Expectations - Promotion
(2009/10) - Division 2
The Ferns "A" reached another level in 2009 when entering the British Championship, finishing ru-up in our league (and picking up the trophy for Welsh champions 2009). However losing heavily in the 1st round of the knockout competition to a Gloucestershire county side. I belive we learnt a great deal from entering this competition and this will carry us through into out local winter league. With new recruits B Rowe, C Bate, K Sharpe and T Mead we should be averaging a side of 14 members every week, and this does prove the case, then promotion should be in our grasp. We have decided this year to re-enter all cup competitions, and I would expect us to be challenging for one of these come the end of the season.
Expectations - Promotion (If we can recruit more players, otherwise staying up if we only have a scratch side)
(2008/09) - Division 2 (9th)
After losing 4 players last year, we went and lost another 2 players this year: L Hackwood and S Cleaves. However we managed to recruit 3 players L Slade, D Collier, and J Collis and with the 10 man rule changing to the lowest scorer points going back on rather than playing again this is going to prove a more difficult season than last year. Unless we can field 12 players with 2 reserves we will not maintain a team never mind staying in the 2nd Division. It was decided that this season we would not enter the cup competitions due to the lack of players.
Expectations - Top 5
(2007/08) - Division 2 - Consolidation - (5th)
After last seasons brilliant performance, I didnt expect a repeat performance , but I was hoping for a top 5 finish which is what we achieved. However we did struggle throughout the season with players losing 4 players. C Bate, C Stocker, D Shaw and G Shaw, while only one replacement D Jones. So we were playing most weeks only with 10 players. The new rule allowed us to field 10 players with the two lowest scorers going on again. We struggled for the first half, however this rule proved to our advantage in the 2nd half of the season. We must register new players we cannot afford to go on with a scratch side every week. As for the cup competitions we struggled to make it past round 1, this was mainly down to lack of players, we did manage to get to the quarter finals in the eights cup competition.
Expectations - Promotion
(2006/07) - Division 3 - Promoted - Champions - (1st)
What a tremendous year it turned out to be for the Ferns A, we pinched the Division 3 league title from the Ringland on the last game of the season (play off). We managed to complete doubles over the Spencers, Windsor Outsiders, Risca Workmen's, Bettws Social, Nightingale and the Windsor A. Our highest team score was an incredible 236 against the Ringland in the play off, accumulating 36 pts - Wins 17, Drawn 1 and Losing 7. Then went on to win the Champion of Champions cup beating the Premiership (Pill Labour) side by 1 pin. As for the cups we ended up runners-up in the Bryn Willis and lost in the Q/F for the Phillips, Ted Hammet and lions. Congratulations to Reg Slade for winning the NDSL Mens singles, Dean Shaw and Andrew Sterry for winning the NDSL Pairs. Who would of thought at the start of the season the Ferns would be picking up 5 trophies?
Expectations - Promotion
(2005/06) - Division 4 - Just missed out again - (4th)
Expectations were high for pre-season; we battle hard although we did lose some key games against the Lysaghts bar, Nightingale and Spencer’s. These losses proved to be our down fall as we ended up in 4th place behind the three named sides. We did manage to complete double wins over the Clarence club, Bettws Club, Risca Workmen’s club, Hibernians and the Ebbw Bride Club. As for the team we have gelled well and our four new players they proved out to be a great addition to the side with three of them finishing in the top eight player averages. With disappointment in the league the Ferns turned their attention to the Cups. We managed two quarter finals and finished runners-up in the Phillips cup only just losing by 3 pins to the mighty premiership opposition. Sides are starting to take notice of the Ferns “A” for the first time in many years, and with youth on our side we can expect more victories which will result in more cups for the A team.
Expectations - Top 4
(2004/05) Division 4 - Just missed Promotion - (3rd)
A good year for the Ferns "A" we battled hard all season and just lost it at the end of the season. It was down to our last 4 games and we bottled it, hopefully lessons learned and we will take that next step with our 1st promotion. As for the cups we were drawn against tough competition both Premiership or 1st division and yes went out in the 1st rounds. Although, only narrowly in the Phillips cup and the Ted Hammet Shield. As long as we can keep the interest of our youngsters we will move on and up.
Expectations - Top 4
(2003/04) Division 4 - Consolidation - (12th)
Highlight of this season was the introduction of two new players, we are a poor team with a lot of building that needs to be done. Hopefully with our two new signings we can introduce more young members.
Expectations - Mid table
(2002/03) Division 4 - Consolidation - (4th)
An excellent year for the Ferns “A” we pushed for promotion all season just missed finished 4th, an aging and under strength squad, if we are to continue for promotion we need younger players in the team.
Expectations - not to finish last
(2001/02) Division 4 - Consolidation – (12th)
Are we ever going to get out of this Div? Not unless we can introduce new players we barley have a side and it looks like it can only get worse.
Expectations - not to finish last
(2000/01) Division 4 - Consolidation - (last)
All I can say about this year I am glad there is no 5th Div as we would now be there.
Expectations - Top 4
(1999/00) Division 4 - Consolidation - (8th)
Another pitifully season boring boring ferns A .
A Sterry (Captain)