Crawshaw remains bullish about Windsor RFC's promotion prospects

Windsor captain Allen Crawshaw remains bullish about the club's promotion prospects this season, despite Saturday's disappointing 26-33 defeat to Buckingham at Home Park.

Having been the closest challengers to Beaconsfield throughout the whole of last season - and then missed out on promotion as one of the best placed runners up in the region - Windsor are once again targeting promotion from Counties 1 Tribute Southern North.

Allen and his teammates are not afraid to put that on record in the early weeks of the season. They've not made a bad start either, having comfortably beaten the likes of Reading Abbey, Reading and Bicester before Saturday's surprise home defeat.

Perhaps an element of complacency crept into their game after racing into a 19-0 lead, or perhaps they underestimated a team they put 50 plus points on twice last season. But, whatever the reason, they lost momentum in the game and were never quite able to wrestle it back.

Reflecting on the side's first defeat this season, Crawshaw said: “It was slightly surprising but from our perspective probably more slightly disappointing.

“From our perspective it was good to come away with two bonus points, but we’re being quite bullish this year as a squad.

“Our aim this year is to get promoted, so it was a disappointing result after a promising first block. But hopefully it’s a bump in the road that doesn’t alter our goals this season.

“We started strongly, going 19-0 up, but then it was more discipline costing us. It cost us several penalties and it allowed them to get back into the game. Buckingham are a strong side, and they had some big runners. They scored a couple of quick tries and that helped them get momentum. In any sport when someone gets that momentum, it’s hard to wrestle that back. It was ill discipline in terms of the penalties we conceded, and it allowed them to get a foot back into the game.

“They are a good side as well and they’ll be challenging towards the top end of the league this season.

“Yeah, they're a lot better than they were last season. They’ve won three and lost one as well. and their defeat came in their opening game when they were missing a few players. The league is stronger this year, I think. The standard of rugby is higher and each of the sides is getting stronger.”

Windsor's players now have a week to rest and recuperate before returning to league action at home to Bracknell 2nds on Saturday, October 12. It kicks off another crucial tranche of fixtures that includes a daunting looking trip to the league leaders Oxford Harlequins the following weekend.

“Our aim this season is to be promoted,” added Crawshaw.

“We must go into every game expecting to win and we’re quite reflective even when we win.

“We put 40-odd points on Bicester last weekend, but we still reflected on that and saw that there were a lot of errors.

“There’s a lot of room for improvement to ensure that we challenge for the top this season and can be competitive if we do manage to go up. We’re looking ahead to the next couple of seasons. We have a young side, only three or four players over 30. A large proportion has come through the club from minis to youth and up into the seniors.

“We have a week off to rest and then we go into the second block. Bracknell 2nds at home, Oxford Quins – the leaders – away and then High Wycombe back at home.

“They’ve come up this season and will be a challenge. They are our focus now, particularly that away game at Oxford. That will be a big game early in the season.”