We’re half-way through the season. Our flagship First XV have played 13 won three, sitting 13th in Yorkshire Division One. Narrow defeats suffered at the hands of mid-table teams we expected to beat. Not where we want to be.

So, what’s up? I want to re-assure members of three things. Firstly, the coaching team and senior players know what’s going wrong on the field. Secondly, we’re trying to address it. Finally, rugby at Pontefract is, thanks to a lot of hard work behind the scenes, actually thriving.

Truck it up ten times…

What’s going wrong is best summed up by a simple, high-level, ambition when we got promoted to Yorkshire One, one and a half seasons ago. It was joked back then, we can’t truck it up the middle five times before giving the ball to Craig to ‘mek a brek; we’re gonna have to truck it up ten times before giving it Craig to mek a brek’. Whilst our playing philosophy has matured since then and become more sophisticated, this is still a core message.

A team must earn the right to throw the ball about in the backs. Front-foot ball is key, otherwise the opposition defence are too organised. This means that the forwards (and inside backs) must rumble forward and get over the gain-line, not once but on multiple occasions. Gazzie Burns, Jack Beddis, Jonny Hill, Sam Millard and Tad (and Rasher in the backs) have clearly been our big ball-carriers to get us over the gain-line. They cause havoc within the opponent’s defensive line and this has allowed our backs the opportunity to play the eye-catching moves.

This season we’ve struggled consistently to break the gain line when keeping it tight. As a consequence two things occur: either we dish it out to the backs too early and the attack gets thwarted by the opposition drift defence; alternatively, we press on in the forwards through many, many phases to try to get over the gain-line and provide decent quick-ball. But the more phases you have to go through increases the risk of making an error, spilling the ball or giving away a penalty for holding-on when isolated. (The latter is not only frustrating for spectators, but more so for the players who have invested pain and energy to the drive.)

The starter for ten…

So what’s the answer? There is no panacea. We’re keeping the faith with front-foot, fast ball having gotten over the gain-line before allowing the backs the opportunity to run it. New ball-carriers, like Steve Reynolds, are stepping up. Some of the new, emerging ball-carriers may be younger and perhaps not as big or athletic as Gazzie, but they’re trying and learning. Other emerging ball-carriers are older and a lot bigger, and perhaps not quite as athletic as Gazzie, but are helping out. What we’ve asked of players to get us through this patch is buy-in; to keep those legs pumping until over the gain-line, look to offload or go down, present the ball and retain possession. Repeat. Repeat again, until the time is right…

Members who are ex-forwards want us to move towards a forward dominated game. Ex-backs want us to play a more fluid, running game. We’re trying to get the right balance. That balance is governed by decisions made on the field by key players in the linking positions. And the experience required to make these critical decisions has been the basis of our selection policy at halfback.

In defence…

As a result of the genesis of a number of our squad of players, their default tackling methodology is the grab and jackle (grab em, force em down and jackle over the prone player to contest the ball at

the breakdown). This does work, mostly. Purists, who learned the game at King’s, prefer to concentrate on putting opponents on their arse, preferably a yard or two behind where they started. There are pros and cons. And, once more, whichever method should be adopted depends upon the circumstances. But, for those members who want to witness classic tackling at its best (like Houghy and Boydy Snr used to do, back in the day) watch our new recruit, Danny Cowling. Should we adopt a defensive policy of contesting possession at the breakdown, or just stopping an attack? Surely, the game involves both. Our commitment in defence cannot be questioned. It boils down to decision-making. (It also helps when you have Jack and Dedicoat in the side!)

Rugby is alive a well…

Finally, before wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, despite the First XV results, rugby at the Club is in relatively good shape. We are one of just a few Clubs that put out three senior teams and one very-senior one. But what is most refreshing is our thriving junior and girls’ sections. If you’re stuck for something to do on Sundays, come and watch hundreds of minis and juniors playing down at Moor Lane on the morning and the girls on Sunday afternoon. Its awe inspiring. Tim Williamson, as chair of the junior section and Andy Crommack as chair of the girl’s section, are doing a fantastic job, together with their teams of coaches and managers. The board and the General Committee, on behalf of all of the members of the Club, extend a big thank you. This is where the future starts. Merry Christmas.

Mick Parkinson, DOR, PRUF