Rugby Union: Woodward’s toughing it out

Oct 3 2007 by John Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

TWO sides with a combined rugby union history of almost 300 years battled away last Saturday when LSH (150 years this year) travelled to Darlington, the first club to be founded in the North East in 1863.

The game itself was a less than illustrious affair, although full of passion and excitement with little between the teams.

Darlington’s one-point win however, now puts them level with LSH and leaves the Moss Laners with one win from four games.

“What matters now is how we respond to our first month in North One,” said director of rugby Paul Woodward. “Clearly things have not gone as well as we would have hoped, particularly in our two away games.

“We knew that it would be much tougher than last year and so it has proved. We know what needs to be done and it is now up to everyone to do it.”

Woodward is still looking to increase the playing strength at the club and has not been helped by a number of injuries to key players as well as visa problems with South African Brian Makhaza.