PONTYPOOL didn't get the chance to finish what they had started but boss Leighton Jones is confident that a change of style will help to finally secure promotion next season, writes Chris Kirwan.
Pooler were 16 from 16 in the Specsavers National Championship when the Welsh Rugby Union cancelled the 2019/20 season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It meant that Jones & Co, who were hunting a fourth title on the bounce, suffered more anguish in their bid to return to the Premiership for the first time since 2012.
Pooler were in good shape but Bargoed were only five points back and were meant to have home advantage on the penultimate weekend of the season.
"The WRU made the right decision. We hadn't mathematically won the league, it was just disappointing that the effort the boys put in throughout the season couldn't be rewarded," said head coach Jones, who had temporarily stepped back from rugby while recovering from a January health scare.
READ MORE: Coach Jones hungry for Pontypool return
"But we are not the only ones in that situation, it's the same for other clubs and Bargoed were in the same boat.
"It was disappointing that it finished the way that it did but straight away we started to regroup and refocus for when we start up again.
"We changed our style a little bit and had worked hard on that last summer. The boys adapted to that change, so that was pleasing.
"We were starting to see that more expansive game with offloading and there were some really good games."
Pooler had a number of star performers with Lloyd Lewis' form earning a Wales Sevens recall while Adam Stratton impressed in the back row after moving up from Pontypool United.
They suffered one defeat - when knocked out of the WRU National Cup by Carmarthen Quins' late try in the quarter-finals.
Pooler ended the season with a perfect league record and of those 16 successes it was the nervy one against Bargoed that stood out for Jones.
Trailing late on, Lewis crossed for a hard-earned 13-10 win against their title rivals.
"There was a lot of pressure on that game because of our unbeaten run and ground record," said Jones.
"Bargoed came at us where we had taken teams apart before and we did creak but backed ourselves over 80 minutes.
"To keep playing, keep believing and keep focused to win it late on was huge for the boys.
"They took massive confidence from that game and knew that the type of rugby and training we were doing was working for us."
Pooler's season was stopped suddenly and there is uncertainty about when they will be able to start a new bid for promotion.
As ever, the title favourites will be resuming after a bit of off-season tinkering.
"We've got some boys retiring, one or two leaving and have to recruit as well but we are in limbo, like everyone else at the moment," said Jones.
"We don't know when pre-season training will begin or what to plan for and the sad part is that there are some boys who have had long careers at Pontypool and potentially don't get to play another game for us.
"It happens every year but it's just disappointing that the boys don't get a chance to play another game together, because they are a tight bunch."
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