Showing posts with label Neil Mitchell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Neil Mitchell. Show all posts
Wednesday, 13 September 2017
Director's Cut - Luctonians Programme 9th September 2017
Welcome to Stourton Park and to our first home fixture of the campaign.
It’s not often that the first league game for Stourbridge has been far from home, so last week the trip to Otley was going to be a real test for our squad, bearing in mind the limited preparation we have had due to slow recruitment over the summer. We have had to cut our cloth financially to comply with the impending financial restrictions placed on our league by the RFU and unfortunately several targeted players wanted more than I was prepared to offer or sanction.
Many of our more experienced heads could have easily moved elsewhere for a better financial deal but have been loyal to the club which is a credit Stourbridge RFC. We clearly present a product here that appeals to attract good players and not journeymen. Rod Petty has worked hard with me during the summer and has produced a game plan that we are both very happy with. It is something that has scope for continual development during the campaign and not only asks questions of the opposition defence but requires our players to think outside the normal parameters of conventional plays. We have had a substantial turnover during the summer with 17 exits and 16 new faces, some having been with us before namely, Jack Spencer who comes back to us from Hartpury and my good friend and current British Police Captain Llyr Griffiths who joins us from Nuneaton following a ten-year absence from Stourton Park.
Sam Pailor a physically robust number eight joins us following spells at Coventry and Moseley and will lead the side this coming season. Sam is a very charismatic young man who leads from the front and I expect great things from him this season. Rest assured most of you will have shaken Sam’s hand by six o’clock this evening! Other players who’ve made a big impression thus far are Niall Gibbons a combative open side, Charlie Jeavons Fellows (son of former captain Tom) and George Morgan who joins us from Kidderminster. Steve Leach who came to us from Old Hales has also had a big impact in Stourbridge colours.
We are also in a partnership with Worcester Warriors following a long absence who have loaned us four players on dual registrations who should be available for up to 20 games this season. Having a link with a senior club is essential for us to remain competitive in this tough Northern League.
We were obviously pleased with the away win last weekend but as the other scores showed there is some real power in National Two North this season. I was very impressed with many aspects of last week’s performance and our only real minute defensive frailties came about due to injuries for a ten minute spell resulting from having to play lads carrying injuries and out of position due to the 4:1 bench format.
Lucs got a great win at the death last week on the road and have recruited some great experience in their side. Personally I’m saddened to see Alex Davidson no longer involved and I think he’s left big boots to fill. Ryan and Mike will no doubt impose their own style and ethos and as their first result at the helm showed it’s working. What a shame though no more ‘naked bus’!
Enjoy the day!
Neil Mitchell
Director of Rugby
Monday, 13 March 2017
Director's Cut from the Caldy RUFC Programme
Firstly, thanks to the coach load of supporters who followed us to Chester last weekend to witness our second away loss on the bounce to nil. I cannot thank you enough for your continuing and loyal support in spite of the rudderless performances we have delivered on the road.
This has been a disappointing season for the First XV. In spite of high hopes in the summer we have latterly drifted into a poor run, sadly not untypical of previous seasons.
We have some very good players but when the pressure comes on some choke. I don’t think there is a player who does not try in my squad, but I have witnessed recently and specifically at Wharfedale, the passion shown in some teams we simply can’t match. The reason, based on over a decade of experience is a core of lads in some teams who are ‘acorn to oak’ club players who play for more than just the dollar in the wind, mud and rain.
This is not a criticism but a fact. Many of our squad have two and three hour journeys following long working days and invariably in the winter end up parked on the M42/M5/M6 respectively on the way to training and match days. Some can deal with whatever life puts in front of them and not let it affect them, whilst others which has become apparent more recently, simply can’t deal with the added pressure of a work life balance.
I am pleased with the squad I have but I need to introduce two significant elements to make the First XV more efficient and competitive. Firstly, we have to work hard to gain the partnerships of senior clubs within the conurbation and that is being implemented right now. The addition of Charlie Hayter, Charlie Fellows, Matt Kvesic, Oli and Alex Grove eight years ago made a significant difference to our squad and Sale have shown the benefits of the link with their Premiership namesakes this season. I would suggest that if they win the play off, Sale FC will sit mid table in National One next season and thus sitting only circa 15 places behind the Senior side.
Secondly we desperately need to have a feeder club into the First XV. The Lions are having a fantastic season this year and look likely to gain promotion to level six. Five seasons ago the First XV were playing Bromsgrove and Dudley Kingswinford and now the Lions are on the cusp of playing these two teams at Stourton Park! If the Lions do attain promotion, then it brings the gap between the semi professional club and the amateur club (albeit in principle totally separate clubs) closer which would allow to some degree relatively free movement for the first time ever between the two clubs for their mutual benefit. It would also allow an opportunity to train and utilise coaches under one umbrella, one ethos. This is not a decision for me if promotion comes to fruition but a decision for the club as a whole, however combined with an input from a senior level to ourselves the cascade could work well for all aspects of the mother club. However, if it’s not to be, then perhaps we will have to consider asking neighbours who are a level below who are encountering the same scenario as ourselves this season to work with us going forward.
In April 2017 a salary cap is being voted on for level 3 and 4 which will have huge implications in 2018 for the semi-professional or ‘community game’ as the RFU call it. Those of us that are effectively ‘stand alone’ squads will be hit the hardest. Unless we prepare for our future now, there will be no chairs left when the music stops.
We entertain Caldy today who are well on their way to a deserved promotion, we took them close at their place and we are fielding as strong a team this afternoon as we did back in November. A lot of soul searching has taken place this week amongst the players and they know they owe our supporters a game. We have been nilled twice in three weeks which is totally unacceptable and I have felt the need to intervene this week in certain area’s which I anticipate will make a difference.
Enjoy the day!
Neil Mitchell
Director of Rugby
www.thecrownoldswinford.co.uk
Monday, 6 February 2017
Director's Cut - Sale Programme 4th Feb 2017
Our winning run came to an abrupt end in Harrogate last weekend when we lost a game we could have put to bed in the first forty minutes. However, unforced errors and uncharacteristic poor set piece left us at the mercy of a passionate home side fighting to avoid the bottom three at the other end of the table.
Credit, however to Billy, Nigel and Sam who all put in a big shift. Also congratulations to Dan Rundle who has scored in every game he has played for us. Daniel becomes a Stourbridge player this week following a loan from Coventry. Stato tells me that scoring as he has in six consecutive games is a National League record. Long may it continue!
We could use the mitigation that seven positional changes were forced upon us last week however the new faces accredited themselves well and I’m afraid some of the main body of the squad choked when Harrogate smelled blood!
Quite simply, we have used up all our lives in respect of challenging for an automatic promotion spot this term. Although there are 10 games remaining and 50 points up for grabs the lead Caldy have (21 points) I think now puts them clear favourite as champions. Sedgley Park and Caldy have yet to come to Stourton Park and yes there is a long way to go but I feel that our game today against Sale will determine our credibility as contenders for a play off spot. The contrast between our performance against Leicester Lions the previous week and our game against Harrogate was vast. I don’t doubt for a second that our squad now know what’s at stake and effectively every game is a knockout contest. Sale will not leave here today without knowing they’ve been in a game.
Our away support last weekend was excellent with many choosing to make a weekend of it. You deserved a better performance and I believe somewhat cynically that some of the squad had half an eye on today’s game. However whatever the outcome this afternoon it’s the teams in the bottom half who fight for their lives who can define a tight league like this. The big games such as today's often look after themselves!
Enjoy the day!
Neil Mitchell
Director of Rugby
Stourbridge RFC
www.thecrownoldswinford.co.uk
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