By Cherry Picker
October 31 2010

Gloucester v Leicester is the sort of fixture that sums up club rugby in England, and in front of a big Kingsholm crowd the game lived up to its billing, even though we had to wait until two minutes from the end for the only try, a score that won the game for Glaws.

As replacement Lesley Vainikolo powered his way over, a mixture of relief and jubilation that washed over the home crowd spread to coach Bryan Redpath (right) as his team’s fourth win on the trot provided more evidence that after a long time as also-rans, Glaws just might be back.
There’s a long way to go yet before this cherry and white team is the finished article, but the signs are that Redpath’s hard work behind the scenes is paying off – he has a squad full of strong individuals who are working for each other to create a team that is no longer easy to beat.
On the first day of the season, losing at newly-promoted Exeter was a kick up the backside for the coach and his player – and how they have responded.
Like Glaws, the Tigers were missing their England squad players and they are also not yet the huge force they were, but they are never easy to beat and Redpath had very right to be pleased with the result and the performance.
He told the BBC: "I'm delighted with the way the players are fighting for each other, they were professional, they stuck to it and I’m chuffed to bits.
"Sometimes we had to dig in deep, there were parts where we were nervy and parts where we were brilliant.
"I was delighted with the players and the crowd, it was the biggest of the season and we had an amazing rapport with them.
“To finish off the way we did, we have to be proud of ourselves tonight.
“There are some parts of the game we need to brush up on, to finish a game with a bit more comfort. It’s still a learning curve. But the Exeter game wasn’t a bad thing for us in some ways because we had to realise how hard the Premiership is and I’m delighted with the way the players are fighting for each other.”
So he should be – the togetherness which has always been a Glaws trademark appears to be back, on and off the pitch.
That was demonstrated as Big Les went over for the winner after Nicky Robinson and Billy Twelvetrees had traded penalties to tie the game at 12-all – the crowd erupted, and so did the team. it was one of those days to remember.
The crowd was always going to respond when the team started to win, and now they go into a two week LV= interlude away to Dragons and at home to Saracens before the Premiership season resumes at Newcastle on November 21.
Third top with five wins out of seven, Gloucester’s Premiership season is a third over already – but on this form, we’ve got a lot to see yet.

Are the good times REALLY back for Glaws?

Discussion started by Shedloads (IP Logged), 31/10/2010 10:39

Shedloads
31/10/2010 10:39

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