DIRECTOR of rugby Duncan Hughes has admitted Droitwich Spa are struggling without influential fly half Bobby Scott-Walker.
The stand-off was unavailable for Spa’s Midlands Two West (South) opener against Leamington Spa last week after sustaining a groin injury in pre-season.
Droitwich lost the game 32-12 and Hughes said his side did miss the kicking skills of Scott-Walker, who looks set to be sidelined for the next three weeks.
“Losing a fly half who has grown into the position over the last two years and was instrumental last season is a big loss,” he said.
“Sean Walker has been deputising at fly half, but he had to move to inside centre because of numbers and Dave Oliver who usually plays at scrum half, played at fly half.
“So it was a bit of a mishmash on Saturday. But having said that we should not have played like we did and hopefully we can put that right next week.”
Droitwich have been boosted by the return of captain Mark Strutt who has finished serving a ban and is set to start against Malvern at Spring Lane tomorrow (Saturday).
And Hughes said Strutt will make a big difference as they attempt to bounce back following their disappointing display at Leamington.
“The performance was not what we were expecting,” he said.
“We worked hard on our fitness and we have got that right, but we did not perform to the levels we should have set ourselves.
“Mark (Strutt) will be keen to make up for last week. He will certainly give us more go-forward ball, but having said that our forward pack have got to turn up.
“Malvern are a good club, so we are expecting a tight game.
“But there is no reason if the forwards turn up and win enough ball we can’t go over there and get a positive result.”
