Bentley's Bull

This piece is from a recent Press Release

Giant 6'7'' lock forward Steve Fox is due to return to Reeds Lane from Altringham Kersal where he has been playing this season. The Club has not had adequate cover in the second row since Alastair Atkinson left to join Fylde. Steve will add height and weight to the Blues pack and his pace around the field will fit in well with the open 15 man game favoured by Director of Rugby Alistair Saverimutto.

With just six League and a possible two Cheshire Cup games remaining, New Brighton's 1st XV squad enjoyed the luxury of a rugby free weekend, allowing Mr. Saverimutto to have a run out with the second team "It was great to be playing again without the pressures of management to consider, I really enjoyed the run out but I will be paying the price for a day or so" he said limping badly from a knee injury picked up in his teams 12–18 reversal against a strong Orrell XV.

Saverimutto's team have been showing impressive form in recent months after a shaky start to the season. The introduction of so many youngsters into the 1^st XV has been a major aspect in Saverimutto's reign as Blues chief. The message that New Brighton had a good team getting old which they have rebuilt into a young team getting good is well demonstrated by the regular inclusion of James Moore, Adam Kettle, Anthony Birley, Ian Murray, Steve O'Connor all under 20 together with Jon Sewell, Jay Stirret and Sam Cottrell under 22 in the 1^st XV line up.

At a special presentation night at Reeds Lane Mr. Saverimutto stated that New Brighton could not hope to be a Leicester playing in the Premiership but he confidently predicted that the Club and the Wirral have the capacity to be a Coventry or a London Welsh playing in the first Division of the National League. Mr Saverimutto went on to say: "The Wirral once had the nations top clubs playing at Reeds Lane and the Upper Park in regular fixtures, but the region tended to get left behind as others around the country geared up to the demands of the professional era. Rugby continues to develop and change since the game went professional in the mid 90s with some, once famous names, have lost out while others have grown to enjoy unprecedented growth and success in the reshuffle of power and influence. New Brighton is now well positioned to move up as high as the First Division if the resources and facilities are forthcoming and the community identifies the opportunities open to us.

With so many youngsters already making the grade in the 1^st XV and so much talent coming through the ranks of the Wirral Academy New Brighton are confidently approaching sponsors with a package that identifies promotion next season and plans to progress to the First Division.

In addition to the return of Steve Fox Mr. Saverimutto is understood to be seeking other quality players to strengthen his squad for next season. "I'm delighted with the progress the lads have made this year. We are predominantly a young squad well able to compete in this Division. However, I need to strengthen certain positions and build in cover if we are to emulate Doncaster's championship drive. We are so very close and do not need much to make this a very good team indeed" added the Blues chief.

Confusion still reigns over the forthcoming Cheshire Cup semi final clash with Birkenhead Park set for Sunday March 24^th just 24 hours after the Blues play Nuneaton in the League. "This is precisely the level of organisation and thinking that resulted in Wirral clubs fall off the pace in the past" said a defiant Saverimutto It's time County officials woke up to recognise the pressures facing teams contesting in the National League. The game as moved on and so must their thinking if we are to stay on the pace. It's so much easier in the local leagues and it's time others recognised and supported the efforts we are making to compete at the higher level"

An additional side effect of the chaos surrounding the administration of the Cheshire Cup competition is the total disruption of the only Cheshire County pre County Championship game. This is to be played at Reeds Lane on 20th March, the Wednesday immediately prior to the League/Cup clash weekend and eight New Brighton players are asked to attend. The Cheshire Committee have no problem, apparently, in scheduling, for some players, three games in five days.

New Brighton face a trip to Whitchurch next week in what promises to be a tough test for Saverimutto's young Blues.

.

BENTLEY

This piece was prepared for the programme for the Cheshire Cup game against Stockport 11th December 2001. We take pleasure in publishing it on this web site.

CAN CUP GLORY

LEAD TO LONG TERM

SUCCESS ?

In recent years New Brighton has enjoyed unprecedented success in the Cheshire Cup, but with so many of the team that raised Cheshire's Senior Cup in victory no longer with us, this is an entirely new experience for so many of our current squad.

With so much Cup success in recent years it's easy to become blasé about the competition. For those who consider it a mere formality just cast your mind back to the days, not so long ago, when we battled for many seasons to get passed Winnington Park, then above us in the National League and were blown away by the professional battalions of a Sale second string.

Stockport have hosted us on their turf in recent years, getting ever closer to beating us. From what I remember of last years encounter it was a very close affair indeed! As for this year we are fortunate to have a home tie and will be hoping to take advantage and win tonight in order to go into the next round. In the wings, a greatly improved Birkenhead Park, National League aspirants Chester and many other eligible clubs are spoiling for the have their chance to have a go at the Wirral's National League New Brighton.

Cup success could well be a great stage and launching ground for our 'Young Bunch' this season. Could it be that Messers Birley and O'Conner will develop into the Cropper and Guest of tomorrow? Could it be that Kettle and Sewell grow into the Brookman and Jones of the future? Will James Moore go on to be the Saverimutto or Healy of the next generation?

Just pause for a moment and think through the comparisons. These young lads are all local rugby players bristling with ability and youthful exuberance, but what a talented group they are. I've not yet mentioned Jay Stirrut or Ian Murray. Neither have I mentioned young Culligan and a host of others names currently developing nicely with the PJR Academy. Tim Morton at 21 is the elder statesman of this 'Young Bunch'. They could well manage to lift the Cheshire Senior Cup for the first time in their careers and give all at New Brighton another cup run to enjoy.

Similarly this 'Young Bunch' have the talent to take the Wirral and the New Brighton Club onwards and upwards in the National League just as the Brookman/Connor crop progressed us through the local Northern Division into the National League.

If we pause to think for a moment and shelve our current league disappointments, the battle with Stockport tonight could be an important yardstick in the playing careers of our 'Young Bunch' and the continued development of our ClubIf we pause to think for a moment and shelve our current league disappointments, the battle with Stockport tonight could be an important yardstick in the playing careers of our 'Young Bunch' and the continued development of our Club

Lest the senior players get upset at my praise of youth, all identify your worth as the backbone of the team, long may you continue, but the current 'Young Bunch' could well be the keel we need to lay to launch the team of tomorrow and I unashamedly promote their corner.

To the politically and commercially minded in the club and community I urge you to spot the opportunity we have with these lads and secure the 'Young Bunch' for club and community with contracts that keep them with us playing on the Wirral.

Have the vision, the wit and the foresight to see what treasure we already have in our midst. Build on it with the will and determination that will bring future prestige, kudos and honour to the Wirral. Do not let the disappointment of current league results blind you to the opportunities and treasures we have. Let all enjoy the game tonight and look forward to another successful cup run as a launching pad for future league honours.

BENTLEY

There is a special magic about Cup rugby. A single game to decide who will win and who will lose. One bite of the Cherry, get it right and progress into the hat for the next round, or get it wrong and it's instant death as you're out for another year.

Colin