Pooler Do Enough

I have been away on my travels for the last few weeks and to my eternal shame missed three of Pontypool’s games. The excellent official match report and the reports from my good friend Steve Parfitt coupled with anxious glances at social media kept me well informed about what was occurring. In summary, it was three more victories in contrasting styles. Scraping home to a rather fortunate 8-3 win against Tata Steel, a stylish and convincing win (18-29) at Beddau and a solid home win (46-18) against Newbridge in poor conditions. The unbeaten run goes on but both Narberth and Cardiff Met have also strung four victories together so winning the Championship is looking to be a formidable challenge. The strength of the challenge posed by Cardiff Met will be dependent on their priorities as they will surely want to go one better than last season in the British Universities’ competition this season.

So to Saturday’s match and the visit to Rhydyfelin on a glorious afternoon and absolutely perfect playing conditions. The home side kicked off and, despite Pontypool not fielding the ball at the first attempt, Pooler went straight on the attack. Forwards and backs combined effectively as they scythed through the home defence for Hodge to score an excellent try. The conversion failed but Pontypool were 0-5 to the good in a minute or so. Moments later, they doubled their lead with another unconverted try this time with Meek getting the touchdown (0-10). It looked odds on a comfortable win for the away side but, as is so often the case, after a really bright start teams ease off unintentionally and let their opponents back into the game. It would have been difficult to keep up that scoring rate that was for sure!

Rhydyfelin started to look lively and were more than happy to run the ball which made for an enjoyable if scrappy spectacle. At the end of the first quarter, the home side were hampered by the sinbinning of their centre Waygood. Pontypool applied the pressure and, when a ball went loose in the home twenty two, Gullis grabbed it and scored Pooler’s third try. The try was converted by Meek and the lead had grown to 0-17.

The Rhydefelin backs looked useful and, as the half drew to a close, they shredded the Pooler defence for Close to score a good try. The conversion sailed wide but the home side were back in the game (5-17). Pooler hit back immediately when Thomas ran the ball back from the Pooler twenty two. A couple of passes later loose head prop Coundley exhibited the skills of a threequarter to show a clean pair of heels to the defence and score near the posts. The conversion was kicked by Jones and Pontypool had a comfortable 24-5 lead with a bonus point in the bag as the half came to an end.

Pontypool started the second half strongly and got their reward when their driving lineout surged over the Rhydyfelin line for Watkins to touch down. Jones added the conversion and Pooler’s lead at 5-31 looked unassailable. Pontypool obviously thought so as, from then on, they seemed to go back into their shell and give the initiative to the home side. This made things rather frustrating for the Pooler faithful.

Rhydyfelin were more than happy to play the role of aggressor and, despite losing Tottle for ten minutes for a high tackle, spent most of the remaining time in the Pontypool half. After an hour they got their just reward when hooker Pritchard scored from a peel around the front of a lineout near the Pontypool line. The try was converted by Gratton and the home side still had a glimmer of hope of at least a bonus point or two (12-31).

Rhydyfelin continued to attack against a Pooler side who looked like they wanted the final whistle to blow. In the closing minutes, Pooler replacement Sparks received a yellow card for holding on to the ball and he was followed into the sin bin shortly afterwards by Hodge for a similar offence. With the last move of the game, the Rhydyfelin threequarters managed, despite a series of poor passes, to make room for Farrer to squeeze in at the corner for an unconverted try. Final score Rhydyfelin 17 : Pontypool 31.

This was very much mission accomplished for Pontypool. A bonus point victory away from home is always a good result. They played some brilliant rugby at times but also seemed guilty of relaxing at times. There will be no time for relaxing next week as they take on Narberth who will also be a strong contender for the Championship title. Both sides are unbeaten and Pooler will really need to be on their mettle if they are to prevail. It should be a cracker!

I watched some of the RGC v Merthyr game on the TV on Friday night and have to say I was impressed by the standard. Merthyr were stronger up front and that won the day. Yes these two teams will finish near the top of the Premiership but this was certainly a much higher standard than the Pontypool match. Pooler face a daunting challenge if they are to get back into the Premiership that is for sure. Everyone likes a challenge though and Pooler’s skill and spirit can win through.

I look forward to next week’s encounter against Narberth with eager anticipation.

Come on Pooler!

Pooler Pilfer the Points

Well we are off! The Welsh Championship for 2018-19 has got under way and there is the massive carrot of promotion to the Premiership back on the menu. Pontypool’s first fixture was a visit to newly promoted Ystrad Rhondda at Gelligaled Park. To continue the fruit and veg theme, this had banana skin written all over it as the home side had finished the previous season strongly and would certainly fancy their chances of upsetting the reigning champions. The weather was warm and humid and the pitch in perfect condition as a decent crowd assembled on the grassy bank.

It certainly did not take long for Pontypool to realise that they were in for a torrid afternoon as Ystrad Rhondda seized the early initiative and pressed hard for the opening score. It was only a bit of over-eagerness from the home side and sound defence from Pooler that kept them out. After a quarter of an hour of defending, Pooler worked their way into the home twenty two and, after a series of energy sapping forward drives, managed to create the narrowest of gaps for Prothero to squeeze in for a try in the right corner. The conversion failed but Pooler had registered the first points of the afternoon to the relief of their followers (0-5).

This relief was short lived as moments later Ystrad splintered the Pooler defence and only a last gasp tackle by Sparks prevented them for scoring under the posts. Sparks was subsequently given a yellow card for not allowing the tackler to release the ball and Shepherd popped over the penalty (3-5).

The rest of the first half was scoreless but it was the home side who looked the more likely to score as they dominated possession. They exerted considerable pressure on the Pontypool set pieces and were a force to be reckoned with at the breakdown. Pooler were probably relieved when the half-time whistle was blown and they could retreat to the changing room to discuss how to overcome their tenacious opponents.

The second half had barely begun when Ystrad were awarded a penalty for an offence at a ruck in front of the Pontypool posts. Shephard converted the penalty comfortably for the home side to take the lead at 6-5. This seemed to spur Pooler into action and they started to look more like their old selves. A penalty from Jones re-established their narrow lead (6-8) but they still had their work cut out if they were going to win the match.

Ten minutes into the half came the moment that changed the course of the match. Pontypool were awarded a penalty on the Ystrad twenty two and scrum half Luckwell was impeded as he tried to take it quickly. Ystrad prop Foulkes was awarded a yellow card for this offence and Pooler sensed an opportunity. They kicked for the corner and the ball was just held up over the line after a strong lineout drive. The shorthanded home pack was driven back at the ensuing scrum and the referee awarded a penalty try (6-15).

Five minutes later Pontypool were on the attack and a kick ahead from Morris was partially charged down. The bounce of the ball was kind to the away side and Gullis scooped up the ball to score Pooler’s third try. The conversion from Meek was successful and Pontypool had stretched their lead to 6-22. The Pontypool faithful heaved a concerted sigh of relief that could be heard in Tonypandy.

Pontypool were probably a little guilty of relaxing while Ystrad were anything but relaxed as they upped their effort yet another notch. The Pontypool defence seemed spellbound as the Ystrad wing Llewellyn carved his way up the field to run forty metres or so to score. Shephard duly converted and Ystrad were fired up and convinced that they could trim the Pontypool lead further (13-22).

Sadly for the home side, an attack for inside their own half went horribly wrong and Usher was able to gather a loose ball to gallop forty metres to score Pooler’s fourth try. Meek converted and Pooler had earned a bonus point and opened up a sixteen point lead with ten minutes of the match remaining (13-29).

Ystrad certainly did not think that the game was over and pressed strongly to try and get at least a bonus point out of the encounter. Pontypool’s defence held firm until the very last play of the match when, after a concerted period of pressure, Ystrad created an overlap for Clarke to score an unconverted try in the left corner. Final score Ystrad Rhodda 18 Pontypool 29.

This was a really tough opening encounter for Pontypool against a lively and highly motivated Ystrad Rhondda side. The home side bossed the game for long periods and put the Pooler pack under a lot of pressure. A word of praise for referee Kevin Shorte who I thought had an excellent match and went about his business in a calm and assured manner even when emotions were high. It is said that it is the sign of a good side if you can eke out a win when you are not playing your best. This is very much the case for Pontypool in this match. Ystrad Rhondda can take a lot of heart from their performance and can feel very hard done by that they came away without at least a bonus point.

I haven’t watched much Welsh rugby on the TV this weekend. I did catch a little bit of Ulster v Scarlets on S4C but I haven’t yet subscribed to Premier Sports and I wonder how many have so far. The only Welsh region to win were the Ospreys with both the Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets losing narrowly to Irish opposition. The Dragons yet again went down to defeat this time at home to Benetton and will have to delve deep into their book of excuses to find something original.

Next week Pontypool will play Tata Steel at Pontypool Park and will surely be looking for an improved performance against a team that they know well having played them three times last season. I am going away for a few weeks and will miss this and a couple of other games but my thoughts will be with the Pooler and my phone never far from my person when 14.30 on a Saturday comes around.

Come on Pooler!

Pooler Pipped at the Post

Conditions at the Gnoll in Neath were perfect and there was certainly a buzz around the ground as Pontypool rolled into town for their final warm up game before the season proper starts next weekend. These two teams were once the powerhouses of Welsh rugby but have become estranged and now it seems to be formally divorced from the top table in Wales. As at Aberavon last week, I looked around the ground and thought back to those bruising encounters of yesteryear and sighed. Still this was sure to be a competitive encounter and another chance for Pooler to measure their strength against a side from the Premiership.

It was an unfamiliar Pontypool team that took to the field when the game started and the first quarter was a bit of a nightmare as a vibrant Neath side threatened to run riot. The home forwards looked powerful and the backs looked quick and, to make matters worse, Pooler gave away a series of penalties. Neath scored three tries in the first quarter and it could easily have been more. The first try was scored after a series of Neath forward drives sucked in the Pontypool defence for Evans in the centre to have a clear run in near the posts (7-0). The second came when, to the embarrassment of the Pontypool defence, Neath second row Barley galloped down the touch line to score in the corner (12-0). The third try came when Neath attacked from their own twenty two for Howley to score an excellent long range try (19-0). Things looked black for Pooler!

In the second quarter Pooler managed to gain a bit of composure and, despite some close shaves, managed to prevent Neath from increasing their lead. Indeed, as the half drew to a close, a good kick chase after a speculative kick down field saw Morris charge down the attempted Neath clearance kick and touch the ball down for a try. The conversion failed but at least Pooler were on the scoreboard at 19-5.

Pontypool made mass substitutions at half time and the side started to look more familiar. They seemed intent of putting right the rather lack lustre performance of the first half. Neath soon realised that they were going to have to look to their laurels as Pooler powered their way into the home twenty two. A series of forward drives saw Pooler hooker Ball wriggle over and with Jones’ conversion it was game on at 19-12. Virtually from the restart, Pontypool were guilty of some weak tackling and Neath took full advantage with a try from Callow that with the conversion re-established their lead (26-12).

Pontypool had upped the pace and were now looking far more dangerous. A quick tapped penalty in the Neath twenty-two saw Gullis race over for an unconverted try (26-17). A few minutes later some great work by the Pooler back row forwards Edwards and Herbert opened up the space for Gullis to score his second try. This time Jones nailed the conversion and the gap was down to just two points (26-24) and the momentum completely with the away side. As a tremendous third quarter came to an end, Pontypool were again threatening the Neath line. A defensive lineout went awry and Lampitt got hold of the ball and powered over for a try. Despite the conversion failing, Pontypool had taken the lead at 26-29.

The final quarter saw Neath make substitutions and they came back strongly as they tried desperately to snatch the win. Pooler defended stoutly but were pinned in their own half for long periods. A yellow card for Pontypool wing Prothero made things even more difficult as Neath put their powerful attacks together. Pontypool managed to get hold of the ball and wound the clock down into time added on with a series of forward drives. It looked all up for Neath but with the last play of the game they found inspiration and moved the ball for Ellis to squeeze over in the corner. After some deliberation, the match officials decided that the try should stand. The conversion failed but this was irrelevant really as Neath had snatched victory at the last gasp. Final score 31-29.

This was certainly “a game of two halves” type of performance for Pontypool which will surely have given the coaching team plenty to think about. There is no doubt that Pontypool have a tremendously strong squad and it will be finding the right blend and combinations that will be the challenge. The first league game is next Saturday at newly promoted Ystrad Rhondda and Pontypool can certainly expect a warm welcome.

It wouldn’t be Welsh rugby if there weren’t reorganisations and recriminations and that certainly seems to be the situation at the moment. As usual, money is high on the agenda and that is never a good thing in sport. I am, I suppose, a bit of a dinosaur having been a rugby player and supporter for most of my sixty odd years. I do, however, have simple needs as a supporter and I do feel that the importance of the paying fan who goes to watch rugby week in and week out seems to fall down the pecking order as time goes on. I was taught that the customer is the most important person in the supply chain and surely the rugby fan is the customer here. Therefore as a customer let me put down what I would like:

• ·         I want to support a team that I feel an emotional attachment to and that I can feel part of. This cannot be created at the flick of a switch or with some high pressure marketing it has to be nurtured. I want to watch that team play in the flesh as often as I can be it home or away. There is only really room for one other team in my heart and that is the Welsh national team who I will also watch whenever I can. The team I choose to support is Pontypool RFC who I have followed through thick and thin since my days in West Mon School. Yes I have an avid interest in rugby in general but I do not really need to actually go and watch any other teams. I watch rugby on the TV but very much on a cherry picked basis. This means I watch rugby from all over the world as well as from Wales on the basis of what looks like being an interesting game.
• ·         I want the team that I support to be part of a competitive league structure that is based on a meritocracy and does not have artificially created barriers. This means promotion and relegation based on league position alone. I do not see the point of play offs at the end of the season. I would like a league structure that is not constantly changing but one that stays in place for at least five years. 
• ·         A rugby season that lasts from September to April i.e. 8 months or 34 weeks. I would like there to be at least 26 league games to watch preferably on a Saturday afternoon during that time. This would allow time for cup matches and postponements. This means a league of 14 or 16 clubs.
• ·         I would rather stand on a terrace than on the field. If it is pouring with rain I would rather be under cover. As I get older I guess I would rather sit than stand. These however are not things that determine whether I go and watch a match.
• ·         I have no strong feelings about whether players should be paid. In the end it is the market and the benefactors that will determine that. We should be eternally grateful that there are benefactors and sponsors who are prepared to put money into the game.
• ·         Of course I want my team to do well but that is not the be all and end all. Win or lose it is nice to be able to mix with supporters from other clubs.
• ·         Most of all I want to have a bit of fun at a rugby match on a Saturday afternoon with people of a like mind.

The last few years have been frustrating as a Pontypool supporter with a ring-fenced Premiership and not really enough league rugby in a 12 team league. It seems the former will eventually be resolved but I still feel that we could do with a league of 14 teams. But what about Regional rugby I hear you ask. Somehow it seems to have passed me by – it must be the dinosaur in me.

I am still enjoying my rugby thanks to Pontypool.

Come on Pooler!

A Tough Outing for Pooler

Pontypool visited the Talbot Athletic Ground to play Aberavon in their latest pre-season friendly. As at Talywain last week, the weather was dreadful with a constant very heavy drizzle making playing conditions difficult. When I visit grounds like this, that haven’t really changed much in my rugby watching life, I always get a feeling of nostalgia. I think back to all those fierce encounters with both sides fielding some of the best Welsh internationals of the day. This of course is history and for this new Pooler squad it is all about making history if they can. That feeling of nostalgia only increased when Pontypool ran out in their smart retro styled kit with the shirt numbers on a plain white background and white shorts.

Aberavon started with a bang with Pooler looking a bit shell-shocked by the ferocity of their play. They were soon camped on the Pontypool line and after dismantling a Pooler scrum were awarded a penalty try (7-0). The aftermath of the scrum was a prolonged bout of fisticuffs which resulted in a yellow card for Best of Pontypool and Waite of Aberavon. This was clearly going to be a “friendly” in name only.

The game settled down a bit after this but there was still an undercurrent of bad feeling between the sides. Aberavon continued to pressure Pontypool’s set piece and with their smart backs looked the more likely side to score. Pontypool were very much on the defensive but stuck to their task tenaciously. Twenty minutes in, Gullis for Pooler and Williams for Aberavon had a bit of a spat and were both awarded a yellow card for their trouble.

In the second quarter, Pontypool started to get a foothold in the game and worked their way into the Wizards’ twenty two. After a series of powerful forward drives they worked an opening for Usher to squeeze in at the corner for their first try. The conversion failed but Pooler were back in the game at 7-5. Sadly the momentum that the away side had gained was disrupted by yet another yellow card this time for Luckwell for a late tackle.

As the first half drew to a close, another Pontypool scrum was shunted backwards and despite the conditions Aberavon managed to pass the ball along their three-quarters for Pearce to outflank the defence and score in the corner. The conversion failed but Aberavon had built up a useful lead of 12-5 at the interval.

Aberavon started the second half as they had the first with plenty of attacking intent. Again they seemed to catch Pontypool cold and within a couple of minutes had shredded the away defence and Banfield galloped away to score in the left corner. The difficult conversion failed but the Wizards had pulled two scores clear at 17-5.

There followed a period of mass substitutions with both sides taking the opportunity to give their squads a run out. As you might expect, the game lacked any sort of continuity as the new players got up to speed. The influx of new blood seemed to energise Pontypool more than Aberavon and they managed to improve the quality of possession from their set pieces. As a consequence, the game became far more even but again Pooler’s momentum was lost by another yellow card when Thomas was guilty of a late tackle.

Aberavon continued to look dangerous in attack but the Pontypool defence stood firm helped out by the conditions which made handling difficult. With a quarter of an hour to go, Pooler finally broke the shackles and managed to position themselves inside the home twenty two. A concerted forward drive saw Attwell touch down in the corner and with Meek’s excellent conversion Pontypool had closed the gap to 17-12.

The closing stages of the match saw Aberavon back on the attack and the Pontypool defence again hard at work. There was just one glimmer of a chance for Pontypool when they won a turnover and scuttled off down the field. Unfortunately the Aberavon cover got back to make the crucial tackle and the final score remained at 17-12 with the home side running out deserved winners.

This was a tough outing for Pontypool where they faced the harsh reality of what life is like in the Premiership. The game was lost in the first few minutes of each half when Pooler seemed to be caught cold. Add to this the poor discipline which resulted in four yellow cards and they left themselves a mountain to climb against a strong well-coached Aberavon team. It will certainly have been a valuable experience for the Pontypool squad who next week have another uphill battle when they visit Neath.

The game certainly revealed the tremendous strength in depth that the Pontypool squad possesses. It will be very interesting to see the team that is selected for the first league game on September the first. Competition for places has never been keener.

Come on Pooler!

Everybody Needs Good Neighbours

Whatever happened to that long hot summer? It certainly was not in evidence at Emlyn Park, Talywain yesterday afternoon. It was dark and dismal with incessant rainfall that varied from a heavy drizzle to a downpour. Did I mind? Yes maybe a little, but it was the first rugby match of the pre-season and Pontypool were taking on neighbours Talywain whose team had been augmented by the addition of players from Blaenavon. Yes, it would be good to see Pooler in action even in a monsoon.

Friendly fixtures like this can often be disjointed with copious substitutions, new combinations and a certain amount of rustiness to contend with. Couple this with the rain and of course it was a match littered with mistakes. The home side certainly made Pontypool work hard in all aspects of their game which made it a valuable exercise.

Pontypool started strongly and within the first five minutes had registered two converted tries. Ace try scorer Watkins scored the first from short range and Mahoney the second when he won a kick and chase competition. Both tries were converted by new boy Ceri Morris playing at outside half (0-14).

Virtually all of the remainder of the first half was played in the Pontypool half with strong Pooler defence cancelling out the best efforts of the home attack. Pontypool finally broke the stranglehold as the half drew to a close and some good inter-passing amongst the backs down the left wing saw Mahoney score his second try in the corner. The score at half time was 0-19 which was not really a reflection of the balance of play.

Pooler made a raft of changes at half time and started off really strongly. Watkins powered over for his second try shortly after the restart (0-24) and a few minutes later, after probably the best piece of combined play of the match, Luckwell took an inside ball from Nash to score near the posts. The Luckwell try was converted by another new boy Matthew Lewis who was now playing outside half (0-31).

After this bright spell of play, the rain got heavier and the game got stodgier with few moments of inspiration for the crowd to cheer. As the third quarter ended, tight head prop Price forced his way over the line from short range to record Pooler’s sixth try which was converted by Lewis (0-38).

This was to be the final score in the match. From then on it became a bit of a stalemate with the home side managing to negate Pooler’s best efforts to add to their tally. The Pooler defence were equally determined to keep a clean sheet. The rain and the rustiness did the rest. Final score Talywain & Blaenavon 0 - Pontypool 38.

Both sides must be pleased with this opportunity to play some competitive rugby. For Pooler it was a chance to give their new signings a runout alongside the successful squad from last season. It is early days of course but there look to be some useful acquisitions who will bolster the strength of the squad for what is sure to be a demanding season. For their part, the combined Talywain and Blaenavon team showed great heart and no little skill in making Pontypool work so hard for victory.

Pontypool’s next “friendly” will be a visit to the Talbot Athletic Ground to take on Premiership outfit Aberavon. This will certainly be a challenging encounter but will give Pooler a chance to measure their strength against a team from the next league up.

Come on Pooler!

Pooler Moving Forward

I have had time to reflect on last Tuesday’s meeting where Pontypool RFC CEO Ben Jeffreys spoke eloquently and passionately about the problems facing the club. He explained that the antisocial behaviour of certain people was putting players’ safety at risk and making the volunteers’ task in preparing the ground thoroughly unpleasant as well as frequently undoing the ground development work. It was clear that security at the ground needed to be beefed up but that the intransigence of Torfaen Council was preventing this from happening. An impasse has been reached and, as a consequence, the time was right for Pontypool RFC to find another home.

This is a highly emotive subject of course. I think most people would like the club to remain in the glorious surroundings of Pontypool Park with its rich history but equally there is a stark recognition that things cannot go on like they are. The club needs to be free to tackle its problems in its own way and continue to plan and prepare for the future. This will always be difficult at Pontypool Park where local government holds sway. It does sound an awful lot like Brexit doesn’t it? Let us hope we can manage it better!

Having thought long and hard about it, I am fully supportive of the plan to move away from Pontypool Park. There are plenty of positives that is for sure which in the cold light of day outweigh my emotional attachment to the Bank that goes back fifty years or more.  If Pooler move and end up with a purpose built ground with 3G pitch and a club house it would be a tremendous step forward. Imagine being able to have a beer in a room where all that Pontypool memorabilia was on display. It would also be a fantastic asset that could be shared with the local community.

If is a small word with big significance however. To move requires the selection and procurement of a suitable location and of course significant funding. Ben Jeffreys admitted that a site has not yet been found although they have been looking for some time. This will surely mean that a move is quite a long way in the future - at least a couple of years I guess. In the meantime, there is some important rugby to be played on Pontypool Park with Pooler having the major challenge of pushing to regain Premiership status. Let us hope a way can be found to work constructively with Torfaen Council and the police to tackle some of the current issues with antisocial behaviour and keep everyone safe.

Well done Ben for having the courage of your convictions! I am with you, Peter and Pontypool RFC all the way. I will continue to watch Pooler wherever they play – even in Newport!

That It Should Come to This

There are many cases of situations where the actions of a few cause heartache and pain for the many. What is happening at Pontypool Park of late is a glaring example of this. The antisocial behaviour of a few that takes place in around the rugby ground is threatening to force Pontypool RFC to leave their spiritual home. The mindless people who perpetrate this behaviour seem to gain some kind of satisfaction from wrecking Pontypool RFC’s ambitions to take a leading position in the community by wanton acts of vandalism.

Why has this not been stopped you might ask? Surely the police and the local authorities could intervene. So far everything that has been done has proved ineffective. Pontypool RFC would like to be able to fence off the ground to improve security but this according to the Council seems to contravene the covenant of Pontypool Park (although it was OK to build a large sports centre where you have to pay to use the facilities). You somehow doubt whether a fence would keep the vandals out if they really wanted to continue their campaign of destruction.

On the face of it, the pragmatic answer is for Pooler to up sticks and find a new home where they can be in charge of their own destiny – Pexit! This of course would be a terrible wrench for all those who are associated with the club and have had the benefits of playing and watching rugby in surely one of the most picturesque settings in the world. Let us hope it doesn’t come to this as I for one would miss those afternoons on the Bank which have been an important part of my life for the last fifty years or so. Rest assured I will still support Pooler wherever they play but it could never be quite the same.

Surely the best answer is to round up the perpetrators of the problem as soon as possible. They are hardly master criminals. I would then send them to a boot camp run along the lines of a Ray Prosser training session. You never know they might get a taste for playing rugby and realise that scattering sharp objects on the pitch is dangerous.

I have confidence that this great club with the guidance of Peter and Ben Jeffreys and the backing of the loyal supporters will find a sensible way to solve the problem. We must for everyone’s sake.