Captain's Blog #11

Where are we in the league? We’re in second place having played seven games, five of those away…

If you’d asked me before the start of the season if I’d be happy to be in that position, the answer quite happily would have been yes! Deep down however I know that we could, and should be top.

The two losses we suffered were opportunities to turn over two teams against whom we have traditionally struggled. Carmarthen have proved to be a bogey side in the past, and Rodney Parade is a very difficult place to play. On current form, and with the belief within the squad, we could have come away with wins rather than the two bonus point defeats. On the plus side we have travelled to other Premiership venues, where points were hard to come by in previous seasons, and won with bonus points.

The style of rugby we play is surely good to watch, and I know is a pleasure to play. I would like to think that the forwards are supplying decent ball (with the exception of the Newport game) for our backs, and have also scored numerous tries ourselves from set piece play.

Praise must go to Johnsey and Chief who put a lot of effort in off the field, studying the opposition week in week out. They are also not above themselves to listen to suggestions and willing to give those ideas a go. If they work, they take the credit, if not they just blame whoever came up with the suggestion in the first place!

Training is a pleasure with Booly being very game specific in his fitness work. If an area of play needs improving, our training will reflect that. We must be doing things right as we are finishing games the stronger team.

Its good to welcome back experienced players like Locks and Nutz, who have added a cutting edge to our game. Its good to see also the newcomers coming along – as I mentioned in my previous blog, Johnsey and Chief are willing to develop players from the RCT area, and yet again have unveiled the likes of Dean Gunter, Darren Waters, McCauley Cook and Lewis Smout. The emergence of these youngsters not only strengthens the squad but intensifies competition for places.

Every player must now raise their game, a prime example being Chris Dicomidis who has stepped up this year to be a first choice second row. We have four other locks fighting for their place, and I tell them each to stamp their authority on the game to make that no 4 shirt their own.

I’m looking forward to Saturday evening’s game – 1^st against 2^nd on the box, and I’m sure we can continue with our winning ways to leapfrog Swansea to pole position. Numerous people have spoken to me,  that they are looking forward to a Premiership game being broadcast as regional rugby at the moment is a chore to watch. I hope that we at Ponty can show the rugby critics and the wider rugby community that the Welsh Premiership is a good standard, and should be embraced to a greater degree by our region.

I urge you all to get down to Sardis in your droves on Saturday, bring your friends and family, and lets hear that Ole Ole Ole ringing out loud from the terraces!

Nathan Strong.

07/10/09