Captain's Blog

Following the hundred plus points win over Dinas Powys, where all our newcomers showed up really well, we were looking forward to the away trip to Penzance. We’d see then what we could do against a tougher standard of opposition, knowing that Mounts Bay would give us a challenge.

I can’t stand bus journeys at the best of times – going to Llandovery or Newport is too much for me, never mind a six or seven hour haul down to Penzance. It wasn’t the best preparation – some of the boys were lying in the aisle of the coach trying to get some rest.

We’d prepared for a dogfight up front, and that’s what we got from the start. The ref came into our changing room and laid down a set of new RFU laws. We had to change our game plan at short notice to suit. The supporters and coaches must have been frustrated by the refereeing on the day, but no one more so than the Ponty players. It was difficult for me as captain to communicate with the ref throughout the game.

We were disappointed to lose, and for the last five minutes of the game it absolutely hammered down, but we made light of the whole thing in the showers, and soon got over our disappointment. We’d planned before the trip to go out in fancy dress, with hefty fines dished out to any players who didn’t comply. There were some really good efforts – Rhys Lloyd as a member of “Kiss”, in studded leotard and with a blow up guitar was the best of the lot for me. We also all carried corn on the cob, another crazy idea to raise money through fines. Even Charlie the masseuse and the dentist joined in, but a shame Paul John, Dale McIntosh and Richard Langmead failed to do the same (showing their age!)

We had a good night, a few drinks, before facing the trip home on Sunday.

It’ll be back to the grind in training this week – another monthly top up with Curly on Tuesday night, and a tough fixture away to Beddau on Saturday. Then we move on to Rotherham, a match which I know many of the supporters are looking eagerly forward to.

We hope for a good crowd against Rotherham, and a good atmosphere. It would be good for the newcomers in the squad to run out on to Sardis to the echo of “Ole Ole” from the terraces, to show them what to expect during the coming season. We intend to have a good time after that game, with the barbeque and a chance to mingle with the fans.

Hopefully, we’ll see you all there…

Nathan Strong

12/08/08