Broadstreet RFC

Crofts praises Broadstreet's professionalism

BROADSTREET coach Lee Crofts attributes his side’s success this season to a more professional approach to training.

The Coventry-based club are just one point behind leaders Luctonians in Midlands One and reached the fourth round of the EDF Energy National Trophy for the first time  in their history.

“The difference this season has been our professional approach,” said Crofts, the former Coventry, Stourbridge and Rugby Lions flanker who is in his second season as coach of Broadstreet.

“When I say professional it’s got nothing to do with being paid. It’s about our approach to training, fitness, health and a game plan.

“For our Thursday night training sessions we are now getting 40 players regularly turning up which means that we can do live contact sessions.

“Last season the only time we could do moves was in matches but now we can run through them in match situation in training.

“We have also developed links with Warwick University Medics who come down and train with us which again allows us to do some live scrimmaging sessions, it helps us and it helps them.

“With such a big cup match, they will be down at the club again this Thursday to help us prepare.”

Crofts, a British Police international, was forced to retire from playing because of a back injury sustained during his illustrious career with Coventry.

He began his career with Broadstreet and has returned to the club, albeit at their splendid new ground which is extensively used for representative rugby.

A narrow win over Westoe in the third round took Broadstreet into the last 32 of the competition and Crofts is quietly confident that their cup run might continue for a little longer.

“It’s the biggest cup match in the club’s history and we hope that we will get a big crowd down for it,” Crofts said.

“There is only a one division gap between ourselves and Bridgwater and we have already beaten two National Three clubs at home so we believe that it is a winnable game although we are going to have to play well to keep our run going.”

Crofts has been joined at Binley Woods by prop Richard Siveter, a former Coventry team-mate, who has moved over from Rugby Lions to beef up the scrum.

Broadstreet have also bolstered their squad this season by the signing of Ireland rugby league international Andy McGrory and centre Alex Croft from Nuneaton and Loughborough University wing Perry Pudge from Ludlow.

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