Stanton fuming after Neath setback (From Free Press Series)

Stanton fuming after Neath setback

11:35am Wednesday 6th January 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

MANAGING director Frank Stanton refused to let Pooler’s lack of physical preparation act as an excuse for Saturday’s loss to Neath.

Instead, he lamented another second half performance. He accepting Neath were a better-equipped side – but said Pontypool had studied their form and knew what to expect, only to ignore all they had learned.

Stanton said: "Part of my disappointment stems from the fact that for half an hour we were matching them punch for punch so to speak.

"Losing Geraint O’Driscoll to a dislocated shoulder, having no recognisable number 10 with Sam Mills missing and with Shaun Connor having played on Thursday for the Dragons, unsettled our structure.

"But the most frustrating thing was that we expected certain things from Neath and we had discussed them and worked on them during the week.

"After we went behind, we seemed to forget all about it."

He continued: "We did manage to hold an indoor session on Wednesday, December 30. But with frozen pitches and the fact that some players couldn’t get to Pontypool, and with council facilities shutting early because of the snow, we were at a disadvantage compared to Neath who were able to play on Boxing Day and have covers on their pitch.

"I accept that we hadn’t been able to train for two weeks but that stuff should have been ingrained in the guys already."

Of Neath’s dominance he said: "Of course they took their chances and Christian Phillips was a class act. There were some good performances there, but it was another case of a second half whitewash.

"We started well against Swansea and again against Neath. Both times we’ve fallen away in the second half.

"That is something we’ve got to work on."

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)