RUGBY LEAGUE (From Stroud News and Journal)

RUGBY LEAGUE

6:51pm Wednesday 8th July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

THE Gloucestershire Warriors take a break from their Co-operative Rugby League Conference Midlands Premier division campaign as their scheduled opponents, Redditch Ravens, withdrew from the league after experiencing severe problems in fulfilling fixtures.

The Warriors have had similar problems themselves and have slumped from the summit of the table almost to the foot after a series of disappointing reverses.

"We have struggled to get players over the last five or six weeks and have fielded some very young and inexperienced teams at times," said Warriors head coach Tom James. "While the results this season have been disappointing, the skills and experience the players are picking up can only be beneficial in the long term. So really, this season we have to grin and bear it while looking forward to seeing the work we are putting in now, coming off further down the line."

The Warriors’ fall means that their next game at home to Telford Raiders on Saturday week is almost a wooden spoon decider. Should the Warriors win, then the Raiders, who are bottom of the pile without a win before their home game with Coventry this weekend, cannot catch them. Defeat would mean the Warriors would need to win at Bristol the following week to hand the Raiders that dubious honour.

The Warriors trip to Bristol on 25 July brings them the opportunity to gain revenge for defeat by the Sonics earlier in the campaign. "We are still scratching our heads over that one," said James. "We can have no excuses. Things just didn’t happen for us."

The Warriors then face Derby City at Chosen Hill before concluding their league programme with a visit to Leaders Leicester Phoenix. Mathematically, the play-offs are not completely out of reach but the Warriors will need wins in their last few matches and also hope that other results go their way.

"We have a tough few matches ahead of us against three of the top four sides and I hope the break will do us good", added James. "We still have an outside chance of the play-offs, but realistically, it’s not going to happen unless we hit form quickly. We have left ourselves a lot to do but we have the talent to finish the season strongly and if we do, who knows what could happen."

Other fixtures this weekend see Coventry Bears travel to Telford looking to maintain their outside hopes of a play off place. After a shaky start the Bears are running into form and are well poised for a late charge. The Raiders strength is at home where they have held almost everybody to close scorelines and the Bears will be given a stern test of their play-off credentials.

Fourth-placed Bristol Sonics entertain leaders Leicester Phoenix looking to maintain their proud home record that extends back three years. The Phoenix defeated a depleted Sonics side 40-26 in May but the Sonics have some notable scalps at Little Stoke Park and will hope to welcome back some key players before this game.

Second plays third at Haslams as Derby City entertain Birmingham Bulldogs. With both sides locked on ten points, the winners will be able to steal a march on their rivals. The game at Birmingham finished in a comfortable 32-16 win for the Bulldogs but City are in a good run of form and with home advantage will be fancied to take this one.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)