Pontypool RFC v Trebanos RFC

After six weeks without a game Pontypool RFC will have to build their momentum back up starting with the visit of Trebanos RFC, according to Leighton Jones.

Pooler were due to take on league leaders Bargoed RFC in their only scheduled fixture for February but that was the weekend that Storm Eunice wreaked havoc across the country and the game had to be postponed.

That has left the team out of action since January’s hard-fought victory at Narberth RFC. Trebanos RFC played last weekend as they beat TATA Steel RFC 21-18.

“It’s been a bit too long, it’s unfortunate with the weather at Bargoed RFC,” said head coach Jones.

“It’s hard with motivating the players at training with a lack of games but this week there has been a change in attitude and change of intensity to the sessions so we’re just looking forward to playing on Saturday.

“it’s been really really difficult. There is no momentum.

“It’s been such a long break it’s taken any momentum that we had.

“It probably feels like a mini pre-season going into this game.

“We’re going to be rusty, the boys are going to be looking for that second wind quite early but we are where we are.

“Anyone involved in playing or coaching will say there is nothing like a run of games and the more you play the more fluent you get.

“The boys have got a chance to put a marker down.

“We’re playing this week, we then have a week off and then we’re quite regular and consistent with games so it’ll be a marker for us to build on and go forward.”

“Historically Trebanos like to play an attacking brand of rugby and they are a joy to watch.

“If we aren’t defensively on the money they can cause a lot of trouble but we’ve been focusing on us and what we need to set in stone quite early and the game plan that we are going to go in with to try and build some momentum for the run of games we’ve got.”

With a couple of players unavailable, Jones has had to ring the changes with eight new faces in the starting XV.

Corey Hewlett, Scott Evans, Cameron Regan, Mike Hale and Duan Thomas return while Curtis Gregory, Mike Herbert and Lloyd Lewis have all been handed their first appearances of the season.

“There are different combinations, we’ve got one or two boys who are not available and a couple of boys have not had much game time,” Jones added.

“No one has had much game time this year but the couple of games we’ve had there are one or two boys that haven’t featured much.

“It’s nice to see Lloyd [Lewis] back on the park, it’s nice to see Curtis [Gregory] get a shot and Mike [Herbert] has been in and out with injury so there hasn’t been much rugby for a couple of them.

“Duan [Thomas], another local lad, is stepping in at 12 so it’ll be nice to see these boys take their opportunities, show us what they can do and what playing for the club means to them.

“We are looking for the boys to come out and try to cement their place with the jersey.”

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