Newport Sarries in fixtures nightmare
NEWPORT Saracens have already earned their place in rugby folklore for having former Welsh front-row legends Bobby Windsor and Tony Faulkner among their former players, writes Anthony Woolford.
BBC TV commentator and exWales No.8 Eddie Butler, international flanker Jason Forster and wing Matthew Robinson are also ex-Saracens while the club was also coached by oval-ball colossus Dai Watkins and fellow Lions cap Gareth Evans.
Now the club languishing in Division Three East D of the WRU National League structure can also count on another claim to fame – having to play four games in a week due to reluctance of clubs to visit their Maesglas Fields ground in the winter months.
They kick off their stamina-sapping run on Wednesday night against Old Tylerians and play twice on the weekend at home against Bettws (Newport) and Rhayader before entertaining Abersychan Alexanders next Wednesday.
But that’s not the end of it as Sarries also have a home game with Tref-y-Clawdd on May 12 and another game to organise after their trip to Cwmcarn United last Saturday was called off.
It’s provided a massive logistical headache for secretary Mark Vickery, who doubles up as the fixture secretary, after a frustrating start to 2018 that saw just two games in two months due to clubs calling off trips to play Saracens on their home patch.
Saracens are not alone in facing a fixture logjam but having to play four games in a week is something of a rugby rarity.
And for Vickery, there’s no castiron guarantees all four games will go ahead in the next week, though he remains hopeful.
Saracens were punished by the WRU last season and relegated from Division Three C, despite finishing third, for failing to fulfil one fixture and the club fear they could see their own efforts to earn promotion back this term hit by their end-of-season fixture nightmare.
“The weather has accounted for a couple of games but mainly it’s been because the opposition couldn’t raise sides,” said Vickery reflecting on Sarries’ struggles to get games on this season.
“We’ve been left with a load of home games to play.
“I’ve been giving the WRU a bit of a chewing on the phone because it’s been stressful trying to get these games played.
“They’ve been good as gold and they know what’s going on.”
Should Saracens fulfil their programme, the odds are good on them going straight back up to Three East C, given they put 50-points on second-placed Hollybush recently.