Firstly, a Happy New Year to all Neath RFC supporters – thanks for your backing, home and away, let’s hope we can carry our form into 2023 !
The first half of the season has gone more or less according to plan.
Our discipline has improved – still room for improvement ! Our fitness is better – still room for improvement ! And we are playing in good areas – still room for improvement !
We knew we had to perform from the outset and we did just that coming through a tough September with just the one narrow defeat at Pontypool.
Since then we have stitched together a winning run which has carried us to the top of the table but we know only too well that Pontypool have a game in hand and we must keep our run going – starting in January which will be a vital month.
The December weather has been unkind to us – and everyone else too – but we have kept training and will do so over the New Year.
By the way, full marks to Briton Ferry for coming to play us at The Gnoll on Boxing Day – great crowd and atmosphere – and sorry I couldn’t get on the field (one of many chest infections in the squad).
We were probably not at our best last time out in the league at Ystrad Rhondda so we need to be raring to go at Ystayfera on January 7 and beyond.
The league is a priority and in the New Year we set out on the Cup trail again at home to Trebanos on January 21. We need to have ambition.
Having Luc Jones back is a boost as he is another local boy with plenty of top-class know-how and can only add to the squad which is developing nicely with more depth – still room for improvement !
Nobody is getting carried away. After all, the league season is only about a third done. But, rest assured, we will keep striving in 2023 – a BIG YEAR in every sense.
Our strong back-up team are an example to us all with their absolute dedication – and we hope to reward them this season.
Same goes for all the supporters whether travelling under your own steam or on the fun-bus, we love hearing your chants and shouts of encouragement which turn even away games into home ones.
We have vital away games coming up at Ystalyfera, Bargoed and Bedwas so keep being noisy, help carry us forward and have a prosperous 2023.
Happy New Year from all the Squad.
Ryan