Shewell: Bright start key to Droitwich's cup hopes - The Droitwich Standard

Shewell: Bright start key to Droitwich's cup hopes

Droitwich Editorial 17th Nov, 2017   0

SKIPPER James Shewell has warned Droitwich will have to raise their game if they are to stand any chance of overcoming Crewe & Nantwich in the quarter-finals of the RFU Intermediate Cup this weekend.

The Salt Boys know that victory over their Midlands Two West (North) opponents tomorrow (Saturday) at the Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground puts them within touching distance of another appearance at Twickenham.

Droitwich got the chance to grace the turf at the home of rugby in the final of RFU Senior Vase last season where they lost 37-15 to Farnham.

Crewe & Nantwich currently sit second in their league and after Droitwich narrowly edged past local rivals Evesham by 24-23 on Saturday to go top of the Midlands Two West (South) table, Shewell told the Standard his side will have to step it up a gear to reach the cup semi-finals.




“We enjoy the cup competitions because we get to play teams we do not know too much about,” he said.

“Crewe are doing well in their league and we expect them to be very strong but being at home we are confident we can get the right result.


“Hopefully we can get a big crowd behind us to cheer us to victory but what is important is we fly out the blocks.

“Our performance at the weekend was not the best so we need to raise our game.”

Droitwich looked like as though they were heading for their first defeat of the campaign on Saturday until Shewell touched down right at the death, allowing the reliable Bobby Scott-Walker top kick the conversion with the last play.

Shewell had earlier crossed the line as well as Peter Knight and Sam O’Brien while Scott-Walker added another conversion.

Although Droitwich took top spot after Malvern lost 23-22 at home to Silhillians, Shewell was far from impressed with the performance.

“Evesham made it very difficult for us and there will not be many teams this season which walk away with a bonus point win from them,” he said.

“Our discipline was a problem because every time we conceded a penalty we got punished.

“We got out of jail on Saturday and I do not want to be in that kind of position again with so little time left.

“Even though the performance was not ideal, we still managed to get the win and that bodes well for the future if we can grind results out.”

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