Peers seeks fresh
impetus after troubled start
Mark Woods
"I have just had the worst two months that you can imagine," declares
Chester Jets coach Robbie Peers. "Injuries happen but you couldn't possibly
believe what has happened to us."
Ten games into the season, Peers has been unable to field the whole
his carefully recruited squad from the summer in any one game, with injuries
keeping out Andrew Mavis for the opening nine fixtures, and niggling problems
restricting the appearance of Nick Browning. Add to that the medical problems
which have left Jason crump on the sidelines and the sudden departure of
Titus Channer last week, and you have one hell of a bad run.
"You couldn't credit it that at a time when we've played more games
than any other team, there have been games when I've only had two out of
my six senior players, two of my five juniors and one very old duffer called
Robbie Peers available," adds the coach, proving that at least his sense
of humour if not his rotation is intact.
"Our attitude has been great and I've certainly learnt a lot from it,"
continued Peers. "I've made a lot of mistakes despite the injuries, but
I haven't sat back. We realised we needed to make changes and we've done
it."
"We've got good talent back now and we have to go forward. I'm bringing
in Shawn Hartley who is a very physical 6'5 forward, very athletic, he
can jump and is quick." Hartley went to University in Oregon, but by virtue
of his birth in Gloucester, can leave Peers with another foreign spot to
be filled by signed 6'3 American guard Prentice McGruder from the University
of California.
So will the new squad mean the re-retirement of Peers ? "I'm retiring
for the 76th time, but don't close the book on another comeback just yet."
With his luck so far, the Jets rookie coach
is certainly owed a break. Let's hope it's no-one's leg, ankle, arm.....
