‘We’ve taken five steps back’

Welshpool Rugby Club suffered one of its worst defeats in its history at the weekend which has prompted the first team coach to issue some harsh words to the beleaguered players.

The club was steamrolled 90-5 at Llanidloes, going into the half time break trailing 56-0, and it has been hard to take for Frank Johns (right) who is yet to see his side win this season.

“It was pathetic in the first half,” he said. “I told the players after the match to have a good look at themselves in the mirror and ask if they really want to play rugby for the club. It just wasn’t good enough at all.

“It was particularly frustrating because we have been showing some signs of recovery over the last few games and started to play some promising rugby. We had been taking two steps forward but on Saturday we took five steps back.”

Welshpool improved in the second period, scoring first and matching their opponents, but a mass brawl saw both sides reduced to 13 as Llanidloes finished the stronger.

“We have got some good players at this club,” added Johns. “We have got players with the ability to easily cope at this level but a lot of lads need to question themselves. I need 15 players to go out there every Saturday and give 110 per cent for Welshpool Rugby Club but it is not there at the moment. The moral has certainly been good and we have been getting 20-plus down for training so it is not all doom and gloom, and Saturday we have the chance to kick start the season.”

This weekend, Welshpool play their final match before the Autumn break against Shotton Steel in the SWALEC Bowl. The North Walians play a league below Welshpool .

 “It is not going to be easy but I am looking for a massive improvement in attitude and effort,” said Johns.

While Welshpool were suffering their humiliation, COBRA got their promotion bid back on track with a strong 37-0 win at Bangor in the North Wales Division Two.