There really aren't many tougher places to grind out a win in The Champ than Caldy. Cornish Pirates, perhaps, but that's about it. Regardless of the opposition's quality, the nature of the exposed ground, the limited atmosphere (the result of the pitch being open on three sides) and the slope make it very challenging for any visiting team. Not mention the tough, gritty northern opposition. Never, ever should they be underestimated. Ampthill is comparable in terms

...the whole crowd goes so loud He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out He's chokin' how, everybody's chokin' now The clock's run out, time's up, over, bloah! Snap back to reality, oh, there goes gravity Oh, there goes Rabbit, he choked, he's so mad But he won't give up that easy, no, he won't have it He knows his whole back's to these ropes Lose Yourself - Eminem The report of the game in today's The Rugby Paper acknowledges that Cov are a 'decent rugby side who did

Post-match, there have been plenty of comments rightly praising the likes of Maunder and Thomas for their roles in changing the momentum of the game, but I've not heard or read anything regarding what was for me a very different, a very tactical, use of the bench. Had there been a couple of further injuries at the start of the second half, then Cov could have been really exposed but, as it was, the plan worked to perfection

A totting up of the individual attendances last weekend (Round 1) indicates that 17580 were present at individual games and a further 12420 plus watched via ClubberTV. I imagine that figure will drop a little once the novelty wears off but it does appear a significant number, one that The Champ certainly feels is worth publicising. It would be really interesting to know if that figure is in line with original projections and whether televising all the Champ games is financia

But for many fans of Champ clubs outside of Worcester, the current prodigal son of English rugby appears to have sold its very soul to the devil (in the form of the RFU obviously). And it has come to pass that for Worcester Warriors at least, deliverance from its previous sins is indeed at hand and that Bill Sweeney and his faithful disciples, the most unlikely of Messiahs, have given the club a golden ticket to the promised land.