Ferndale are optimistic despite a tough time this season Local rugby

A LOOK at the Three East Central B table shows Ferndale languishing at the bottom of the league.

The Three East Central C champions have lost seven of their nine fixtures and last weekend’s 22-20 defeat ensured Hirwaun, who won promotion as runners-up to Ferndale last year, completed the double over them.

However, fixture secretary Alun Clement insists the club are playing well and are not struggling.

“We had a great season last year and we got promoted,” he said.

“We strengthened the squad but unfortunately we’ve had a number of injuries to key players.

“You get one or two players injured and they are out for one or two games. They come back and then you pick up another one or two.”

Number eight Alex Kennedy has been a big miss, but returned last weekend while Daniel Coleman is expected to return on Saturday, against Caerau Ely – the only team Ferndale have beaten in the league this season.

Clement is targeting another victory as they look for a platform to build on for the second half of the season.

“Last week’s game we should have won comfortably but we ended up losing with a try and conversion in injury time,” he added.

“Most of the other games have been close encounters and we’ve done enough to win these games.

“It’s just a bit of bad luck and some decisions not going for us.

“To be quite honest, we should be fourth or fifth.

“Although we’re bottom of the league, it’s not a true reflection of how we’ve played.

“We should be in a much higher position than we are but we just have to get on with it and hope our luck will change in the new year.”

Clement revealed that the club’s main target was to consolidate themselves in a higher league. And despite their lowly position and lack of form, he is confident Ferndale can climb up the table.

“We thought we could achieve it and I still think that, with a bit more luck, there is no reason why we can’t achieve what we set out to achieve at the start of the season,” he said.

“I believe it and we believe it in the club.

“It’s just getting a bit of luck and the results to go our way and hopefully we can at least make mid-table by the end of the season.

“Although it looks like we are struggling, we haven’t really struggled.

“We’ve held out own quite comfortably.

“It’s just refereeing decisions and a bit of bad luck going against us and that’s been the difference.”