ERE Players Of The Season


By Glen Leat
May 23 2004

As the season draws to a close and with one match left, the Championship Final against European Champions, Wasps, it is time to celebrate our "Players Of The Season". It has been a great year, and hard to choose from a really committed set of players but here are the men you voted the tops...

 

Best Back Of The Season - Chris Malone

 Would you believe it, in a team possessing new England Boy Wonder, Olly Barkley, seasoned international, Matt Perry and World Cup Winners Mike Tindall and Ian Balshaw up pops a young Aussie who was on loan to Bristol at the start of the season to grab the honours with 34% of the vote. Admittedly Tindall and Balshaw have hardly been seen this season and Barkley was close behind with 26% but Malone was head and shoulders above the rest.

 

Best Forward Of The Season - Andy Beattie

The Beast was awesome this season with his bullocking runs, great handling and overall desire to win for Bath. But then again so were Zac Feaunati and Michael Lipman, which is why the voting was very close with Zac and Lippy gaining 17% and Beattie winning with 21%. A powerful back row contributed the great days of Bath and it is no co-incidence that the performance of these three players won us many a game.

 

Clubman Of The Year - Jonathan Humphries

 This man got 60% of the vote, with Bath stalwart, Matt Perry, next on 13%: says it all really! After a top class career at Cardiff it would have been easy for Humphreys to come to Bath to earn a final retirement bonus, but he hasn't. He has been our motivational driving force on the field (and off it when he's substituted) and has played a major role in turning our club from basement loungers to top floor terriers. It was great to see him jumping for joy when Lee Mears scored against Glawster. Top player, top man - our Clubman!

Congratulations to all our players and coaching staff for a job well done this year - thank you for making it a special season!

Photos kindly supplied by CW Sports Photo Agency Click Here

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