Rugby Union: Former ‘Quin Hitchmough revels in West Park role

Sep 19 2007 by Ron Roby, Liverpool Daily Post

FORMER Harlequin Premiership full-back Rob Hitchmough is really cherishing the responsibility of captaincy at West Park and his performance last Saturday orchestrating at stand-off was eye-catching to say the least.

Coach Martin Jones said: “Rob had a magnificent game against Rugby Lions.

“It was certainly his initiative and performance that swung the game in our favour to clinch maximum points and put us equal third in the table.

“With three away games this month, we would have settled for two wins and we have still to go to Morley next Saturday and I see no reason why we cannot keep up the momentum.”

There’s every reason for the Merseysiders to be in confident mood because slowly but surely their injury list is reducing.

Former England junior international Neil Ryan came through his first outing in the second team at the weekend, successfully feeling no side effects of his troublesome groin strain.

Club captain Stephen Briers is also making progress after his surgery on his ankle while ex-Rochdale Hornets signing Dave Cunliffe could well come into the frame shortly.

Another new summer signing from Orrell Danny Higham also did well in his run-out with the second team, who beat Caldy 41-27 and fully justified his “man of the match” title.

He could well be putting pressure on the selectors too.

Off the field the West Park committee, with chief executive Rob Briers a vital member, have a busy time ahead of them having received news of obtaining planning permission for the redevelopment of the clubhouse.

At one stage there was a possibility that the club might be relocating to the site of Broadway HS but it would seem that idea is now dead and buried.