"Now make it two," says Glaws skipper Delve


By Cherry Picker
November 25 2009

Having reminded themselves how to win rugby matches, Gloucester go to the Stoop on Saturday hoping that the bad times are behind them and a real revival is under way. Last weekend’s home win over Leicester might not have been a spectacular one, but it was a win – and Glaws were in no position to pick and choose.

The same applies against Harlequins, where a good result is far more important than anything else, in the hope that two wins on the trot get really get this stuttering season going and see them climb up the Guinness Premiership table.
Team spirit and character were to the fore against the Tigers, and the same qualities will be needed by the bucketful at the Stoop, where results are rarely easy to achieve even when quins are stuttering as they appear to be this season.
Joint captain Gareth Delve was as pleased as anybody with the win over Leicester after calling on the squad to pull together to get out of trouble.
And now he says it’s time to cash in on that win.
He told the Citizen: “Friday night was a great example of the spirit we have built in the squad. The lads have stuck together through all the difficult times and now that is starting to show.
"We hope that we've been through the bad patch and now we can hit a purple patch and really get things going.
"We know that if we don't back it up against Harlequins this weekend, the Leicester win means nothing.
"The big plus point is the impact the youngsters had. Henry Trinder, Dave Lewis and Freddie Burns are all finding their feet in the backs, and Charlie Sharples came in and did a brilliant job.

"Then you have Paul Doran-Jones up front. Tim Molenaar is another who is really finding his feet after stepping up from National One.”

Without a full team of internationals against Tigers, Gloucester expect a lot of experienced players to be available for the Quins game, when a win would suggest that beating Leicester was no flash in the pan and Gloucester really could be on he way back.

We hope.

"Now make it two," says Glkaws skipper Delve
Posted by: Shedloads (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 11:16

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Re: "Now make it two," says Glkaws skipper Delve
Posted by: cheerycherry (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 11:46

For the Quins game I would look to play as many as possible of those who beat Tigers and put a few returning players on the bench. That sends a signal that you cant just walk into a Glaws side plus it recognises the efforts of those that put themselves through it against Leicester. That said, the games in the run up to and over the festive period will tell Glaws where their season will be going. Quins and Bath away, Falcons and Wuss at home are all winnable but in true GP style, all tough assignments.

Re: "Now make it two," says Glkaws skipper Delve
Posted by: Two Sheds (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 12:52

You're right, but while we daren't build up our hopes too much, winning all four would be a real comeback wouldn't it?

Re: "Now make it two," says Glkaws skipper Delve
Posted by: cheerycherry (IP Logged)
Date: 26/11/2009 02:52

Quins and Falcons will be the crucial tests because the opposition will be in "our" section of the League. Bath are too good to be bumping along where they are for much longer and Wuss showed last season they are capable of a result at Kingsholm.

Re: "Now make it two," says Glkaws skipper Delve
Posted by: Battering Ram Winger (IP Logged)
Date: 26/11/2009 17:04

Quote:
Bath are too good to be bumping along where they are for much longer

That's what we kept saying about Quins when we got relegated.

(Actually, we didn't, we kept saying "WIN A MATCH, FOR PETE'S SAKE!)

Re: "Now make it two," says Glkaws skipper Delve
Posted by: Two Sheds (IP Logged)
Date: 27/11/2009 11:41

A few "too-good-to-go-down" teams have been relegated. Really, there's no such thing ... ask Northampton.

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