On Saturday, Dan played for Luctonians Seconds against a very strong Cheltenhman team who beat them 24 - 10.


In the first 5-minutes Dan apparently made a strong run up the middle and drew all the defenders before lobbing out a 20-yard pass of his left straight to the Luctonians winger who scored under the posts.
The Luctonians front five were getting stuffed in the scrums and spent all day going backwards which meant the Luctonians back row had a tough day at the office. Dan looked a little green and clearly needs more experience. He missed a few tackles by charging up too fast and he got robbed of the ball at the breakdown on several occassions.

At the level he is playing every mistake is punished but Dan will learn fast. All in all, Huw Davies feels that Dan should have cemented a place in the second team and now needs to focus on each game as it comes.


I spoke to Dan on Sunday and told him to forget about making the first team immediately and to focus on learning and improving in what is a very strong second team. My expectation was for Dan to break into the first by around Christmas and that hasn't changed. He
agreed with my sentiments that he should take the pressue of himself to break into the first immediately and to concentrate on gathering experience and improving his skills at second team level.

I am a little concerned Dan is maybe not getting the one to one advice he needs to help him improve as a player and called a friend of mine who is a retired (last 4-years!!!) openside flanker to ask his assistance. He is at the club most weekends and agreed to watch Dan and mentor him a bit which is all good news.


The Hereford Times, the county's main newspaper, came to the club and did a big article on Dan which might be available online in the upcoming week. He continues to settle in well and seems to be enjoying his adventure immensely.


He had his first Doner Kebab last weekend after stumbling out of a night club in Hereford in the small hours. Great stuff.


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