PRIDE AT STAKE AT PHOENIX PARK
Aug 10 2009
Pride and a desire to finish the season on a high note is the aim for the Gloucestershire Warriors as they travel to Phoenix Park to meet Leicester Phoenix for their final game in the Co-operative Rugby League Conference Midlands Premier division this season (kick off 2.30pm).
Both the Warriors and the Phoenix have no chance of reaching the play-offs after defeat last weekend. The Warriors going down to a disappointing 24-12 loss to Derby City while the Phoenix were beaten 28-6 at Coventry.
While the Warriors campaign has been one of a string of losses after a bright start, the Phoenix have been true to their name and risen from being the division’s whipping boys to being genuine challengers for honours. Next season can’t come soon enough for them as they look to revisit past glories and capture some silverware.
However, that is in the distant future. In the meantime, they will be looking to talismanic leader Ty Watson to continue the development of the club. Off the field, a new home and new attitude has borne fruit and with players being blooded in their development side, then the future is looking bright for the Phoenix. Players such as Nathan Walmsley, Demetrius Gonsalves, Michal Fornalczyk and Darren Birch along with Watson and Greg Hurst have led the way on the field and with a strong committee off it, expect big things from the Phoenix in the next few seasons.
The Warriors on the other hand have been playing their development side in the muck and nettles of the Midlands Premier division and seeing results go against them. However, should the players currently wearing the shirt continue in the game, then their future, too could be bright.
While the game has no bearing on the play-offs and the destination of the championship, it could have a huge impact on the future of both clubs.
At Tile Hill, Coventry Bears take on Birmingham Bulldogs with the winner qualifying for the play-oofs. Should the Bears record their sixth consecutive win and maintain their unbeaten record against the Bulldogs, then they would finish on top of the table, secure the Minor Premiership and host the division Grand Final on 22 August. Should the Bulldogs win, the calculators would be out to discover which of the Bulldogs, Derby City and Bristol Sonics would gain that honour and which would play off for the right to meet them.
Either way, it would seem that the play-offs have begun a week early.