By Lestyn - 22/09/03
September 23 2003

Having been stricken from my computer for the last week for refusing to declare my allegiance to the Newport Gwent mafia, to try and make up for some of the lost time, here's a brief round up of all the rugby happenings in Wales.

Two Glasgow tries in a five minute spell at the beginning of the second half, were enough to kill off a bitterly disappointing Warriors side. Lyn Howell's side failed to ever really to get going, failure to secure ball up front, and generally an inability to do the basics right, ended any of the regions early season optimism, as they went down 19-9.

Even more worrying for the region was the eerie back drop of the Brewery field, as only 2,500 made it through the gates, although that could be put down to the cup match being all ticket and they've done little if no marketing so far.

Despite a Gavin Henson inspired fight back in the second half, the Ospreys completely inept in defence as they were also knocked out of the tournament. Leinster proving too strong at Donnybrook, running out 35-21 winners.

Stradey Park was also a depressing ground on Saturday evening, as the Dragon's collapsed showing little fight in the second half. Mike Ruddock's side predictably offered little behind the scrum, but more worryingly the pack that out muscled the Ospreys the week before had little affect.

If that's wetted your appetite for more Celtic Cup action, then You either support the Scarlets who now appear to have an easy route into the semi finals, with Connacht at home in the next round, or are simply raving mad. The other Welsh side in the the quarters are the Blues who have a familiar trip to Edinburgh on a week Saturday.

If all that wasn't depressing enough, Pontypridd are fighting to stay alive with enormous debt problems. So much so that Leighton Samuel wants to get his paws on his regional partners, by buying them out. But the WRU have refused to accept the Bridgend owners offer, it's now likely Ponty will go into administration.

Like Swansea, Welsh rugby desperately can't afford to lose a club that have and still continues to produce internationals. If we had started with central contracts in the pro area, Ponty would never have landed themselves in so much trouble. What the Valley's outfit really need is a millionaire with a few spare million hanging around, would help if he was a Ponty boy as well (hint, hint, Mr.Jones) 

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