Croeso i Clwb Rygbi Llambed Welcome to Lampeter Town RFC   End of Season Coach’s Report 2005-2006 ‘Summary of the Season’ What a first year! I came down to Lampeter to offer my coaching services to the youth team and within five months I’m Head Coach! What fantastic promotion prospects there are at this club, within five more months I might end up as Chairman! May I firstly take this opportunity to thank all at the club, players and members for making Karen and I so welcome. It is very difficult for a coach to establish himself at a new club but this was made fairly easy with your support and encouragement. The season didn’t start too well, the two defeats to Llanelli Wanderers (L10-20) and Amman Utd (L15-3) left me a little concerned. It became quickly apparent that this was a young team so the old cliche ‘performance before results’ became firmly embedded in my aims. But then battling defeats against Penclawdd (L18-29) and Tredegar (L18-13) displayed an ability amongst the boys to ‘raise their game’. This was the spark I needed, “If the boys could play to this level for the bigger teams all I had to do was make it more consistent.” I thought. The ‘consistency’ aim proved to be far more difficult than I’d imagined because the next few months was a roller coaster of a ride. Good performances against Haverfordwest (L16-18) and Hendy (our first win) were surrounded by bad performances, Newcastle Emlyn (L19-11), Tumble (L30-3) and Pembroke Dock Quins (L28-9). During this time training figures were very poor and it became the lowest point of the season when I reluctantly decided to walk away unless numbers improved. A players meeting was called and commitment asked for, the next few training sessions were very well attended and the change in our season inevitable. Llangefni were the first victims and in one of the most awesome first half performances ever we won 18-16. A run of consistent performances came including Trimsaran (L18-22), Hendy (W5-28), Amman Utd (W41-0) and Aberystwyth (W21-17). As far as I was concerned the boys were starting to ‘believe’! During this time, the only bad news was the departure of our young Head Coach Gareth. After a month of good performances and confidence soaring I must admit that I felt a banana skin was on its way. Surely enough it came with Newcastle Emlyn (L13-27). But the boys showed their new spirit with four more battling performances against Haverfordwest (L36-34), Laugharne (W15-0 & W7-10) and Pembroke DQ (W32-0). The defeats to Penclawdd (L28-0) and Llangefni (L19-7) were put down to tiredness with three games in a week but yet again the response was superb with a victory over a rejuvenated Tenby side (W29-15) with uncontested scrums. The final two defeats against Trimsaran (L24-19) and Aberystwyth (L14-10) again showed our spirit but perhaps a little inexperience in finishing games off, I’m sure this will come with time. After a successful ‘team-bonding’ tour to Droitwich, we then had to finish the season off against a strengthened Tumble side (W22-13), but overcame the challenge with some brilliant glimpses of open running rugby. So players, raise a glass to end of this season, have a break and come back firing on all cylinders for next. In May and June there will be some 5-a-side football, basketball etc organised if you fancy keeping fit and full training starts in the first week of July. May I extend this invitation to train to all senior members of the club (first, second, youth and retired players), it is vital to our success next year that we are a club unit and all teams are at full strength to challenge in their respective leagues. I certainly will need each and everyone’s support and commitment, however small, if we wish to take this club forward. Neil Evans   © Clwb Rygbi Llambed / Lampeter Town RFC