BOURNVILLE Managing Director Phil Maynard has hailed the contributions of departing players Stef Thorp, James Weaver and James Burgoyne and Director of Rugby Paul Sumner.
Thorp made his final appearance in Saturday’s 50-30 defeat by National Two West leaders Clifton at Avery Fields to bring down the curtain on a glittering career that also included long stints with Dudley Kingswinford, Birmingham Moseley and Stourbridge.
He departed to a standing ovation from the crowd, his team-mates and Clifton players having had the honour of leading out the side alongside Weaver and Burgoyne before kick-off.
Burgoyne is moving to Devon and had been due to make his last appearance at Devonport Services in the season finale on April 26.
However he was sent off in the closing minutes for comments made to an assistant referee after he was the victim of a head butt, an offence that was not spotted by the match officials.
Weaver is likely to make his 121st and final appearance for Bourns at Devonport before he takes up a new post with the club, coaching the second XV – the Blues – while Sumner is stepping down because of increased work commitments having spent 15 years with the club as player and coach.
“Losing anyone is bad but those three players have been crucial to any success we have had in this division,” Maynard said.
“Stef has not been here a long time but it feels like he has because he has become such a fixture around the place since he joined us.
“He is a very good set piece player and he’s a good bloke to have around the club. He’s always positive and we are going to miss him.
“Burgs is moving to Devon and we are going to miss him as well. He’s been here for a long time and his family have been closely involved with the club too.
“Weaves is staying which is great news. He is taking up a coaching role with the Blues along with Alex Warner so he will be training and coaching within the squad. We don’t train as two separate teams, we train as one squad.
“When I chatted to Paul and made him DoR two years ago some people did raise an eyebrow but he has played at this level and he was a feature in the team as they got promoted through the leagues.
“He’s also very bright as well which helps when it’s spreadsheet time.
“He has been great for us especially with recruitment and keeping things on a level and making sure that the balance at the end of the year.
“He’s a crucial bloke to have around and of all the people he is probably going to be the most difficult to replace.”
Bournville could not quite deliver a victory for the departing quartet but they did go toe-to-toe for 60 minutes with a side that is likely to be playing National One rugby next season and ended their home programme with a try bonus point.
“We got some of the fundamentals fixed. The line out went well the scrummage went exceptionally well which you would expect with the front row that started. We’ve missed that quite a bit this season through injuries or unavailability,” Maynard said.
“Against opposition like Clifton you have to meet them with the ball and without it. I think we did that well today, we controlled the set pieces to a large extent.
“You can’t question the commitment of the players. Throughout the whole season they have worked really hard and that is reflected in the fact that the majority have signed for next season.”
