Page 12 - Brecon v Crymych

A Season of Opportunity...
Ron Rowsell catches up with Dale to look back
on last season, pre-season and the new season,
‘Onwards and Upwards’.
YN OL FROM THE TOP
“We, Brecon RFC, are a Club with a long and proud history. As the new season approaches,
we have the exciting opportunity of writing a new chapter, which will undoubtedly involve
new challenges and opportunities. We must meet the challenge and grasp that opportunity
with both hands by building on what we achieved in recent seasons.” This was the response
of Dale McIntosh, our Director of Rugby, when asked to reflect on where the club stands
at present, and how he feels the Club will adjust to, and meet the challenge of life in
Championship West.
Dale continued, “Where do we stand at present?
To answer that we have to look at how we got
here. Last year’s group of players can hold their
heads high and celebrate the achievement of
promotion. The effort from every single player
was, and is, totally appreciated by all at the club.
Although we come unstuck twice in the league
and lost narrowly to Ammanford in the Welsh
Cup, I personally believe we played consistently
to a very high level, excelling particularly during
the later stages of the season.
We also took some very important lessons on
board. We struggled to get the continuity in
training prior to games we needed to win.
This contributed to the catastrophic losses
against Newbridge, Ammanford and Penallta.
Moving on and achieving success at a higher
level requires even greater and more consistent
commitment. It also requires greater strength in
depth.
At times last season the squad was stretched to
the limit as injuries and commitments took their
toll. In order to overcome those problems, there
has been an off-season recruitment programme,
not in a way that would undermine or replace
the core element of local players, but to aug-
ment and strengthen it.
Rationalising this action Dale stated, “It was
always in our plans that as we excelled up the
leagues we would consider strengthening the
depth of our squad to be able to compensate
for injuries and legitimate commitments.
Present squad members will understand the
reality and importance of the above and I am
sure they will embrace the challenges of the
new season, both in the intended intensity of
our commitment, and the added competition
amongst the squad.”