Captain’s Blog

We have finished our first block of Premiership games, and after a short mid-season break, are now all ready to go again with some important fixtures coming up.

After an inconsistent start to the season we hit some good form recently and got a run of results which has put us in contention at the top of the table. With some long term injury problems in the squad clearing up we now look stronger than ever and the boys are really fired up for what’s coming our way.

The next game against Bedwas is a massive one – we travel to face the top team in the league and if we can pull off a result there then it will be a statement of our intent. We then have two important home games against Ebbw and Newport which we will need to win before the trip to Merthyr.

The feeling in the camp is positive at the moment. We are playing good attacking rugby, expansive rugby with pace out wide, scoring tries from deep, scoring tries late on in games when our fitness levels have a bearing.

The newcomers to the squad have settled in well and have made their mark. Diggy Bird gets the back line moving, Morgan Sieniawski has had a storming start to the campaign, and the return of Chris Phillips has been a big plus. Whereas in the past we might have been struggling for numbers we now have genuine strength in depth right through the squad.

Justin Burnell has brought in his own ideas and has really ramped up the tempo in training. Our mindset has changed and our confidence has grown as a result whilst our fitness and skill levels are also on the up. We still need to tighten up defensively but that is something we’re working on. All in all its an exciting time to be at Pontypridd RFC.

On a personal note I’m now well into my testimonial year with a number of events lined up. The Question and Answer session at the club this coming Saturday night should be a lot of fun – a chance to relax after the Bedwas game and get to mix in with the supporters. It will be great to have Strongy back at the club as well. Hopefully we’ll have a good turnout and make a night of it.

Dafydd Lockyer

24th October 2017