Pooler announce summer friendlies (From Free Press Series)

Pooler announce summer friendlies

2:30pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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PONTYPOOL RFC are to preserve their precious pitch for as long as possible as they seek an edge in the new Premiership campaign.

Pooler expect to kick-off their season at home on Saturday, August 29 as the Jazz in the Park festival takes centre stage at Pontypool Park the following weekend. So having learnt from last summer’s damaging rains, the hallowed turf will stay untouched for the seven weeks until then with all of Pooler’s pre-season friendlies scheduled away from home.

Managing director Frank Stanton said: "We wanted to give the pitch a full summer to recover rather than have it start cutting up even before the season has started. We could have had a game on it on the 22nd, but then we’d be back on it on the 29th and that’s too soon.

"We want to take full advantage of our home pitch next season so it just made sense to keep off it for as long as possible."

Pooler will instead begin their pre-season with a warm up at newly promoted Garndiffaith RFC of Division Two East on Saturday, August 1. The following weekend is the annual Man of Gwent Sevens at Rodney Parade.

On Saturday August 15 Pontypool travel over the border to Cinderford then complete their fixtures at Tonmawr in Port Talbot on Saturday, August 22.

Stanton commented: "We wanted some strong opposition and Tonmawr threatened to come up from Division One Wet along with Carmarthen Quins last year so they’ll represent a good test.

"And with Cinderford, they’re in English Division Two and you know whenever you go to a Forest of Dean side they’re going to be strong so that should be a good workout for us."

So far this summer Pontypool have snapped up prop Leigh Davies, wing Dan Connelly and back row Geraint Morris from relegated Bridgend, plus Blackwood hooker Rhys Buckley and recruited Mark Williams who was playing in the Southern hemisphere last year.

On the make-up of the squad thus far, Stanton added: "The boys have been back at training for a couple of weeks now and everything is very pleasing. But we’re always looking to add to the squad. So far we’ve got 26 or 27 and there’s room for more if someone special catches the coaches’ eyes."

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