WARRIORS LOOK FOR HOME COMFORTS
Following their defeat by Bristol Sonics, the Gloucestershire Warriors are the only team in the Midlands Premier division of the Co-operative RLC, apart from Telford, with no chance of making the play-offs. However, in their final two games, they will play a key role in influencing who will be in the top three at the end of the regular season.
They start with their final home game of the season against Derby City at Chosen Hill this Saturday (kick off 2.30pm). City currently top the table but missed a chance to secure a play-off berth last week when they lost 38-24 at home to Coventry Bears. A win over the Warriors would secure a place for the first time in their history.
City have been one of the most consistent sides in the division this term, showing a steady improvement on last seasons fifth place finish. They like to play an expansive game based on solid defence and pace out wide. Not for nothing are they the divisions top scorers and one of the meanest defences in the division.
The Warriors have struggled since the middle of June but are looking to finish the season with a morale-boosting pair of wins.
"Its been a tough time for everyone this year and really we are scratching our heads trying to put our finger on the precise cause, said chairman Chris Wilson. "Well get the next couple of games out of the way and sit down to analyse what we can do to improve things for next season.
"We have had great support at Chosen Hill this summer and we are desperate to sign off with a good win to reward the supporters for their patience.
City beat the Warriors 49-10 at Haslams earlier in the season and though the Warriors have not won in Derby, they have beaten City in each of their two visits to Chosen Hill.
The other game in the division sees Leicester Phoenix travel to Coventry Bears knowing that only a win will keep them in the hunt for a play-off place.
The Bears are the form side currently with five straight wins under their belts but the Phoenix won 34-30 back in June at Phoenix Park and their head coach, former Bear Ty Watson scored the winning try. He would love nothing better than to guide his side to a win at Tile Hill.
Birmingham Bulldogs and the Bristol Sonics will be looking on with interest as they are not in action this weekend. The Sonics have qualified for the play-offs while the Bulldogs will meet Coventry next weekend (8 August) in what is shaping up to be a winner takes all battle.
MIDLANDS PREMIER DIVISION TABLE:
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | Pts |
| Derby City | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 354 | 232 | 122 | 14 |
| Bristol Sonics | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 322 | 300 | 22 | 14 |
| Coventry Bears | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 349 | 248 | 101 | 12 |
| Leicester Phoenix | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 277 | 205 | 72 | 12 |
| Birmingham Bulldogs | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 266 | 209 | 57 | 12 |
| Gloucestershire Warriors | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 224 | 368 | -144 | 8 |
| Telford Raiders | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 100 | 330 | -230 | 0 |
Redditch Ravens withdrew from competition. Their record has been expunged.
TOP SCORERS (after 12 Rounds):
Tries:
10 James Gross (Bristol Sonics)
9 Tanaka Chamunokara (Coventry Bears)
9 Ty Watson (Leicester Phoenix)
8 Darren Birch (Leicester Phoenix)
7 Danny Bancroft (Birmingham Bulldogs)
6 Jon Cartlidge (Derby City)
6 Tristan Gill (Derby City)
6 Dom Swann (Bristol Sonics)
6 Paul Szehofner (Telford Raiders)
6 Clinton Tull (Birmingham Bulldogs)
6 Parminder Tutt (Telford Raiders)
5 John-Jo Burden (Bristol Sonics)
5 Gareth Daikin (Derby City)
5 Dan Evans (Bristol Sonics)
5 Stephan Fourie (Gloucestershire Warriors)
5 Drew Harper (Birmingham Bulldogs)
5 Joel Keane (Bristol Sonics)
5 Harry Marson (Bristol Sonics)
5 James Turner (Derby City)
5 Karl Wesley (Coventry Bears)
5 Richie Whitehouse (Coventry Bears)
Goals (Including field goals):
35 Paul Worthington (Derby City)
33 Nathan Walmsley (Leicester Phoenix)
32 Dom Swann (Bristol Sonics)
31 Danny Bancroft (Birmingham Bulldogs)
21 Nathan Tilsley (Coventry Bears)
Points:
90 Danny Bancroft (7 tries, 31 goals)
88 Dom Swann (6 tries, 32 goals)
81 Paul Worthington (3 tries, 34 goals, 1 field goal)
77 Nathan Walmsley (3 tries, 32 goals, 1 field goal)
42 Nathan Tilsley (21 goals)
40 James Gross (10 tries)
36 Tanaka Chaunukawa (9 tries)
33 Richie Whitehouse (Coventry Bears) (5 tries, 6 goals, 1 field goal)
32 Darren Birch (8 tries)
30 Clinton Tull (6 tries, 3 goals)
28 Ty Watson (7 tries)
26 Stephan Fourie (5 tries, 2 goals, 2 field goals)
26 Joel Keane (5 tries, 3 goals)
24 Jon Cartlidge (6 tries)
24 Danny Davis (Gloucestershire Warriors) (3 tries, 6 goals)
24 Tristan Gill (6 tries)
24 Paul Szehofner (6 tries)
Remaining fixtures:
Saturday 1 August
Coventry Bears v Leicester Phoenix
Gloucestershire Warriors v Derby City
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Chris Wilson
Media Manager, Gloucestershire Warriors RLFC
Tel: +44 (0)1684 850903
Mobile: + 44 (0)7905 931033
Email: gloswarriors2004@aol.com
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The Gloucestershire Rugby League is an organisation for local rugby league clubs in Gloucestershire. Our main activity currently is to promote rugby league through the County and give useful information about our sport to the public of Gloucestershire.
