Gilfach Goch
Internationals with the club packed with supporters which is something we haven ’ t seen for a few years .
“ The run of wins we have recently had has seen a rise in support and this has resulted in a full house at the club after games which can only be a good thing in helping us continue rugby in our valley . Winning has given a lot of the young player ’ s maturity which we did not see last season and probably accounted for the reason we lost some narrow games . In similar games this season we have ground out the win based on the player ’ s previous experience .
“ The success of winning league games has seen us placed 5th in the Current Glamorgan County Silver Ball Competition . This is a last 8 competition at the end of the season based on certain league games ; Gilfach Goch has previously won this competition on two occasions so it would be great if we were able to have a crack at this competition this season .
“ On the field , we would like to finish in the top 2 of Division 2 east central . We are also in the Mid District Plate so winning this competition is in our sights - not forgetting getting into the last 8 of Silver Ball we really have a lot to play for in 2018 . Off the field , we are looking to the clubhouse going
as we are in an old building which is draining resources and year on year it is getting more and more difficult to keep going . “ As a community focused club , the youth team are vital to the sustainability of our senior squad . As an amateur , nonpaying club , recruiting players from outside the village always has been and always will be difficult , hence the reliance on youth players to feed through and occasionally to step up early if need be .
“ The seniors have conditioned training sessions with the youth at identified periods during the season . This allows the youth players to experience senior rugby intensity and quality , as well as understanding the expectations of being a senior player within the club . Next season , for the first time , the youth will mirror the senior ’ s style of rugby as part of the transition strategy from youth to senior rugby . Both sets of coaches have been working closely on this initiative in order to formalise the approach into the senior game .
“ We are a community club . We have players from 7 to 45 years old with 150 + players playing and using the club every week . The clubhouse has a darts team , line dancing group and a weekly OAP bingo group . The www . rugbyclubmag . com 27