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Bristol
In the wake of pay cuts and player departures CEO Steve Gorvett has spoken out to quash rumours that the club has or is intending to go into administration.
Gorvett told the Bristol Evening Post that he expects the situation at the club to become clearer in the next couple of weeks as player movements are finalised and said:
“I can absolutely assure you the club is not in administration. We are operating and looking to see how we can use the budget available to us to make us the most competitive team we can be in the Championship next season."
He continued:
"We will be talking to the players again this week, and, hopefully, things will become clearer. But I think it's fair to say it's a lot more positive than some of the stories I have seen.
"It is, however, very difficult to make a clear statement until we do know exactly what we are dealing with. Once we know which players are definitely moving on, then we can work out the budget we have available for the rest of the squad."
Full story www.thisisbristol.co.uk
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Plymouth Albion
In the wake of losing Geoff Griffiths and James Waterhouse to newly promoted Esher chairman of rugby Graham Dawe has spoken of the need to re-sign players quickly for the new season.
Albion have now lost eight of last season`s squad since the campaign finished with a further twelve still to commit to the Brickfields club for the new season.
Dawe, who has also seen coaches James Owen and Danny Thomas move on told The Herald:
“We are still trying to re-sign some of our players from last season. Hopefully we can do that."
He continued: “We are still in the process of putting together a coaching team for next season."
Full story www.thisisplymouth.co.uk
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England Counties
Five players from Championship clubs featured in the latest England Counties match on their tour of Canada.
Tom Kessell (Plymouth Albion), Phil Eggleshaw (Nottingham), Craig Voisey (Rotherham Titans), Harry Spencer (Bedford Blues/Saracens), and Mark Evans (Moseley) all played in the hard fought 32-26 win against Ontario Blues.
Former Cornish Pirates lock Luke Collins also played.
Match Report:-
England Counties V Ontario Blues
England Counties maintained their unbeaten record in Canada when they claimed the second win of their three-match tour against Ontario Blues in Toronto tonight.
But once again the tourists found themselves sorely tested by energetic and very skilful opposition, who fully lived up to their reputation for enterprising rugby and had the Counties nerves jangling to the bitter end.
Had the tourists shown less naivety in the closing stages when they had the opposition by the throat and only needed to screw the game down with a conservative kicking strategy they might have won with something to spare, but instead they were always looking to add to their try tally and it made for very nervous watching.
There was no hint of the topsy-turvy game to follow when the Counties came out of the blocks at pace to take a 10-0 lead in just six minutes. Once again young scrum-half Tom Kessell was on the score sheet, supporting a smart break by fly-half Paul Humphries to slip through near the posts.
Full-back Tom Jarvis converted and added a penalty, but the setbacks did not faze the Blues, who settled into the challenge and cut the deficit when prop Dan Pletch was driven over from a lineout.
Fly-half Steve Piatek converted and then made the Counties pay for their indiscretions when he landed three penalties to put his side 16-10 ahead at the interval.
With the wind in their favour and some strong direction from the coaching staff at the break, the Counties set about repairing the situation with a more focused and more organised approach in the second-half, a try from a driving maul by prop Gavin Woods, converted by Humphries, edging them in front.
Humphries then supplied a perfectly weighted kick for Jarvis to gather at full-speed to give the Counties a 22-16 lead, but any hopes that the Blues might buckle were quickly dispelled when scrum-half Adam Schouten stretched over and Piatek goaled to put the home side ahead again at 23-22.
The indomitable Humphries then served up an exquisite pass for flanker Dan Baines to scythe through under the posts, Humphries converting and adding a penalty for a 32-23 lead.
Piatek had the last word when he kicked a penalty after 65 minutes to bring his side within striking distance again, but although the Counties could not keep their hands off the self-destruct button by continuing to play attacking rugby, they held out for the win.
"The Blues came at us strongly in the first-half, as we knew they would, and they were probably stronger up front and more skilful than we were led to believe," said Manager Danny Hodgson: "Going in six points down at half-time was a bit of a worry and I don't know what the coaches said at half-time, but it certainly had an effect.
"We were more composed after the break and I thought the Blues might tire a bit, but they came back again and took us to the wire. I was a nervous wreck in the closing stages and mightily relieved to get the win.
"Overall, though, I thought it was a great game and a great rugby occasion, just what the Counties team is all about in my view. Now we go to Vancouver to take on the British Columbia Bears and we know that we'll probably need to raise our game again to complete a hat trick of wins."
Ontario Blues:
Rory Tomlinson (Brantford Harlequins)
Ryan Macsween (Balmy Beach)
Ryan Tomlinson (Barrie)
Derek Daypuck (London St Georges)
Scott Kyle (Niagara Wasps)
Steve Piatek, (Brantford Harlequins)
Adam Schouten (Brantford Harlequins)
Creag Johnston (Toronto Scottish)
Mike Pletch (Velox Valhallians)
Dan Pletch (Oakville Crusaders)
Brett Beukeboom (Lindsay Gryphons OR Gord Kehoe (Barrie)
Stu Ault (Barrhaven Scottish)
Keegan Selby (Brantford Harlequins)
Alistair Clark (Oakville Crusaders)
Mark Macsween (Balmy Beach).
England Counties XV:
Tom Jarvis (unattached & Gloucestershire)
James Tincknell (Wharfedale & Yorkshire)
Kyle Dench (Harrogate & Yorkshire) capt
Henry Staff (Blackheath & Hertfordshire)
Charlie Ingall (Tynedale & Northumberland)
Paul Humphries (Blackheath & Kent)
Tom Kessell (Plymouth Albion & Devon)
Gavin Woods (Caldy & Cheshire)
Jonny Roddam (Fylde & Lancashire)
Nick Flynn (Sedgley Park & Lancashire)
Louis McGowan (Coventry & Lancashire)
Luke Collins (Redruth & Cornwall)
Mark Wilson (Blaydon & Northumberland)
Daniel Baines (Macclesfield & Lancashire)
Phil Eggleshaw (Nottingham & Durham).
Replacements: all used
Matt Hall (Blaydon & Northumberland)
Craig Voisey (Rotherham & North Midlands)
Harry Spencer (Saracens/Bedford & Devon)
Mark Evans (Moseley & North Midlands)
Ross Winney (Macclesfield & Cheshire)
Steve Hamilton (Blackheath & Kent)
Fergus Mulchrone (Macclesfield & Cheshire).
Referee: Mr Andrew Hosie (Canada/Ontario) |
News Index 09/10 
