Cardiff RFC v Pontypool RFC

Gareth Betts believes the environment in the club is the reason for the good form this season and expects that to continue against Cardiff this weekend.

Pooler’s bonus-point victory over Pontypridd at Pontypool Park made it five wins from six on the return to the Indigo Premiership.

The only blemish in the league this season has been the opening day defeat to Newport at Rodney Parade, although strength and conditioning coach Betts is only looking at the positives from that result.

“That probably done us a bit of good, it almost put our feet on the ground,” he said.

“There were aspects in that game where we could have pushed them further and possibly gotten a win.

“I’d like to think when we play them later on in the season it will be a closer game and we can turn that score around.”

Up next is a trip to the capital to play WRU Premiership Cup champions and Premiership runners-up Cardiff.

Betts acknowledges the challenge that awaits Pontypool on Saturday afternoon but has full belief the players can stand up to it.

“It showed that last year,” he explained.

“We were favourites to win the league last year, which we did, but this year they have proved they are very good players, I can’t speak highly enough of them.

“The work they are putting in, the camaraderie, the closeness, the work ethic.

“It’s a tight group of boys, a tight coaching group and a tight club. I think we are going to go onwards and upwards.

“We haven’t signed a load of new players.

“The players we’ve had and the environment we’ve built has been about using what we’ve got and the resources we’ve got.

“The players have worked their socks off, particularly from a conditioning point of view.

“The work the players are putting in is making a big difference and the proof is in the pudding.

“We are where we are because we are working hard and you only get out what you put in.

“I’m a big believer in if you work hard then you get what you deserve and that’s where we are at the minute.

“There no egos, the boys are just working extremely hard for each other.”