Page 3 - GRFC NEWS
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 It’s been a challenging period on the pitch for the senior sides but it’s been a hugely enjoyable period as well as we watch so many youngsters developing their skills and aiming to one day don the green, white and black at First XV level. That is what we are all about, rugby, yes, but fun and enjoyment must underpin our game. I hope that the reflections below illustrate that we continue to adopt the correct, indeed the best, ethos.
The first project to address each Summer is the Rota for the Green Man Festival held at Glanusk Park. After joining five other local ‘good causes’ in investing £1000 in the ‘pitch fee ’ to run the Black Mountains Cafe ,with plenty of cakes cooked 20 club members took up their allotted shifts and earned the club a profit of £2000 – a few rashers of bacon were burned but that’s all part of the fun. Hot on the heels was another bit of volunteering where members manned the car park at Libanus for the Annual Brecon Vintage car show and in return earned another pot of £500 so thanks to all those who took part.
The Summer season saw the various volunteers auditing the pitch-side boards and ringing round sponsors and programme advertisers ready for the season while an enjoyable Summer Sports was held on the fields. Rugby season was soon upon us and the seniors would embark on one of the hardest seasons they have encountered in Division Central 3A.
The Athletic season soon faded as teams from the Newport league failed to travel to us so a programme of mid-week development games closer to home was targeted. This was very successful and enjoyable and is something to pursue next season. The Ladies were also faced with a strong fixture list as were the Youth side who took some memorable scalps as the season progressed.
The Minis and Juniors again excelled in terms of the number of players, the enthusiasm and the volume of silverware travelling back to Talgarth. It appears that our Club, as we see the transition from a Red Kites Cluster to a Hub, can boast 400 playing members one of the biggest in Wales. Important to that is the relationship with the WRU, Cardiff Blues and ourselves which sees Bronnie Jones acting as a Rugby Liaison Officer in the local Schools.
The club’s willingness to invest in the young sters is commendable and many
coaching courses have been taken as well as first aid courses and this all augers well on the coaching front. There are so many volunteers that it would be invidious to list names. However, you know who you are and I hope that you know how much your hard work and dedication gives to Gwernyfed RFC.
The season also saw a popular club member win the Million Pound Lottery. There has been great excitement that club members can have lifetime free haircuts courtesy of Norm Davies who kindly purchased and donated a mini bus for Club use, saving us a good deal of money. Money is always a key part and we have reassessed the Sky Packages, gas and electric tariffs and have ironed out the cooking having Castell Howell deliver our meals pre-packed this year. CASC is still being pursued and if implemented will save us a considerable amount of money.
Many home-bred youngsters have seen success, Tomi Lewis presently piling on the tries in Argentina in the World under 20s Cup and Rhys Anstey who, every time you see him, is growing is making a big Impact in the Wales under 18s age group. Tyler Morris and Cory Burke are also catching the eye and when you wander down The Brian Jones Memorial Fields you will see many youngsters enjoying and performing very well, something that Brian himself would be so proud off.
Adam Jones is climbing the ladder on the refereeing front now starting to ref international games and he and the youngsters mentioned are indeed great role models.
With the passing of Brian, the club took a huge knock and the loss of another club stalwart Will Skyrme rocked the club early in the season. The loss was felt club-wide, especially by the close knit Lottery team who are determined to carry on their hard work. As the season approaches, we will be looking at a potential new or duel format - and any helpers as with any other roles within the club is massively required in such a big club.
I started on projects and there are many, especially the costly Fire Regulations which have to be completed as we enter the modern ‘rules and regs’ era. The one project in hand that needs club wide support is the refurbishment of the showers which has started and have to be completed by the mid- dle of August, so please react and support the team that is being led by Rob Morris - the Youth boys have shown the way so well done to them. Steve Harley has also led a small
team in erecting lights “around the corner” and hopefully we will be benefiting from this work next winter.
The clubhouse again ticks over efficiently and we look forward to the new season and thank Aimie and the bar staff for their work. Aimie’s role is key, not just in the bar but also very much behind the scenes with membership and all that involves takes up a fair degree of day to day management in such a large club. Thank you Aimie and your team for your commitment
We have instigated a commitee to review the future development of the club. As ever we are striving to improve our lot and face the challenges on and off the Field . Three projects have been identified, the first being a consultation with PCC about traffic calming and potentially a new crossing for our members.
Secondly planning consent has been sought recently to erect toilets on the pitch area – a grant is available for which we have applied but some internal fundraising will also be needed.
Thirdly, we still have desires for more green space and hope that may come to fruition in the not too distant future.
The end of the season saw the end of Chay’s tenure as coach. The club would like to thank Chay for his commitment over his term and for his hard work with the lads at senior level. The club never rests and as we write has started with Summer Rugby Touch sessions. New Senior coaches David Roberts , Lee Titch Thomas and James Reynolds will soon be starting sessions in July as we enter our 55th year of rugby
This is a brief overview. You could listen to much more news and space certainly prevents me mentioning many important issues. However, I do not forget to thank all the club members, Vice Presidents, sponsors, advertisers and others for their support – we simply couldn’t do it without you.
Yours in sport,
Rob Stephens
Chairman
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 Gwernyfed RFC’s Chairman Rob Stephens takes a look back on last season...
GWERNYFED RFC
CHALLENGING BUT HUGELY ENJOYABLE
  SUMMER 2019
 







































































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