By Brian Dick , Coventry Telegraph
October 21 2009

YOUNG Worcester fly half Joey Carlisle will train with Coventry this week after the Premiership outfit called George Crook into their first team squad after a successful start to the season at Cov. And the 21-year-old could even start in Friday’s important Championship showdown with Plymouth if he impresses director of rugby Phil Maynard over the next few days.

The move has come about after Crook caught the eye with his maturity and distribution in what has been an otherwise stuttering start to their campaign from the Blue and Whites.

Indeed Crook has impressed Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock so much, he was given the chance to start Worcester’s straightforward Amlin Challenge Cup victory in Madrid at the weekend.

Gallingly for Maynard, whose goal-kickers missed three attempts in a tight encounter with Nottingham last Friday, Crook kicked six goals including all five conversions.

As a result of that showing Ruddock has decided to keep Crook at Sixways for this weekend’s visit from Harlequins while Carlisle has been sent to Coventry. And Maynard is happy to have such a creative talent and a consistent place-kicker in his ranks.

“He’ll train with us all week and we’ll see how he gets on for Friday,” the rugby director said. “Joey has got frailties to his game but he is also a very exciting young player who offers a lot in attack. Hopefully we can help him fine tune his game management.

“He’s already been working with Tommy Hayes and there’s no-one more experienced to oversee that development.”

His only appearance came at home to Montpellier in the first round of European matches when he came off the bench and threw the interception that resulted in the visitors’ decisive try.

Which means he will be unhappy about dropping out of the big time to play in the Championship.

But Maynard insists Carlisle still has a lot to gain.

“He has got to look at it as though he is playing a good level of league rugby,” he said. “I don’t suppose he’s happy with the circumstances of it but he has to look at it that he’s been sent here to get some game-time.

“George Crook has shown that a pathway exists between playing well for Coventry and getting into the Worcester team. There’s a lot in this for him and us.”

Fly half swap OK with Cov

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 21/10/2009 17:38

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
21/10/2009 17:38

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net