Due to a bout of lurgy, I was unable to get to Swansea for Pooler’s latest match. By all accounts, Pooler acquitted themselves brilliantly to record a 3-24 victory in tricky weather conditions. It is a real shame I was not there to witness it. As ever, I was thankful for the invaluable periodic tweets that kept me up to date as the match progressed. So well done to everyone involved. This was a much needed win for Pooler had been finding the going tough recently.
As it is now the last day of 2023, I paused to think
back over what has been a momentous year for Pooler. In the first few months of
the year Pooler completed the historic feat of an unbeaten Welsh Championship league
season coupled with winning the Championship Cup. This of course was
accompanied by achieving their long held desire to gain promotion to the
Premiership after this had been denied for so long.
Most pundits thought that Pooler would struggle in
their first season back in the Premiership but not a bit of it. True, Pooler have
not set the world alight through their try scoring power but for sheer guts and
determination they have been second to none. They have snatched victory from
the jaws of defeat a number of times and their never say die attitude is a credit
to this great club. So well done to the management and coaching team and of
course the squad. A word also for the Pooler Army of supporters who have lit up
the atmosphere with their passion for their team. December 31st
finds Pooler in fourth place in the Premiership having won nine of the thirteen
matches played to date. Way beyond most people’s expectation.
A few words in support of the Premiership. I have to
say I have thoroughly enjoyed my rugby this season following Pooler in the
Premiership. The matches have been competitive, of a decent standard and pretty
well attended - particularly when Pooler are in town! There has been plenty of
good young regional talent on view that must surely be benefiting from playing
rugby alongside more experienced players. The number of fixtures is about right
for both players and fans. The big question in my mind is why would anyone want
to change this and introduce the so-called elite league between the Premiership
and regional rugby? That someone of course is the WRU who have decided that it
will solve all the problems of Welsh rugby by changing this as a first priority.
I venture there are more pressing problems such as, have we go the right
structure at the professional level, to look at first. This all seems to have
gone quiet, however, since Cardiff, Merthyr and Pontypridd stated that they
were not interested in joining the elite league in its current format. Maybe,
just maybe it will be shelved.
Thanks to Pooler for making 2023 such a memorable year
in my sixty odd years of watching rugby. It’s onwards and upwards from here.
2024 starts with a home match against Aberavon next
Saturday- I can’t wait!
Come on Pooler!
I wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.
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