By Cherry Picker
August 16 2009

Like most pre-season fixtures, the testimonial game between Gloucester and Bath at Kingsholm wasn't a patch on the real thing and while a 19-19 draw was the sort of result both sets of fans and both teams were probably happy about, there will hopefully be a lot more commitment and passion on show when the Guinness Premiership season starts in September.

Perhaps thousands of fans of bolth teams knew what to expect and decided to stay away, because the size of the crowd (5,281) will be a disappointment to both clubs and the committees for the testimonials for Andy Hazell and Lee Mears.
Still, it was an important run-out for many players, and the number of changes in the second half was bewildering at times.
There were good things and bad things about the Glaws team performance and about some individual performances, but now is not the time to heap too much praise on a player for doing well in a relatively meaningless game or on another player for looking brilliant when many about him were not operating at 100 per cent.
The object of the exercise was to have a run-out, to try a few moves, to asses potential and fitness and to test a few ideas both for the team and for individual players.
There are two more pre-season games to go at Kingsholm, against Connacht next weekend and Ospreys a week later, before the real things starts on Sunday, September 6 at home to Bath.
Tom Walkinshaw has decleared himself happy with the way Bryan Redpath has begun his career as coach.
If he's as happy in a month's time as he is now, we'll all be smiling.

Pre-season testimonial draw an appetiser for the real thing

Discussion started by Shedloads (IP Logged), 16/08/2009 10:43

Shedloads
16/08/2009 10:43

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