Brooker adds to Cleve's proud roll of honour

CHRIS Brooker's appearance off the bench in England Saxons' win over the Irish Wolfhounds at Exeter was met with a special cheer at Cleve.

The 25-year-old Harlequins hooker is the latest junior product of the Mangotsfield club to make his mark in the higher echelons of the professional game, following in the footsteps of Ryan Davis (Wasps), James Phillips (Exeter) and Bristol duo Will Davis and Jack Tovey.

The Pennycook brothers – Redford, heading back to his home city from Newcastle, and Chevvy (Moseley) – are two others who have Cleve to thank for playing a key role in their development as juniors.

Cleve secretary Roy Price said: "It's nice to see these boys coming through and doing so well. We hope that one day some of them will be based again locally after playing their best rugby and will come back to us.

"Unlike football, there's no system in rugby for clubs like ourselves to sign players at the age of 16 and track them as they make their way in the game, and for money to be fed back down the line.

"Over the years, any club with a mini and junior section makes a tremendous investment, in terms of time, kit and coaching. I think here we've been very fortunate that former players with considerable experience have put in the time and the coaching, encouraging young players to develop, and clearly the right structures are in place."

Harry Goodfield, Matt Lane and George Perry are among the latest wave of junior products establishing themselves in Cleve's first-team squad. And Ben Breeze's South West One West squad is being bolstered by the return of a handful of players from around the country and several new signings.

Utility back Taylor Stevens, prop Tom McDonough and hooker Rob Ford, formerly of Whitehall, line up for Cleve tomorrow, at home to Brixham, while English Colleges centre Andy Priddle, flanker Dan Lear and winger Shaq Ajuwa are set to feature in the forthcoming weeks.

Avonmouth, who have lost three of their last four games but stay third, hope to get back on track tomorrow at home to bottom side Chosen Hill.

Joe Wearne and Gary Collier return from injury, while hooker Craig Britton begins his comeback in the 3rds after ten weeks out with a torn rib muscle.

Matt Dew makes his first start of the campaign for Old Reds, who entertain National Three South West strugglers Newbury. The lock dislocated his shoulder playing for Moseley and then suffered a rib problem on his comeback for Reds 3rds.

Ed Haupt has joined Somerset Premier newcomers Nailsea & Backwell from Dings Crusaders and makes his debut in the centre at Wells.