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By RT
April 27 2006

I really enjoyed my trip to Gloucester on Saturday. I am, I admit, a count-your-blessings, look-on-the-bright-side, every-cloud-has-a-silver-lining sort of person but it seems to me that there is much to be cheerful about.

Always Look on the Bright Side!

Saturday’s match had the advantage of needing only a short journey along an M5 bordered with cowslips, primroses and blackthorn blossom. The sun came out to remind us that summer is coming and the same mellow warmth was evident amongst the Gloucester supporters whom we met.

It might be my imagination, but Gloucester seems to have decided that, instead of being the upstart newcomers of last season, we are now to be hailed as “Son of Gloucester” so that some local credit can be claimed for our success. The matchday programmes last week and this carried articles celebrating Tony Windo and John Brain respectively. This week’s publication welcomed Worcester’s “noisy” supporters who contribute to creating a good matchday atmosphere. Like the parents of a rather awkward adolescent, Gloucester fans reserve the right to be critical, superior in worldly experience and patronising when they wish to be, but they are also prepared to be good-humoured, tolerant and, at times, impressed by effort and creativity.

The cherry-and-whites certainly have justification for feeling superior. Our early arrival at the ground meant that we could make an unhurried inspection of Mike Teague’s famous pub. It’s worth a visit. The walls are covered in rugby memorabilia recalling past Gloucester glories, as well as those of the Lions and England. Gloucester really is a rugby-mad town and it was strange to see framed facsimiles of the certificates conferring the freedom of the city on Messrs. Vickery, Woodman and Andy Gomarsall.

And so to the match. Despite the dark mutterings of lack of local interest in a mere Challenge Cup semi-final, the ground seemed almost full to capacity. Certainly, the home crowd was as passionate and partisan as we have come to expect and the Gloucester team was totally committed to achieving success. Kingsholm is not known as “Castle Grim” for nothing and, despite a recent stutter, has seen some impressive results this season. Dean Ryan might have claimed he was playing his youngsters, but when those include such future stars as Ryan Lamb and Anthony Allen, it is hardly much of a risk. These are young players who already have impressive CVs and experience.

As far as the Warriors were concerned, there were many positives, despite the disappointment of the defeat. We are still missing key players. Apart from our long-term injuries, we badly missed Havili and the late withdrawals of Thinus and AG. John Brain said at the Supporters’ Club Q and A meeting that the team is in a state of transition and the match reflected the inconsistency we have shown during the season. The Warriors played with passages of excellence, but also made errors. At this level, there is no room for mistakes and they paid for the lost scoring chances. On the other hand, just as on the previous Saturday, the team showed spirit and determination to come from behind and push the opposition to the limit.

I came away from the game feeling quietly positive. We were defeated, but honourably at an away fixture in the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup. Last season we were only in the shield competition. [ It may not be the Heineken, but just look at the quality of the finalists in the ECC over the years.] We got to the semis by winning the toughest pool and were the only team to get an away win at the quarter final stage.

We are safe from relegation with 2 games still to play. Whatever our final ranking, we have finished the season in a more secure position than last year in a GP that is even more competitive than before. We have also scored more tries, have a better points difference and have conceded two defeats only to Sale (so far).

Pat Sanderson has gained England caps and Chris Horsman was capped for Wales. Richard Blaze and Nick Runciman have played for the successful England U-21 side; Craig Everitt and Callum Black gained caps for Wales and Ireland. Sam MacDonald, Chris Pennel and Matt Mullen featured in the U-19 World Cup side which came third after Australia and New Zealand.

We have ridden a horrendous succession of injuries which would have reduced the supporters to despair if they had been forecast last September. Not only have we been deprived of Chris Horsman, Tim Collier, Ben Hinshelwood and Andre Van Niekerk but, since Christmas, we have had significant time without Le Roux, Delport, Brown, Havili, Hickey and Rasmussen.

We have already signed some significant players for next season, re-signed others and, says John Brain, there are more to come.

We now have two GP games left to play. The supporters can enjoy them because we are safe, but there is still much at stake. Two wins would give us 48 points – close to JB’s target of 50 and would leave us nicely in the middle of the table. There is much to play for and good reasons to cheer our team on to success. So remember all you pessimists out there:

The future’s bright

The future’s gold and blue!