Page 10 - Brecon v Newcastle Emlyn

Y N O ML T H E T O P FRO
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’.
“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?
At times last season the squad was stretched to To answer that we have to look at how we got
the limit as injuries and commitments took their here. Last year’s group of players can hold their
toll. In order to overcome those problems, there heads high and celebrate the achievement of
has been an off-season recruitment programme, promotion. The effort from every single player
not in a way that would undermine or replace was, and is, totally appreciated by all at the club.
the core element of local players, but to aug- Although we come unstuck twice in the league
ment and strengthen it.
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.
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.”