Treorchy RFC

Ooooh, it's blinking freezing this morning ... so much for global warming, eh? Maybe that's why it's now called 'climate change' instead these days! You'll be relieved to know that I've had a better week this week on the transport front (love half term) and I'll not be moaning as much today! And I've only had to walk up the stairs in the car park once!

I hope that this new cold snap doesn't scupper Saturday's rugby ... we're running out of dates to play rearranged fixtures. We've already got a log jam building up at the end of the season and can do without another match to rearrange.

So let's be positive and assume that Saturday's match will be on! The Zebras' opponents are Newport Saracens and we'll be making our first trip to their new ground since their move from Bettws to Maes Glas. The two teams could not have had different first halves of the season ... the Zebras are in 2nd place in Division 2 East with 8 wins from 10 starts whereas Sarries are currently in bottom spot with just 3 wins and a draw from 12 matches.

Having been relegated at the end of last season, Sarries started the season with hopes of an immediate return to Division 1. They seemed on good form when beating Gilfach Goch and Ynysybwl during September but then had to wait until this month for their next league win (against Penallta).

Let's not get carried away though ... Sarries will be an unknown quantity tomorrow. They radically changed their coaching set up following their defeat to Ynysybwl at the end of January and acted swiftly before the transfer deadline to sign nine new players! It's fair to say that the Zebras will be facing a different team from the one they beat 35-12 on a sunny day at the Oval last October.

The Zebras kept up their winning ways last Friday with a hard-fought 17-6 win away at Mountain Ash and the coaches will be hoping that this excellent form continues during what has been a stop-start season. I'll be making my first visit to Newport for many a long year, hoping that some former work colleagues will be on hand to buy me a post match beer.

I'll finish on a sombre note today as I'm off to a funeral later ... the funeral of Stan Jones, long-time supporter of Treorchy RFC and father of Club Chairman and former captain, Andrew Jones and former players Adrian, Geraint and Kevin. Stan was a great character and I'm sure he'll have a great send off today.