Pooler 'held back' (From Free Press Series)

Pooler 'held back'

PONTYPOOL coach Steve Jones believes his side is four or five players short of becoming a force in the Welsh Premiership after defeat to Neath last Saturday highlighted once again the benefit experience brings to a team.

Neath boast seasoned campaigners such as Lyndon Bateman and Gareth Morris among their ranks whereas Pooler have a squad almost solely constructed from youngsters just finding their feet in the game.

And it is this lack of 'old heads' that Jones reckons has held his side back this year and if not addressed could prove their undoing in the future especially if, as Jones believes, the league is reduced from 17 to 12 teams next term.

"On Saturday Neath had quite a few players who had played for the Ospreys in the top division," said Jones. "This experience if the key. The situation on Saturday was that Neath held on to the ball, slowed play down and didn't panic.

"This season it's a fact that inexperienced players have given away penalties that have cost us matches. If we had four or five experienced players in there we wouldn't be in the situation we are in now.

"Our main aim the last two seasons has been survival. Hopefully we can keep these players together now and get some continuity going because the last few seasons we've been losing players. We're not far away when everyone is playing at the highest level, but if we had four or five extra players, preferably older heads we'd be challenging." On the subject of reducing the number of teams in the Welsh Premiership Jones said: "I think they will do it and to be honest it's the way forward."

Pooler failed to break down a stubborn Neath defence on Saturday, their only points coming courtesy of Sam Mills' boot as the fly-half kicked three penalties. Neath by contrast breached Pontypool lines three times with tries from James hook, Richard Johnson and Aled Brew, Hook also added three conversions and four penalties, to provide the Welsh All Blacks with a comprehensive 33-9 victory.