Issue 151

Rugby League revival

29th January 2007

After last season's disapointment for the AU Rugby League team Carl Day looks at how the boys have turned their fortunes around, as with only three games left in their BUSA league they are sitting in joint first at the top of their division.

Swansea University Rugby League starts the New Year in a confident mood. The RL team are joint top of the division with a game in hand over Gloucestershire and their Welsh rivals Glamorgan. The team have also been bolstered by news that three of their players are representing Welsh Students this weekend in Widnes.

Edward Tooley, Daniel Hodgeson and Lewis Francis will each be lining up in a tournament that includes the best students from Scotland, Ireland, South, North East and North West England all vying to beat last years champions Yorkshire. This tournament is a good build up to the European Championships later in the year in France, and all three Swansea students know they have a chance of making the championships with a good effort this weekend.

This season's captain, Craig Emmerson, told Waterfront that the good performances have come from training a lot harder and working on some solid defence. The team has come on a lot under Craig's leadership and the turnaround has come from the more professional attitude to training and a less professional attitude to the pubs on Wind Street! When asked where the team can improve he stated that attacking wise they need some work and will look at that before the Glamorgan game in a couple of weeks. That match will go a long way against deciding the champions and Craig has the added incentive of lining up against his best mate from home, who is the captain of the opposition side.

Obviously the team having three starters in the tournament this weekend shows how well the team is playing, but the whole team has put in a big effort including Gareth WinnMorgan and Phil Williams. Swansea has only lost once this year and that was the first game of the season. The team grew from that narrow defeat are now in a position to look at their next three games against the teams at the top of the division knowing it is in their own hands to become champions. If that happens it will be a fantastic about turn from last season's campaign and will be a great credit to the coaching team and this years players.

The team's next home fixture is on the 14 February, against Glamorgan, either at Fairwood or Gowerton Rugby Club. Check back to Waterfront for details closer to the time.

Carl Day