Broadstreet RFC

BROADSTREET return to National League action at the weekend after their masterful March through the Midlands last season – and they are convinced that they are better prepared to cope this time than during their brief stay seven years ago.

“When we went up last time we had an ageing team,” explained club spokesman Stuart Hall. “This time we must be five years younger on average and we think we’ve got enough strength in depth to be able to hold our own.”

Operating in a division that entails treks to the likes of Kendal in Cumbria places a heavy strain on work and family commitments and that has led to the retirement of two Broadstreet stalwarts, prop Russ Morgan and centre Mick Curtis. No.8 Mark Challis has decided to return to Dunlop, star centre Alex Crofts is set to miss most of the campaign because of his knee injury and a similar problem is likely to sideline second-row Tom Greevy until late October.

But Street still have some seasoned players in their squad – captain Eddie Simkiss and scrum-half/wing Jordan Simpson survive from that 2002/03 campaign – and they have been busily recruiting during the summer. Back row Owen Jones and wing Greg Summers have been signed from Malvern while Leamington No.8 Steve Hearsey, Old Wheats prop Joshua Loach-Smith and Stoke Old Boys fly-half Tom Stokes have also been tempted to Ivor Preece Field.

“We’ve brought in some good young talent and we’ve also got players like Carl Southwell who have been involved at a higher level,” said Hall.

“It will be hard, because as you move up the ladder you are up against players who are fitter, stronger and, most of all, faster. We beat teams of this status during our cup run last year, but the difference is that we’ve got to do it week-in, week-out now, so that’s the challenge.”