Captain's blog #4

In my last blog I called for our supporters to come out in numbers for the home game against Cardiff. We had a decent crowd on the day, who were hopefully entertained, during the first half at least, and witnessed a tense finish, and most importantly a Ponty win.

On the Thursday prior to the Cardiff game, I was unable to train due to working nights, but I heard a whisper that not all the lights were switched on for training at Sardis, and that a good few balls were dropped in the “twilight zone”. When the boys complained to Johnsy that they couldn’t see properly, he peered through his glasses and responded “welcome to my world”!

After Cardiff we moved to Swansea – another away game! We hoped to build on the Cardiff win, but unfortunately were undone by a Swansea side who played the conditions better than we did. The video analysis of the game on the following Tuesday evening was a painful experience, but the boys sat through it, and will have learnt from the mistakes made.

We then faced Glamorgan Wanderers at home, and being a fellow Blues regional club, we realised that they had video access to all our games, and would have analysed us carefully in preparation. We called some new moves, some new line-out ploys, and as it happened, we had to re-shuffle our back line due to injuries. These enforced changes worked in our favour, and after a very disappointing first half, a real bollocking from the coaches during the interval, and a bout of “handbags”, the team were spurred into action and put up a good second half performance to secure the win.

On a personal note, I had to have an injection in my neck following the Wanderers game, to treat a blocked nerve, but I hope to be fit to lead the team in our televised game at Llanelli next Saturday – the last game at Stradey Park.

I often pop into the Ponty website to read the TerraceTalk postings, and realise the strength of support and the passion of the Ponty fans. We all know that Sardis Road is the best supported ground in the premiership, and our players raise their game in the atmosphere generated there.

Some TerraceTalkers have been discussing the kids’ game during the interval of the Wanderers’ game. My boy Morgan, and Johnsy’s boy Daniel and all their friends were overjoyed to be taking part in the event. Hopefully this can be looked at as a way to bring in the younger generation, and to bring their friends and families into the ground to watch and follow Pontypridd RFC.

On a positive note, its good to see “Tinner” making a steady recovery from his recent problems, and on a sad note, its been a parting of company with Ian Poley, who has been a good friend and a travel companion over the past few seasons. I wish Ian all the very best in his future endeavours.

There’s a big game coming up on Saturday – televised live, against the top team in the division and the last game at the famous Stradey Park stadium. Hopefully we can give the old place a good send off by getting an important away win, and showing the Welsh public how well and how passionately Pontypridd RFC is supported still.

Nathan Strong - 15/10/08