DIRECTOR of Rugby Adam Drew says his Droitwich side will take the game to fourth-placed Whitchurch on Saturday, speaking ahead of the Monners’ final game of the Midlands 1 West season.
The Salt Men battled their way to a 26-24 victory away at Sutton Coldfield last weekend, having trailed 17-7 at half-time following a below-par first-half showing.
A brace from number eight Phil Horton, added to by tries from Ben Smith and Bobby-Scott Walker – who kicked three conversions, edged the tie in Droitwich’s favour, to the delight of Drew.
“We were slow to start, playing away is always tough but I didn’t think we were at our usual level until later in the game.
“But we knew it was nothing to panic about, we came in at half-time and regrouped, we had the slope in our favour, so I knew that would come into it and benefit us in the second-half.”
Drew highlighted the impact of Phil Horton, Matt Handford and Pete Knight during the win as the stand-out performers, and felt his side upped their performance levels enormously after the interval.
He looks ahead to Whitchurch as a game in which his side can not only seek vindication for their loss in the reverse fixture at the start of the season, but also as an opportunity to end the season on a high.
“They’re a very tough side, we were unprepared at the start of the season after having only played one warm-up game.
“We had a couple of injuries in that tie to hamper us further, and they caught us on the back foot on the day.
“Going into it, it’s 15 versus 15, and the points are ours for the taking.”
Drew believes home advantage at the Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground will play a decisive factor on Saturday, and urges his side to take full advantage.
“The final positions in the league are decided, so we know where we stand going into it.
“They’ve got to come to us, so we’ll be confident – we’ll take the game to them.”
