Rugby Union: Park prepared to blood fringe players in cup clash

Oct 10 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

WEST PARK have little time to take stock on their league progress despite a break in the National Three North programme this weekend.

Instead they prepare for the long journey to South Shields to take on Westoe in round one of the EDF National Trophy.

Head coach Martin Jones knows from experience that this will not be an easy trip.

“We have been there before and lost,” Jones said.

“It is not a comfortable venue because they usually have a big and noisy crowd supporting them.

“I certainly recall losing out there the season we got promoted to the national leagues when we were having a good season.”

Cup games of this type can often provide a mixed blessing to clubs and this competition is no different. Invariably if clubs are drawn away the return financially is small compared to the cost of a long journey away.

Moreover, with the national league being the bread and butter as far as West Park and other clubs are concerned, there is also the worry of exposing the core of your squad in case you are blighted with injuries.

Consequently, there will be no surprise if the likes of stars like Rob Hitchmough are rested. But at least the game will provide the opportunity for the selectors to blood some fringe squad members.

After last Saturday’s win at Beverley despite some friction at times on the field with Andy Soutar and newcomer Dave Cunliffe sin-binned, the Merseysiders are now in mid-table with three wins out of six. Gradually the club is overcoming a long list of injuries that hit them early on and club captain Stephen Briers is making good progress with his rehabilitation after his operation on an ankle. He could back in a month.