CHAMPIONSHIP TALK
fevnut's blog is absolutely delighted to have received permission to bring you a regular column from Gareth Walker.
Gareth is a top rugby league journalist who has one very exceptional distinction. He chooses to write about matters pertaining to the Championship and League One.
Although this blog is devoted to Featherstone Rovers it is always good to read opinions about matters relevant to us, but not specifically about us. We hope you enjoy reading Gareth's column each week.
Ending the drought
IT
took 45 matches, over 3,000 conceded points and plenty of heartache - but West
Wales Raiders finally got their first win last weekend.
The
League One side beat Coventry Bears 44-16 to end one of the toughest runs in
the history of the professional game.
Since
playing as West Wales, the club had lost 44 straight league
and cup games, shipping 3,117 points at
an average of 71 a match.
Last
season they conceded
over 100 points on six separate occasions.
But
all of that became historical statistics just after 4.30pm on Saturday
afternoon, when Kim Williams’ side completed their historic win over the Bears.
It
sparked scenes of understandable jubilation among the Raiders players, many of
them who had played in the majority of those heavy defeats over the last 18
months.
During
that period the club stuck rigidly and admirably to its principles, which are
based around the development of local players.
They
brought in respected Australian Williams this season in a bid to accelerate
their progress, with a spell at Melbourne Storm on his impressive CV.
It
has perhaps taken longer than Williams would have liked, but the Raiders will
now be hoping that their ground-breaking first win is a sign of better things
to come.
“We
finally showed with that performance that we can be competitive in this
competition and we are worthy of being here,” Williams said after the game.
“But
it's no good if it's just a one off.
“We
have to focus on that now and continue to play at that level.
“We
have a weekend off to celebrate and soak up the win, but then it's back to it
with a tough game against Newcastle.
“It
will be a huge test but if we can play at the standard we set against Coventry
then we will be competitive against one of the top teams in the competition.”
Victory
was also sweet for chairman Andrew Thorne, who along with fellow director Peter
Tiffin has kept the club on a stable footing amid the difficult defeats.
Thorne
said: “Everything
Kim has been trying to put together this season actually came together and we
looked fantastic.
“They've
been so disappointed with results in the past that they knew they had to
perform.
“Seeing
the reaction of the fans and everyone involved with the club made it an even better
day.”
If
any club, and group of players, have earned a day in the sun it is West Wales
Raiders.
Now
they will be hoping it will be the start of something more positive moving forward.
fevnut's blog is absolutely delighted to have received permission to bring you a regular column from Gareth Walker.
Ending the drought
IT
took 45 matches, over 3,000 conceded points and plenty of heartache - but West
Wales Raiders finally got their first win last weekend.
The
League One side beat Coventry Bears 44-16 to end one of the toughest runs in
the history of the professional game.
Since
playing as West Wales, the club had lost 44 straight league
and cup games, shipping 3,117 points at
an average of 71 a match.
Last
season they conceded
over 100 points on six separate occasions.
But
all of that became historical statistics just after 4.30pm on Saturday
afternoon, when Kim Williams’ side completed their historic win over the Bears.
It
sparked scenes of understandable jubilation among the Raiders players, many of
them who had played in the majority of those heavy defeats over the last 18
months.
During
that period the club stuck rigidly and admirably to its principles, which are
based around the development of local players.
They
brought in respected Australian Williams this season in a bid to accelerate
their progress, with a spell at Melbourne Storm on his impressive CV.
It
has perhaps taken longer than Williams would have liked, but the Raiders will
now be hoping that their ground-breaking first win is a sign of better things
to come.
“We
finally showed with that performance that we can be competitive in this
competition and we are worthy of being here,” Williams said after the game.
“But
it's no good if it's just a one off.
“We
have to focus on that now and continue to play at that level.
“We
have a weekend off to celebrate and soak up the win, but then it's back to it
with a tough game against Newcastle.
“It
will be a huge test but if we can play at the standard we set against Coventry
then we will be competitive against one of the top teams in the competition.”
Victory
was also sweet for chairman Andrew Thorne, who along with fellow director Peter
Tiffin has kept the club on a stable footing amid the difficult defeats.
Thorne
said: “Everything
Kim has been trying to put together this season actually came together and we
looked fantastic.
“They've
been so disappointed with results in the past that they knew they had to
perform.
“Seeing
the reaction of the fans and everyone involved with the club made it an even better
day.”
If
any club, and group of players, have earned a day in the sun it is West Wales
Raiders.
Now
they will be hoping it will be the start of something more positive moving forward.
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