Craig Newby, the head coach of Cambridge Rugby Club, has expressed his disappointment after the team's winless season in the Championship. The team's struggles were evident in their performance, with the only draw being a 12-12 result at Doncaster in January. Their relegation was confirmed by a 31-7 loss to Ealing on April 15th.
Newby, however, remains optimistic and believes in the team's ability to bounce back. He acknowledges the challenging season, stating, "I've never been through a campaign like this when we've not had a win." Despite the lack of victories, he emphasizes the support from the fans, the board, and the players, highlighting the club's resilience in tough times.
Looking ahead, Newby acknowledges the difficulty of the upcoming National One league. He recognizes the competition's strength, saying, "There are some good teams in there that have goals as lofty as ours." However, he remains hopeful that the team can consolidate and improve.
The final Championship game, according to Newby, was a "festival game" with both teams having nothing to play for in terms of league position. He reflects on the team's performance, stating, "At one point, when it was 40-odd to 20-odd, I thought 'OK, can we get the next one?'" Despite their efforts, they couldn't secure a win, finishing the season on a disappointing note.
Newby attributes the team's struggles to a lack of consistency, stating, "We just haven't been good enough from number one through to 23." He acknowledges the collective effort and fight of the players but emphasizes the need for improvement.
In my opinion, Newby's perspective highlights the challenges faced by the team, but also offers a glimmer of hope for the future. The team's resilience and optimism are commendable, and it will be interesting to see how they approach the upcoming season. The Championship is a highly competitive league, and Cambridge will need to step up their game to avoid a similar fate next time around. The club's ability to bounce back and consolidate will be crucial in their journey towards success.
