Rebuilding work needed

Apr 23 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

WEST PARK ended their tormenting season knowing they will be playing in North One next time round.

Despite losing their last game in National 3 North 24-14 to Preston Grasshoppers they came out of the game with a lot of credit having scored two tremendous tries courtesy of Mark Turner and Rob Hitchmough.

Park’s performance also provided new coach Chris Chudleigh with some positives after a gruelling few weeks.

“After our woeful display against Bradford & Bingley and Leicester Lions, Saturday’s game did give us more encouragement,” Chris Chudleigh said.

Even in his programme notes, he emphasised that it had been a difficult six weeks and that the off-field troubles had clearly had an effect on the field.

Now the real work starts and Chudleigh knows only too well he has to rebuild the squad and hope that there is little player drain this summer.

“Understandably there will be a lot of speculation about players in the summer. However I am quite confident that most of the players will stay because most of them have grown up together and are big friends,” he added.

“I am also confident that the likes of our skipper Stephen Briers will stay. I also see it necessary to build up our local young talent and attracting even more. I have got connections too and they might include people overseas and elsewhere.”