BOURNVILLE Managing Director Phil Maynard hailed the impact that the Blues have made this season, culminating in winning promotion from Counties Three Midlands West (South).
The Blues, the club’s second XV, entered the RFU leagues for the first time this season and clinched promotion by beating Woodrush 45-21 at Avery Fields, narrowly missing out on the title by three points to Upton on Severn.
“It’s a measure of how far the club has come to get two competitive sides and the Blues have made a fundamental difference to the way we train on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” Maynard said.
“We get good numbers at training every week, they have a great atmosphere amongst them and you need 30 players if you are going to challenge in any league.
“Congratulations to the Blues and everyone involved with the team. They have been tremendous this season.”
While the Blues won promotion, the first XV suffered relegation from the National Leagues with a try bonus in the 61-24 defeat at Cinderford not being enough to keep them out of the bottom two.
“Cinderford are a good side. In the first 20 minutes we gave away silly penalties for high tackles and going for lost causes in the rucks,” Maynard said.
“We also lost the toss which meant we had a howling gale behind us and it forced them to play a lot more than they might have done.
“When we turned around at half-time with the wind our faces we knew we had an uphill battle. We said we needed to get a bonus point and we did so full credit to the boys for that.
“There was a good fighting spirit amongst the troops as there has been for the last couple of weeks. They tried their best, so I can’t fault them at all.”
Maynard’s attention will now turn to next season and trying to regroup in Regional One Midlands.
“We need to retain as many of this squad as we can and go back down a peg or two and learn how to win again,” he said.
“Whatever the challenge is going to be we have to meet it head on.”
