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THE Pigs are flying again.
Pyle’s 13-6 victory over Bridgend Sports at the weekend made it two from two in Three West Central A while the club is in great shape off the field too, as well as on it.
It is certainly a far cry from the summer of 2017 when they were a club “stuck in the dark ages” and torn apart by internal problems with only THREE players turning up for pre-season training.
The club that produced Wales and British & Irish Lions stars like Jack Bassett were, by their own admission, on the brink of extinction.
But with a new committee came a fresh outlook; it ultimately saved them and the Pigs of Pyle have gone from strength to strength.
A highly respectable fifth-placed finish was achieved last season with 15 wins from 22 games – one of which came in a derby against Porthcawl to bag bragging rights – and were the only side to beat the Seaweeds all season.
Pyle began the new season with a 21-3 win at Abercrave before Saturday’s win at Brynglas Fields over Sports – the side who had themselves put 101 points on Glais the week before.
They had to come from behind with the visitors leading 6-0 thanks to two Darren Lewis penalties, before Ieuan Evans scored the only try of the match in the second half.
It was converted by Will Gallafant who also kicked two penalties.
“It’s been a fantastic start,” said treasurer Mark Beaton.
“We always knew that if we had our game heads on and kept our discipline, we’d have every chance of beating Bridgend Sports.
“It could have gone either way and was nail-biting right to the end but, fortunately for us ,we managed to get over the line.
“It was good to get the win and the start to the season, particularly in terms of our discipline, is much better than it has been for the last five years.”
Pyle’s coaching set-up is headed up by Gareth Edwards while they are led on the field this season by Tom Ansen with last year’s skipper Rory Bodenham still influential as vice-captain.
Promotion is the aim – but certainly won’t be the be-all and end-all – this season.
Pyle are now a club looking to the future, as Beaton explains: “It’s been a big turnaround for us in the last 12 months and we’ve got the minis back now.
“We’ve got over 60 young kids on the books; the last time we had minis and juniors in the club was over 20 years ago.
“Clubs like Kenfig Hill have done it well for years so all our ex-players – their kids have gone there but now, slowly but surely, we’re pulling them back.
“We’ve had a good financial year; the figures are looking healthier than ever.
“We’ve revamped the club in certain ways – we’ve had a new disabled ramp put in, we’ve had the toilets done, we’re having the roof done.
“There’s a lot of things that still need doing but we’re making progress.
“Sponsorship as well has gone through the roof and we had a big social day on Saturday to thank them.
“People are interested in what we’re about. It’s thriving now.”