Wells hails Gosport’s never-say-die attitude
10/9/2011 (SPORT) GOSPORT V GUILDFORD RUGBY Gosport and Fareham Rugby Club v Guildford Rugby Club on Saturday 10th September 2011 at Gosport Park in Dolphin Crescent. Pictured is: Gosport player (left) Ashley Burton during the match. Picture: Sarah Standing (113233-3510)
Mark Wells says Gosport & Fareham’s ability to deliver results against the odds has been crucial in their fight for glory.
The coach highlighted the triumph over Tottonians as the perfect example of an unlikely victory in their race for the London two south west title.
Last month the league leaders clung on to a slim three-point advantage despite huge pressure from the Southampton side late in the game.
Wells has been delighted with the never-say-die attitude such successes have bred at Gosport Park.
But he is refusing to get carried away and insists the Champagne will stay on ice for a little while yet.
Instead he is simply eyeing another win at lowly Chobham tomorrow – as Gosport aim to build on the 10-point advantage they have at the top of the table.
‘We have won 24 games out of 25 in the past year and that has given us a winning mentality,’ he said.
‘When a team is used to winning, it is sometimes hard to break.
‘It’s a great thing to have and that mentality has helped win games, like against Tottonians, that we shouldn’t have won.
‘We are also unbeaten away from home, where we have developed a successful mind-set.
‘Promotion is within touching distance but I am not going to start considering it until four games time.
‘We still have a massive home game against (second-placed) Wimbledon in three weeks and if we win that then we might consider ourselves home and dry.
‘At the moment, though, we are focusing on Chobham because they will pose a dangerous threat.
‘Apart from maybe Bognor at the bottom, all the rest of the teams in this league are good, capable sides.
‘We can’t afford to take anyone too lightly and we haven’t so far.
‘If we work hard and play to our true potential then we expect to come away with a win.
‘However, even if we are only a little bit below par Chobham are capable of upsetting us, particularly in front of their home crowd.’
Gosport & Fareham make three changes to the starting line-up that beat London Cornish.
Prop Dai Whitehead is unavailable and is replaced by fit-again Ash Burton.
Second row Matt Smith is also absent, so Chris Thompson moves over from flanker and Jonathan Wood comes into the pack.
Fly half Alex Duncombe has recovered from his thigh problem.
Wells said: ‘Being away in two successive games is a blessing because we are playing better away from home.
‘We showed a clinical edge against Cornish and took our chances and we must continue that way.’
Gosport & Fareham: Vance, Jones G, Dugan Wayne, Foster, Thorne, Duncombe, Dugan Wes, Pickett, Clark, Burton, Thompson, Pollard, Madigan, Wood, Flower, Snowden, Titchener, Woodford
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