The Fat Lady has Sung

Well it’s finally all over. Yesterday RGC 1404 duly secured the victory over Glynneath that they needed to pip Pontypool at the post and secure the final promotion place to the Premiership. Pooler are now confined to the Championship for at least four seasons unless the WRU relent on their ring-fencing policy for the Premiership.

The table as it stands is shown below. Incredibly Glynneath have yet another game to play this time against champions elect Merthyr. This means that Glynneath will have played Bargoed, RGC 1404 and Merthyr in the three weeks since Pooler finished their fixtures.

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
Merthyr	25	23	0	2	113
Swansea	26	22	1	3	108
Bargoed	26	19	1	6	97
RGC 1404	26	19	0	7	96
Pontypool	26	19	1	6	94
Beddau	26	10	1	15	52

When you look at the table, you realise what a close run thing it was between Bargoed, RGC 1404 and Pontypool. Their playing records are virtually identical with only those pesky bonus points making the difference. You also realise just how far behind the rest of the league was with Beddau in sixth place forty two points behind Pooler. You could analyse it to death but Pooler need to look no further than their home record against the four other top teams where they only secured three points out of the twenty on offer.

I am sure everyone is frustrated and disappointed but we really need to regroup and build on what has been achieved this season. It is sad to see Louie Tonkin leaving but I am sure that Leighton Jones will do a great job and provide the continuity that we need.

The blue line on the chart shows Pontypool’s progress since the dark days of season 2012-13. As shown by the red line, for the first three seasons 83 points would have secured fourth place but the bar was raised this season with 96 being gathered by RGC in fourth. I know this is no consolation but Pooler really did have a good season and there is much to build on.

You may say that there is nothing to play for over the next three seasons but all we can do is follow Ebbw Vale and keep knocking on the door. Who knows the WRU may change things – they have been known to! Unfortunately it has rarely been in our favour.

Anyway my thanks to everyone at the club for at was what, at times, an exhilarating season. Despite the disappointment, I will definitely be taking my place on the Bank next season and willing this great club on. We will get there in the end!

I watched the European Rugby Champions Cup final yesterday on the TV. I have to say for something that is meant to showcase rugby it was a pretty poor spectacle. I know the weather was poor at times, but as a match it did nothing to sell rugby to the masses. No tries, little open rugby and plenty of cynicism and petulance. It’s a real shame but this seems to be the way in finals.

Well next on the agenda will be the trials and tribulations of the Wales team. First stop Twickenham for the money grabbing match and then on to New Zealand. As usual, we hear the optimism but I for one are not expecting anything but more disappointment. Of course you never know….

Thanks to all at Pooler for a great effort and see you next season.

We can still dream

RGC’s thumping victory at Cardiff Met yesterday means that Pontypool’s slender hopes of promotion to the Premiership have shed another few pounds. It will now take a victory by Glynneath at home against RGC 1404 for Pooler to gain promotion. Mind you, Glynneath did record a rather unlikely bonus point win at Bargoed yesterday. With this victory, Glynneath have now staved off the threat of relegation so the result of the game against RGC 1404 is not quite so critical to them. For the record, the Gogs need three points to overhaul Pontypool (but I guess drawing level with two will do) and claim promotion. We can still hope!

I spent the afternoon fitfully flicking across channels and watching about four games of rugby at once. One thing is abundantly clear the entertainment value of rugby is greatly enhanced by the better playing conditions at this time of the year. Even the English Premiership becomes less of a scrum and penalty fest. The Welsh regions with the honourable exception of the Blues certainly did not cover themselves with glory yesterday and this brings to an end a pretty dismal season for them. The only bright spot, rather surprisingly, came from the Dragons who against all the odds got to the semi-final of the Challenge Cup. With the exception of this, we had what is becoming the customary Wexit at the group stage.

When I thought about the impact of playing conditions, I wondered why the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere don’t just swap the venues of the Autumn and Summer tours around.  It would be much nicer for the travelling supporters too. Am I crazy? You don’t have to answer that.

Come on Glynneath you can do it!