Back to the Future!

From all of the players at Caldy we wish Tony Atherton a restful retirement and pass him our thanks for his service at the club. I am sure Cald'y's rise through the leagues and his appointment as Director of Rugby was no coincidence. He will be missed as we turn our attention back to the future.

And on that note, with a hiccup against Preston away, behind us and with the more recent victory against Huddersfield at home fresh in our memories, we prepare for the long trip down to Leicester Lions. I am still yet to grace the field of play since breaking a bone in my hand and dislocating my thumb thanks to another postponement on the weekend. This year's somewhat unusual weather has seen games being put off all over the country and much more regularly than I have ever seen before. Be it an omen to us all for the condition of the planet or simply a freakish year where the weather has turned on our game we all hope that it departs soon so that the leagues can be completed before the summer months take full hold.

Fingers crossed I will get to play this weekend for one of our teams.

The 6 nations started with the first round of games this weekend and even though England picked up their first win against Italy, the performance was less than convincing. Once again it is not the personnel that are called into question but the lack of direction in their play. Perhaps this comes from the leaders on the pitch or form the touchline but once we were multiple tries ahead of the Italians, rather than attempt to finish off the game we sat back and aimlessly kicked away possession allowing them the chance to run back at us again and again. Tactics that will see us undone against the more dangerous French. The obvious and overwhelming strength of the Irish and Welsh will be another kettle of fish, can our more traditional forwards compete with better hands and a less structured game? Time will tell.

I will leave you with Sir Winston Churchill's view of tradition which perhaps somebody should relay to Johnno," A love of tradition has never weakened a nation, indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril; but the new view must come, the world must roll forward."