Winger Glen wants title-clinching win (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Winger Glen wants title-clinching win

9:30am Monday 13th April 2009 in Rugby By John Boyman

LIGHTNING-QUICK winger Glen Lewis is confident that Basingstoke will be able to beat Thanet and win the London two south title.

’Stoke will be crowned champions if they avoid defeat at fortress Down Grange on Saturday. It is a game that the table-toppers should win and Lewis is sure they have the talent to do so – as long as they play to their potential.

“There is no doubt that all of the boys will be firing on Saturday and we should beat Thanet,” he said. “We just have to play our patterns. If we do that we will win the game. “If we try to spray it wide straight off we might get ourselves in trouble but if we play the phases and the way we train, we should win comfortably.

“Winning the league has been the target all season. We lost our first game but have come back strongly from all of the setbacks and that shows great strength of character.

“It has been a long wait but it feels amazing to be one game away from the title. We know that we have the talent to be in the league above so we want to make sure that we get back to where this club should be.”

The contrast with last season, when Basingstoke suffered relegation from London one, could not be more stark.

Lewis puts the change down to having a winning mentality but also feels that the experience provided by returning players such as Steve Collins and Kelvin Chapman has been very valuable.

“When you get used to losing, that is a problem,” he explained. “We did that last year and the other big difference has been having a couple more experienced players. That has helped a lot.”

This season is only Lewis’ second in senior rugby but he has had a fine year, scoring nine tries in 21 appearances, including the only try in the Hampshire Cup final.

Like any winger, the 20-year-old would rather have scored a few more tries but he is pleased with his all-round performance throughout the season.

“I am pleased with the way I have been playing and while I feel I should have a few more tries, I am happy if the team is winning,” he said. “As a winger you want to be scoring and while I am not happy with nine, it is alright. I would like to get a couple more against Thanet though.

“I have been happy with the way I have been breaking the gain line and setting other players up because that’s almost as good as scoring a try, while my tackling has got a lot better this season.