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Injury-ravaged Jones relishing coaching role

Friday, November 06, 2009, 07:00

Mike Jones has decided to put all his rugby energy into coaching after retiring at the age of just 23 due to a succession of injuries.

And Kingswood are feeling the immediate benefit after winning their first six outings to top Gloucester Two.

Jones has completed only two games in the last three years after undergoing operations on a troublesome shoulder and knee.

And that state of almost permanent rehabilitation forced the former Cleve junior to call time on playing and instead concentrate on a new career on the training pitch and the touchline.

Jones said: "I know I'm a young face and it takes time to gain respect, but the guys here have been very receptive."

Bristol flanker Redford Pennycook, a former playing colleague at Cleve, also brings considerable expertise to training evenings.

Kingswood have responded with an unbeaten start to a campaign that includes an excellent Charles Saunders Combination Vase success at Chipping Sodbury, who play in Gloucester One.

The club had to dig deep for their latest league win, a 9-5 triumph away to bogey side BAC.

Although promotion is a clear target, no-one is taking anything for granted after narrowly missing out a couple of times in recent seasons.

Jones added: "It was a dirty win and, to be fair to BAC, we really had to dig it out, but it was a very good result for us.

"Hopefully I've helped bring along a bit more structure to what we we're trying to do on the field.

"Promotion is our ultimate goal and it's important to aim high, and the result at Sodbury proves that we are capable of playing at that higher level."

Kingswood, though, will have to make do without two key players for the foreseeable future.

Scrum-half Steve Ridgway suffered a broken leg last month, while centre Paul Allen broke his jaw against BAC and is unlikely to be available again until the New Year.

Kingswood's new ladies team train at the club's Grimsbury Road base on Tuesdays and Thursdays (5.30-6.45pm). Players aged 18 and over are welcome to come along.

Injury-ravaged Jones relishing coaching role

 

   




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