Greenaway: We must start to think like a mid-table side
CINDERFORD coach Phil Greenaway has called for a change in mindset from his side after their best performance of the season against Cambridge.
The Gloucester Academy man wants his players to play like a mid-table team rather than as if they are battling relegation having won four out of the last five games in National One.
Greenaway had the unenviable task of picking a side from a talented group of players which also includes several junior members of Gloucester’s squad.
He said: “We’ve won four out of the last five games and Saturday was as good as we’ve played. Winning in Cambridge certainly takes a bit of pressure off us.
“What’s good is that we brought in people like Stefan Hawley, Paul Boston and George Evans, and they all stepped up to the plate and delivered.
“I thought Phil Kennedy had one of his best games of the season, along with the rest of the front five. A lot of people are banging on the door for selection.
“The second XV went to Loughborough and won this week, which was a phenomenal result.”
Greenaway believes the performances of late have been built on solid defence, and hopes that can continue.
He said: “Cambridge never looked like scoring. There’s no doubt the club is moving in the right direction.”
New signing Matt James has been in fine form for the Foresters and chalked up another 17 points on his second start last week.
Greenaway will be hoping for more of the same as his side travel to Otley this week, a crucial trip given the opponents are one place below the Foresters in the table.
He said: “Matt did great, but I don’t want to single out anyone because it was an excellent team performance.
“Everything is rosy, but we’ve got to go to Otley this week and do it all again.”
Cinderford players must earn their shirts
CINDERFORD skipper Paul Knight says the players must earn their shirts more than ever now thanks to the healthy competition for places at the club.
At fly-half alone new signing, New Zealander Matty James, must fight it out with Tim Stevenson who is now back from his summer shoulder surgery.
While Knight has to battle Danny Pointon for the nine jersey, another new man, Nevaro Codlin, will fight it out for one of the spots on the wing.
“Tim Stephenson played for the second team last week on his way back and he kicked all his goals,” Knight said.
“Danny Trigg is back as well and with Nev Codlin there too we have got five or six players fighting for each position.
“It is going to get people playing better and it is a good thing for the club because they have to earn the shirt.
“We have got Tim and Matt for fly-half then there is Danny and me for scum-half which makes me have to play better as well.”
The Foresters welcome National Two whipping boys Manchester to Dockham Road this week looking to repeat their 93-3 drubbing at Grove Park earlier in the season.
The Lancashire outfit, who were relegated from the old National One last season, have lost every match so far this season and average conceding 90 points a game.
But Knight knows the players must not underestimate their opponents because they ran fifth placed Wharfedale pretty close two weeks ago when they lost 45-23.
“Wharfedale struggled a little bit against them the week before and I do not know if that was because they had five weeks off or because Manchester had recruited you do not know but on paper we can not take them lightly,” Knight added.
“It is always a big boost to your confidence that you put 93 points on someone but it will not be an easy game.”
Unfortunately Adam Nicholls is a doubt for this weekend but James should get a start with the standard of the opposition and Knight says it will take time for him to bed in.
“He came on for the last 20 minutes last week and he looked a bit nervous but he is just getting to know the calls and he has been training for the last five weeks so it will be a good game for him to start,” Knight said.
Source:thisisgloucestershire
Matty James on his Cinderford move
CINDERFORD have made one of their biggest ever signings by bringing New Zealander Matty James to Dockham Road.
Utility back James, 23, comes to Cinderford from Air New Zealand Cup side Tasman Makos – where he played alongside All Blacks Ben Franks, Chris Jack and Ali Williams. He previously played for another Air Cup side, Manawatu, for three years.
The Air Cup is New Zealand’s top club competition and around half of the Tasman team currently play for the Crusaders in the Super 14s.
Last year, James also spent seven months with top Welsh Premiership club Neath, where he ousted Welsh international Arwel Thomas from the number 10 shirt.
His last game for Neath was at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, helping the Welsh All Blacks beat Llanelli 27-21 in the Welsh Swalec Cup final.
The young Kiwi, who was brought up in New Plymouth, Taranaki, will play for Cinderford for the rest of the season.
He is currently staying in Littledean.
He told The Forester: “When I left New Zealand it was 22 degrees.
“I knew what to expect, but I arrived in flip-flops and shorts.”
The only rugby currently being played in New Zealand is Super 14s and sevens, so James, as a professional player, has come to the Forest to gain more experience in British conditions.
He said: “I’m looking forward to getting started.
“My grandfather was born here so I’m actually qualified to play for England. My father played 24 games for Taranaki as a number 12, despite weighing only 78 kilos.
“He played against Wales when they toured in 1988.
“My brother has also just returned home after a spell with Biggar in the Scottish Second Division.”
James says he learned a lot alongside Arwel Thomas at Neath, particularly when it came to tactical kicking.
He said: “Arwel must be 34 or 35 although he looks 15.
“He says he is going to retire every year, but he just keeps going.
“Playing at the Millennium Stadium is every Welshman’s dream, the roof was open and it was an awesome experience.
“So were the semi-finals at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, where we beat Swansea.
“It was a double header with both semi-finals on the same day.
“It was so noisy you couldn’t even hear the calls.”
Source:thisisgloucestershire
Foresters snap up experienced Kiwi
CINDERFORD have pulled off a major signing by attracting the experienced New Zealander Matty James to Dockham Road.
The capture of the 23-year-old utility back is surely one of the biggest in the Foresters’ history and will help aid their National One relegation battle.
James arrives in the Forest of Dean from Air New Zealand Cup outfit Tasman Makos, where he has been playing alongside All Black internationals Ben Franks, Chris Jack and Ali Williams.
James, who is qualified to play for England after his grandfather was born here, is staying in Littledean and has played for another Air Cup side, Manawatu, for three years.
The Air Cup is New Zealand’s top club competition and around half of the Tasman team play for the Crusaders in the Super 14s.
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James spent seven months with Welsh Premiership club Neath last year, where he ousted Welsh international Arwel Thomas from the 10 shirt.
His last game for Neath was at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, helping the Welsh All Blacks beat Llanelli 27-21 in the Welsh Swalec Cup final.
The young Kiwi, who was brought up in New Plymouth, Taranaki, is not the first from his family to play rugby at a high level.
His father played 24 times for Taranaki as a number 12 and faced Wales when they toured in 1988.
His brother has returned from a spell with Biggar in the Scottish Second Division.
James looks most likely to slot in at outside-half where Cinderford have been short of experience all season.
Last year’s 10, Tim Stevenson, has been out since the summer after undergoing shoulder surgery but is close to returning.
Head coach Phil Greenaway had impressed at stand-off before a serious rib and lung injury sustained in the 3-0 defeat at Newbury Blues on November 14 ended his year.
The Foresters also have youngsters Danny Pointon and Mike Wilcox in their ranks.
Source:thisisgloucestershire
