HAVING BEEN docked a further eight points by the WRU this week, Welshpool’s beleaguered rugby players are now facing a battle to finish their fixtures.
HAVING BEEN docked a further eight points by the WRU this week, Welshpool’s beleaguered rugby players are now facing a battle to finish their fixtures.
The fact that the Maesydre men have pulled out of so many games this term means they face the prospect of having to squeeze in six matches in just three weeks.
The WRU’s latest rulling sees rock bottom Pool now languishing on minus 12 points in the Welsh League division two (north) after being docked four points on each count for failing to fulfill fixtures at Wrexham and Abergele.
And they are facing another four point deduction after being unable to raise a side for their derby trip to Powys rivals Newtown last Saturday.
The WRUalso have the option of increasing the punishment to a fine, something that may be looked at considering the points deductions will have a limited impact on Welshpool’s season.
Already relegated some weeks ago with just one win all season, they were last night due to host Wrexham.
They will then entertain fellow strugglers Bangor on Saturday, before having to reschedule their remaining four games.
Ironically, Pool had a full squad for their trip to Denbigh last March, but the game was postponed due to the non-arrival of the match official who was held up due to a train strike.
“It has certainly left us with a problem to squeeze all these games in,” admitted chairman Gary Williams.
“We’ve been struggling to play one game a week so I don’t know how the WRU expect us to play six games in 20 days. It’s going to be a tough ask.”
Punishment
Williams accepted the latest punishment from the WRU following a discplinary hearing in Cardiff, and admits he will be glad to see the troubled season out.
“I think the WRU could see from our supporting literature that we are doing the best we can in the circumstances,” he said.
“It’s so frustrating as we expect to have a team out against Bangor on Saturday but for one reason or another we’ve not had enough players week in week out.
“We’ve had better seasons to say the least. It’s been tough, but it’s not all despondency.
“Next season, we’ll need to throw all our resources behind our young players and make sure we don’t get into this predicatment again.”
Ironically the club could still feasibly lift some silverware courtesy of their second team.
While Pool’s second string have also been unable to fulfill fixtures in the Cambrian Training Mid Wales League this season, they have a Mid Wales Shield final date with Aberystwyth University at Llanidloes on Sunday, May 1.