Mowden kick off campaign with trip to Cumbria
11:44am Saturday 6th September 2008
DARLINGTON Mowden Park’s new regime faces its first serious test when they kick off their National Three North campaign away to promoted Kendal today.
It’s been all change at Mowden since they lost the promotion play-off at Cinderford by one point, after which Andy Howells decided not to continue as Director of Rugby.
Coach Kevan Oliphant also departed for West Hartlepool, taking skipper Jamie Connolly and several other players with him.
Club secretary Kevin Robinson is the senior coach in overall charge, while ex- Harrogate and RAF lock Peter Taylor is the first team coach, who will also play when required.
Robinson, a recently retired policeman, began playing at Durham City and joined Mowden when he was posted to Darlington in 1978.
He played in all three rows of the scrum and captained the club before taking up coaching when he stopped playing.
“It was quite an achievement for a smallish club to get as close as we did to National Two last season,” he said. “We still think we can compete in this league with a young, developing side, plus some experience in key areas.
“Our fly half, Jon Benson, will take a more active role in coaching.
“Part of my role is managing the budget and recruiting players, which will be an ongoing process. We are also concentrating on injury prevention through our physios and providing support and rehabilitation.
“We have had a promising start with deserved wins in friendlies against Watsonians and Westoe.”
Mowden had hoped this would be their last season at Yiewsley Drive, but the lengthy saga of their move to West Park has hit another barrier.
Interest in building on their land has cooled because of the housing market stagnation.
New players include Teesside-based former Wharfedale scrum half John Newton and Kiwi hooker Howie Murray, a former player- coach with Hartlepool.
Two of the club’s former back row men who are back in action are Steve Holborough, returning from injury, and Tim Wilks, who made the headlines last year for rowing across the Atlantic.
Two who have joined from Blaydon are prop Liam Gumbrill and back five forward George Carpenter, while winger Gavin Clegg and lock Andy Harston have crossed the town from Darlington.
Other signings are Matt Goforth, a winger from Sunderland, Adam Mackenzie (wing/centre) from Northumbria University, and full back Gavin Painter, from West Hartlepool.
Mowden are keeping an eye on the situation at Blaydon, where the Clark twins, Chris and James, have failed to make the team for today’s National Two opener at Waterloo.
Blaydon have been promised the services of young Newcastle half backs Rory Clegg and Micky Young when they are not required for Falcons first team duty.
Tynedale begin life in National Two at home to Mounts Bay, formerly Penzance and Newlyn, who will undertake a 1,000-mile round trip following six successive promotions.
BLAYDON: A Dehaty, A Fenby, P Dias, B Mercer, B Daniel, A Baggett, G Charlton, R Kalbraier, M Hall, J Isaacson, D Guthrie (capt), S Tomes, S St Bernard, S Riddell, J Smithson.
MOWDEN PARK: M Lithgo, M Goforth, M Featherstone, B Snook, G Clegg, J Benson, J Newton, D Brown, H Murray, D Miller, L Monument, A Harston, G Carpenter, C Dodds, S Holborough.