IN TOUCH
The talking has finished and actions
speak louder than words and I am
pleased to say that players have
responded well to the new focus on
player welfare at the club.
All the promises made by the Club
have been honoured including a
top coaching structure for senior
and youth rugby featuring a senior
coaching team with Rhys James
(Cuppers) as Head Coach.
Cuppers has demonstrated excellent
motivational leadership and an astute
coaching brain. He is supported by
Tom Prydie, Ryan Bevington and
Lloyd Peers who continue to have
a significant input into the coaching
structure of the club but particularly
now where they are needed most at
senior level. We have an excellent
physio/medical team headed by
Gareth Williams and supported by
Teg and Chris Blake. Mac is Team
Manager, Kevin McCarthy Fixtures
Sec. and 2 committee members
are allocated to each game. Dave
Thomas and Vernon Jones are
coaches for the Youth, Chris Wintle is
Team Manager and Dai Long weighs
Top Trainer - September
Gavin Williams & Rob Howe
Man of the Match Cefn Cribbwr Connor Rees & Richard Hnyda
Nantymoel Tom Lodwig & Gareth Rees
Bridgend Sports Jon Phillips
Bryncethin Mattie Davies
Ogmore Vale Jordan Skidmore
in where needed. All in all a great
team!
The benefit scheme is functioning
as promised and rewards for Top
Trainers, Man of the Match etc. are
awarded regularly. Kit orders have
been placed we have a tour planned
for May 15 to Cologne. We have
started and will develop pre-match
luncheons for the forthcoming
“Derby’s” with the likes of Pyle and
Cefn Cribbwr.
We started the season with an away
victory over Ogmore Vale 27-12,
followed by a 1 point defeat by
Bryncethin (26-27) who definitely
played their “get out of jail free card”.
This was followed by a very pleasing
victory at Bridgend Sports 28-17.
The reason for the clear turnaround
in fortunes has been the response
from players to the commitments put
in place by the Committee. A flood
of significant signings (including
an Irish International!) were made
over the summer and we have had
a welcome infusion from last year’s
(and this years) youth - we have even
been able to muster a true 2nd team.
The 2nds took another narrow defeat
again by one point to Bryncethin
followed by a late cancellation by
Nantymoel last Saturday. Many sides
are failing to put out a 2nd XV – this is
perhaps the best reflection of how far
we have come with our new player
focus.
A number of successful social events
have taken place at the club and
there has been fantastic camaraderie
displayed by the players both on and
off the field. This is infectious with the
supporters also playing their part and
numbers are beginning to grow. We
have pre-match luncheons arranged
along with band nights and a Casino
night – dates to be confirmed (watch
this space).
At this stage we only have the
murmurings of a resurgence but a
more positive start could not have
been wished for. We need now for
the many Porthcawl players (and
anyone else!!) still watching from
other clubs to have faith and come
home and build on this great start.
Ian McDonald
Team Manager
Under 8s at the Liberty Stadium
Results Round-up
Porthcawl RFC
3
Ystradgynlais RFC
1
September 14th
Bridgend Athletic Under 10s
Porthcawl RFC Under 10s
The Ospreys experience was one
for the scrap book for the 10 lucky
players who graced the field at half
time at the Ospreys v Blues game
against Ystradgynlais in front of over
10,000.
pack which allowed Dewi Hooper to
The build up to half time was great,
watching the Ospreys pound the
Blues try line meters away from our
eager team where the excitement
in the tunnel was boiling over like a
cup final with the team talk just about
enjoying the experience and use
skills they had learnt to calm some of
the nerves.
As restart we again tagged out the
opposition and this time again after
great team build up the little pocket
rocket ran forward (not backwards
or sideways) and sidestepped his
way through on two occasions well
done Ryan Timms. Ystradgynlais
replied with a well worked try but we
continued to peg them on their line
with all players having a run and an
opportunity to show off their skills.
I feel very proud of you all for both
games today and you all did your
club and coaches proud, with some
of the kids even keeping the grass
stuck to their boots as a souvenir
to go with their names in the
programme. Thank you Ospreys for
a great day that we won’t forget.
The game was fast and furious
as the teams were hell-bent on
squeezing as much playing time as
possible and they not only played
their hearts out for themselves but
for the club and especially their team
mates who missed out and of course
their proud families on the side lines.
With only 7 minutes game time we
quickly got up to speed and tagged
Ystradgynlais out straight away. We
were on the front foot hunting as a
break free side stepping his way
through the traffic and then racing
in for our first try right in front of the
parents with a number of free passes
in the build up.
written by Rob Hooper,
Coach Under 8s
What’s On
Friday 31st October
20
30
Family Halloween Party
Saturday 8th November
October 5th
Porthcawl RFC Under 11s
Nantyffyllon RFC Under 11s
49
7
October 19th
Bury Port Under 16s
Porthcawl RFC Under 16s
12
10
Porthcawl RFC Under 12s
Bridgend Sports Under 12s
26
19
Porthcawl RFC Under 11s
Bridgend Sports Under 11s
56
7
Porthcawl RFC Under 10s
Bridgend Sports Under 10s
45
20
Porthcawl RFC Under 9s
Bridgend Sports Under 9s
1
7
Porthcawl RFC Under 8s
Bridgend Sports Under 8s
18
16
Porthcawl RFC Under 7s
Bridgend Sports Under 7s
32
25
Wales v Australia.
Pre-Match quiz and food at half time.
Saturday 22nd November.
Wales v New Zealand
Pre-Match quiz and food at half time.
Saturday 29th November
Porthcawl Rugby
@porthcawlrfc
Wales v South Africa
Pre-Match quiz and food at half time.
If you have anything you would like to be published on our
website please email [email protected]
Saturday 6th December
Pre-Match 2 course Christmas luch
before the Tonmawr game - £12 per
ticket. Post match entertainment from
‘Lady Rock’.
Wednesday 24th December
Christmas Eve disco - FREE Entry!
Wednesday 31st December
New Year’s Eve - FREE Entry!
Open until 2:30am
Autumn International Tickets
A month of world-class rugby is coming to the Millennium
Stadium this November as the Dove Men Series returns.
Make sure you are there!
Tickets for the Dove Men Series 2014 are ON SALE and
selling fast.
Saturday 8th Nov - Australia
Tickets Prices - £70, £60
Saturday 22nd Nov - New Zealand
Ticket Prices - £80, £75
Saturday 29th Nov - South Africa
Ticket Prices - £70, £60,
Contact Kevin McCarthy for details.
Sunday Lunch
Pre-book at the bar by Friday evening.
2 Courses £6.95
Starter ~ Soup
Main ~ Roast Beef or Chicken
with Roast/boiled potatoes, Yorkshire
pudding and seasonal vegetables.
Optional dessert £2 ~
Strawberry Gateaux or Ice Cream
Thank you to our sponsors
We would just like to thank our sponsors for their continued support.
In this first issue of - In Touch - we want to give special mention to Jeff
Williams at Herbalife and James Godbeer at The Fairways Hotel who
have sponsored new leisure wear for our Senior players (pictures to
follow soon).
Mark Williams, The Print Centre Porthcawl has sponsored our Under
16s playing kit again this season.
We would also like to thank Mat Hardwicke at Seaside News, for his
continued support.
Without our sponsors we could not deliver rugby to our community.
This is a regular feature, we will be highlighting all our sponsors over
the few issues.
Pitch Side
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For the whole year!
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100 Club Draw
Next Draw - Wednesday 12th November
Win up to £90 in our monthly draws!
100 Club members can win up to £1,300
in our big Christmas Draw! Get your numbers now!
A few numbers are still available!
Contact Sian Richardsfor details on how you can join the 100 Club