First impressions are good for new coach (From Basingstoke Gazette)

First impressions are good for new coach

8:00am Sunday 11th July 2010 in

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BASINGSTOKE RFC’s new head club coach has been impressed by what he has seen in his first training sessions at Down Grange.

Junior Paramore took charge of a ’Stoke training session for the first time last Tuesday – and he liked what he saw.

“I am very happy with the standard overall,” Paramore said. “There is work to be done but I was pleased with the attitude they showed last week.

“I am very pleased to have got into training and I have met a lot of the boys, not just from the first team but the seconds, thirds and veterans as well, which is fantastic.”

Basingstoke have lost several players over the summer, including influential fly-half Paul Morris – and Paramore admits he may have to bring in some new faces.

“It is a young squad and I am starting from scratch getting to know the boys’ strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “We are going to have a meeting soon to talk over where we need new players. Then it’s a case of seeing who is available and so on.”

’Stoke’s fixture list has been completed after it was announced that Ampthill will play in National Three London next season.

The Bedfordshire side were due to be promoted to National Two North after winning National Three Midlands last season.

However, a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel found the club guilty of deliberately attempting to mislead an appeals panel regarding a postponed game and fielding a weakened side in an end of season fixture. As a result, they were ordered to forfeit promotion and moved across to National Three London.

Ampthill are likely to provide strong opposition for ’Stoke when they travel to Down Grange on December 4, with the return match on April 9.

Paramore said: “Ampthill will be strong but we just have to worry about that on the day we play them. I think it is going to be tough playing against every team and it will be a hard league all round.”