AFTER coming back from the brink to claim three league and cup doubles in as many seasons, it’s no wonder that spirits are sky-high at Hartridge RFC right now.

All looked lost five years ago with player numbers dwindling and the club’s future in doubt, according to player-coach Ross Palmer.

But thanks to the work of Billy Berry and then director of rugby Mark Wheeler, head coach Steve Pritchard and Palmer himself, Hartridge have gone from strength to strength.

Now with Paul Osmond as chairman, the first XV, led by skipper Mike Wrench, finished top of Swalec League 3 East B this term and won the Newport & District Cup for the third year in a row.

Hartridge had previously clinched the 3 East D and C titles in 2014 and 2015 respectively, going through each campaign unbeaten, although this season they did suffer three defeats.

However, Palmer believes that those losses – one to runners-up Usk and two against third-placed Machen – stand the side in good stead for life in 3 East A.

And it appears that the team’s record in recent years has set them apart from the others across Wales and England.

“Rugby World must have been going some research and they contacted us to say we have the best win-loss ratio in the RFU and WRU leagues over the last three seasons,” said Palmer.

“We knew we had three good seasons but to be told that was a surprise.”

Commenting on the turnaround in the club’s fortunes, he continued: “Five years ago we were going out of existence, but the club was kept together by Billy Berry and quite a lot of players came back.

“We used to play on a little pitch at Lliswerry High School but then managed to get a pitch at Llanwern High School.

“Our facilities are second to none and they have really helped us attract players to the club.

“We’ve won the league and Newport & District Cup in the last three years, and we’re looking forward to next season and doing our best to win 3A.

“Losing those three games this season has actually done us a favour.

“We had come through two leagues without anyone even running us close and maybe thought we were invincible.

“This season we had a bit of a wake-up call and that will do us good going into 3A.”

New players are being sought for the first-team squad, the seconds, known as the Stags, and the junior section.

The club wants to attain full member status with the WRU and their push to start up age grade sides will help them achieve that.

Speaking more about the club’s ethos, Palmer said: “We are a hard team but we are fair. We pride ourselves on how tough we are, although we aren’t bullies.

“We’ve got a number of players who’ve been in trouble but turned their lives around through rugby.

“We want to keep kids off the streets and playing rugby, and there will be a time when our senior players retire and we’ll need young blood coming through.

“We welcome people from different backgrounds and those who might not have played rugby before.

“Around 80% of the lads come from the local area and it’s a really close-knit club, and everyone is buzzing after how we did this season.”

Everyone at Hartridge received a boost earlier this year when The Open Hearth became the club’s base once again after a new landlord took over the premises.