler raised spirits at the end of the month with victory over Caerphilly.

DECEMBER

The Pontypool rollercoaster cranked itself up for another lap in December as win followed by defeat prolonged Pooler's topsy turvy form. Defeat at Bridgend was followed by victory against Newport which in turn preceded defeat to Cross Keys.

The whole predicament carried with it an uneasy feeling of deja vu. Even Kevin Weaver's comments after the Cross Keys reverse had something of the groundhog about them.

"We will get out of this. We'll persevere, roll our sleeves up and work hard again this week," he said. So Pontypool end 2004 with their Welsh Premiership fate uncertain. All Pooler fans hope is that they reach the safety mark a little earlier this year. And you can follow their progress during 2005, every Wednesday in the Free Press.