Good for super Wids
“Competition for places has never been stronger, the lads are fully aware of that, knowing form and commitment is key. You always need a bit of luck with injuries and we do have a few backs out at present with more longer term injuries and we wish them speedy recoveries. We actually lost three or four experienced players from last year’s squad, but the young lads are getting older, stronger and more experienced in a structured open age environment and the team has progressed in this league.
“This is my third year working with this group of players and to be fair I have just built upon the foundations laid over the last few seasons with the previous coaching set up.
“There have been a few subtle changes in approach, positional changes, and I have had the opportu- ● nity to give more young lads and other newer players some first-team experience. Simon Alderson and Richie Barraclough have come in this season on the coaching side, and are working hard on the set-piece to add another dimension to our game – both with and without the ball.
“The whole squad has responded well with all teams benefitting led by club captain Kevin Leadbetter, sup- ported by Adam Watson, Jon Hetherington in the second-team, James Perryman in the thirds and Derek Dyer our chairman of rugby.
“The age of the squad is testament to the junior section and colts section down at the club, who do a great job of keeping lads together and developing them under the watchful eye of Sharon Miller. Hopefully, more lads will convert to open age rugby in the future, and there are some very good current junior colts players coming through under Lee Martindale and Les Whitfield’s guidance.
“For the moment, though, we are enjoying the half-term break, before preparing to face Oldham and then Littleborough in the League Cup, where we will also be hosting a reunion of ex-players from Halton RUFC”.