From the Dug Out - Steve Cruise writes 2018/19 7 of 8

7. Bradford Salem - 15 Sept 2018


From The Dug Out – Bradford Salem 15th September 2018

What a strange start to the season it was at our last home game against Hullensinas, I personally was receiving messages whilst attending a wedding but when my phone went half way through the photographs and it was Jason Cicero I thought he was ringing me to suggest some half time pearls of wisdom. To hear that the game had been abandoned because the referee had pulled his hamstring was the last thing I expected to be honest. Disappointing for two reasons, one because we were leading 12-3 and I am sure with some key substitutions to be made, we would have run away with a victory and got our campaign off to a good start. The second, and I still don’t quite understand what didn’t happen, was why the independent referee of the second team fixture on the other field wasn’t asked to complete the game, that is the normal protocol. Anyway, we move on and the fixture has been rescheduled to Saturday October 6th.

For those that made the journey to Heath last Saturday I hope you saw as I did enough in the performance to be encouraged. Heath are a big strong powerful set of forwards with a 10, signed from Old Brods who basically moves them around the field. We were very competitive, defended heroically and were only losing 13-0 at the interval with the prospect of playing down into the ‘9 ole’ we were optimistic of our chances especially as we blew two very good opportunities from close to the ‘Heathens’ line. We then had a poor 15 minutes, dropped our kick off receipt (nothing new there then) and conceded 3 further tries from 3 chances. We came back into the game later on and managed a score of our own. The lesson for me was all about execution, Heath created 6 chances and took 5 whilst we created 4 and took 1. Whilst our forwards had unusually ‘a tough day at the office’ it has to be said they were conceding maybe 2 stone a man advantage (if not more) our back played really well, Heath didn’t get through us once and if any side were going to score in the backs it would have been ourselves.

Early season I know but Heath will be up there near the end mainly because they have a massive forward platform, they wont however be anywhere near my favourites for promotion Middlesbrough.

Our opponents today like ourselves had a disappointing season but they have started really well, earning a superb away win at Keighley and last week pushing Middlesbrough all the way just losing out 10-9. They are coached by Dan Scarborough who had an illustrious playing career with Leeds, Saracens and Racing Metro earning two England Caps along the way. He is obviously taking all this knowledge into his coaching career and is a key member of the staff at Queen Ethelburga’s. For me though whilst Dan was a Bradford Grammar school pupil (I understand he may have recruited a few of their ex pupils this season) he made his way in senior rugby at Wakefield RFC and as such I will always have utter respect for him, being an ex ‘Wakey boy’ myself.

The boys are working very hard adapting to the new way of playing we have introduced and in the main its working well we just need a little more consistency and accuracy. Numbers at training are very healthy with 25-30 on a Tuesday and Thursday and a further 25+ at O2 touch on a Wednesday night.

From an injury perspective last week, we lost Ashley Parkinson for at least a couple of weeks with a bicep and AC joint knock and Henry Wright has dislocated his shoulder at University so we are unable to call on his services this season as he will require surgery. Other than that, were pretty much injury free touch wood.

The new housing developments around the town are helping with our player recruitment, we have 4 new players this season all who have moved into the area, I expect to see a couple in the 1st XV squad soon. Jamie Dendrith an ex Durham County hooker has joined us and is gaining valuable match fitness in the second team building up his fitness after 15 months off and centre Chris Lopez is currently away playing Rugby League with The Army and Spain but we should be able to call on his services towards mid-October.

In the first two weeks of the season we have put out 3 sides, the first time we have done this early September for quite some time, this week we have 4 teams out which is fantastic with 4 or 5 subs with each of the lower teams, its looking as though we may have a 5th team out within a couple of weeks. Our managers and captains need to be congratulated on the work they have put in so far in contacting all players on our database.

On that topic I am delighted to advise you that last weekend 12 of our colts from 2 seasons ago played for our first 3 teams. 5 in the first team, 4 in the seconds and 3 in the 3rd team. This week another one plays his first game of the season so that’s 13. I know a number of members have a perception that we are unable to bring through our youth players into senior rugby because of a number of reasons, but this just shows you that if you stay close to these lads, encourage them, offer coaching that will improve their skills, make them feel wanted, then they either stay and play, travel back or start playing the game again.

At the moment everything in the rugby garden at Selby RUFC is rosy, that said it will look a whole lot healthier if we are able to gain winning points today and hopefully we have selected a side that can make that happen. We are more than aware of the challenges that ‘Salem’ present, they have a very strong physical side with a few individuals who are some of the best players in their position in the league. Its not going to be an easy game but we’ve prepared well and I hope that we can pull off the desired result.

Oh and my Little purple book ……. Its 100% accurate so far but ask me after today’s game.
Yours in rugby

Steve Cruise