Three Peaks Challenge

Hiking 26 miles up almost 1,200 ft of mountain, driving close to 900 miles, surviving almost exclusively on chocolate and just two hours sleep, all in 24 hours – it’s hard to choose the most discomforting, but all were worth enduring, simultaneously, to achieve the coveted self-proclaimed title of Three Peaks Conqueror.

It was with this determination that myself and fellow fool/brave adventurer Steven Cockburn, 24, from Cheshire, set off to achieve the goal on May 29, largely spurred on by our failure to do so eight months earlier. That time, poor timing had seen us make the error of attempting to climb one of the mountains in the dark, which resulted in us getting lost and being forced to abort.

This time, the plan was much clearer – we would leave my second home of Cheshire at 10am, arriving to start the tallest of the peaks, Ben Nevis, in the Scottish Highlands, at 5pm. We would leave there at 10pm, just before sunset, arriving at the second, Cumbria’s Scafell Pike, at 4am. Completing that in four hours would give us five hours to reach Snowdon and four hours to do the hike and make our 24 hour target.

The quest began well, as we reached Fort William around 4.15pm, giving us time to enjoy a McDonald’s before pulling up by the mountain. At 4,409 ft high, Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain in Britain, and with the ten mile walk starting from almost sea level is also the furthest hike.

The route first ascends steeply up a hill, and then around the corner where the view of the mountain and a loch come into view. It then ascends into the cloud, where we were greeted with increasing bemusement from people about us wearing shorts, warning us about the snow, gales force winds and minus 15 temperatures at the summit.

The snow did come, as did the hale and strong winds, but we persevered, and my poncho did a surprisingly good job of keeping me warm. After touching the summit and having a sip of champagne from two women attempting the same challenge – because of the times of day of the first two times, most people were met were all attempting the same challenge.

We began to descend and gradually get feeling back into our fingers. We did get a little lost taking the wrong route at the bottom, but followed the river to reach the car by 10.20pm.

The drive to Scafell Pike was long – I did the first half, snaking through the Highland roads and pouring rain, though I was glad we had only had light showers on the climb and not the heavy rain we drove through. As the car radio battled to find a signal, we were consigned to BBC Radio 4, which abandoned us to BBC World Service at around 1am.

Steve did the remaining half of the drive, snaking through the hairpin turns and blind bridges that lead to the Wasdale Head route up Scafell Pike. When we arrived at 3.45am it was so light we did not need torches. At 3,209 ft high, Scafell Pike is the smallest of the mountains, but certainly the most difficult.

The path first snakes around and up the hillside, all the while with a stream running down it, before disappearing altogether over a large patch of rocks. We found ourselves annoyed to lose the path again, though fortunately not as catastrophically as during our last attempt, and we soon resumed and made good progress. Once in the clouds the path seemed eternal, but we finally reached the top and could start our descent. The way down was hard as the path was steep, slippery and rugged, but once we cleared the mist we were welcomed to a beautiful view of Wastwater and continued to make good time.

I now took up the mantle of driving back to Cheshire (where we got a lift to Snowdon), this time being consigned to Radio 2 for the tricky drive through Cumbria, consisting almost exclusively of single-track lanes and blind hills/bridges followed by hairpin turns. The danger now was that we felt the task was completed – Scafell Pike had been our biggest adversary, and with the that in the bag we perhaps became a little complacent about the 3,560 ft high Snowdon.

We started that hike shortly before 1pm, already at some height on the Miners’ Track, and the first two miles were deceptively flat and smooth. However, things soon got harder – the path started to climb, and then there was almost two miles of steep climbing, mixing hill walking with scrambling.

The path to the summit smoothed off, but we were both drained. Snowdon was the only hike where we could actually see the peak long before reaching it. The train rode past as a tempting reminder for an alternate way down, and we finally had a view of more than just cloud and mist. Unfortunately, this enabled us to see just how far down and away we had to go back, in just under two hours.

The climb down was slow, as it was steep and perilous, but we were careful not to rush. We chatted to a fellow Three Peaks group, who had started an hour ahead of us, so we knew we were making good time.

After clearing the sharp and steep part though we could look forward to the smooth beginning, which enabled us to squeeze the last bit of energy from tired legs and reach the car park 23 hours and 45 minutes after we had set off up Ben Nevis. From there, it was a short drive home to enjoy a proper meal and then the arduous hike up the stairs for two nights’ worth of sleep.

A disappointingly fitting climax to the season

It was ultimately a disappointing end to the season, but a fitting one nonetheless as, much like the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup final defeat that preceded it, Haverhill Rovers' inadequacies from an entire season were summed up in 90 minutes. Saturday's 1-1 draw against FC Clacton at New Croft started slowly, with neither side asserting themselves, but soon Rovers found their stride and even took the lead through a stand-out Callum Harrison. However, it seemed with inevitability that the visitors drew level - unfortunately following an error from Stuart Wardley, the likes of which seem to be becoming increasingly common - and from then on it seemed unlikely that Rovers would win. They made the chances, they tried and toiled and pressed, but they lacked the finishing prowess that has separated them from the heights of the Ridgeons Premier League this season.

Looking back on how the entire season has unfolded, Rovers can be quite pleased with their progress. Two seasons has transformed them from a basement team to a lower half team to a top half team. The frustration lies in that the start of the season showed so much promise and what they are capable of - they completed the league double over fourth placed Wisbech Town before October - but all their good work has seemingly fallen apart over the last few weeks, fading from a seven game winning run and an 11 game unbeaten run to a nine game winless run. The poor form to end the season was exactly what manager Peter Betts had feared before the run-in. Compared to pre-season under-expectation of merely avoiding relegation, an eighth placed finish is quite an achievement, but compared to having climbed up to third and applied for promotion, it is not. Achievements never seem as sweet when you know there could have been more.

It would seem that the reasons for Rovers' failure to progress, or at least maintain a level of consistency, relates largely to squad depth and a failure to score. Injuries have taken their toll in the closing stages of the campaign, but even manager Peter Betts admitted he is not looking to use that as an excuse. Stuart Kingham has been conspicuous by his absence, and proof of just how much this Rovers' team centres around him. When fit he has been the defensive linchpin, shielding captain Marcus Hunt and Wardley who frequently enjoyed clean sheets and one of the lowest 'goals against' records in the division, but without him Rovers have looked uncomfortable with nobody else well suited to that role. Hunt does not look comfortable when thrust forward, as he excels at tackling and breaking up play rather than passing and setting up play.

For all his strong performances Sam Holmes has not looked likely to form a partnership to exclude either Hunt or Wardley. Wardley has still been strong as the back, despite the more frequently occurring gaffes, although often frustrates by proving one of Rovers' best passers and finishers - he ends the campaign as third highest scorer with seven goals, behind Hunt with eight and striker Dalton O'Brien with ten, and not of all of these are from the penalty spot, where he is oft reliable save for the unusual recent miss at Kirkley and Pakefield that saw Marc Abbott assume spot kick duties in the 4-3 win at Hadleigh United that followed. However, Betts did not criticise Wardley for his increasingly erroneous performances, but instead was left to rue the lack of experienced cover available at centre half. "If we had cover he would play less games - in the first half of the season he was the best centre half in the league, but in the second his legs got the better of him and he's been playing with injuries", he said. If Rovers could rotate more and play him less - he has made 40 appearances this term - then perhaps he could remain such a commanding figure that Betts trusts to stop the most fearsome forwards throughout the course of a season. His presence at the back ensures he cannot be pushed forward, even though it is often his raking passes that set up the best chances, and Rovers now have the forward options so as not to resort to sticking him up front in the closing stages of games. No doubt he will continue to command a first XI place, and his input was noticed by being awarded the supporters' first XI player of the season.

Wardley's back four companions have also looked assured throughout most of the season - Greg Strong has been impressive in his debut season, while Paul Abbott continues to impress down the right an amaze me by failing to score from some of the chances he sets up. In the centre of the park, a deputy for Kingham is clearly needed - I thought that was Joe Boreham's purpose, but he carries more of an urge to get forward and be involved in play, and is also just a teenager and still learning his game, despite an impressive first season. Dan Pilcher has been solid since his return, though has struggled to present a case for regular first XI inclusion. Between the sticks, both Matt Morrison and Liam Cutts have endured their blunders, but both have generally looked reliable with the latter and able deputy to ensure Morrison's performances do not dip.

In the middle of the park, many of last year's problems remain with consistency and a lack of goals. Marc Abbott has held down a regular first XI spot and rightly so, but he has failed to reach the high standards he set for himself. A goal return of three is unremarkable, and after his early season performances, which led to Betts labelling him 'one of the league's best', he has stuttered, though his manager attributes this to exhaustion and injury. Jamie Challis has impressed since being relegated to the fringes of the squad, responding to that setback with a number of man-of-the-match performances to force his way into first XI contention, but he too lacks the attacking vision and prowess to fire Rovers to more goals. Joe Harvey re-arrived full of promise but has failed to impress, with a particularly disappointing performance in the cup final, but there is still time for him to improve.

Though Rovers' goal scoring concerns may initially appear to be more to do with their strikers, Betts insists it has as much to do with their wingers. O'Brien has a respectable ten goal return from his first season, but is still a long way away from being a 20-goals-a-season man. Betts said: "You could have Alan Shearer up front, but without the service he won't score. Dalton got lots when [Neil] Cogger and [Dan] Emmanuel were playing, so we need more strength in wide areas." Indeed, Cogger and Emmanuel sum up Rovers' lack of depth and pace, as with those two Rovers always looked likely to score, and Betts even labelled the squad his 'strongest' with their inclusion. Louis Harper has moments of quality on the wing but lacks pace and consistency, and while Jack Higgs has had an excellent debut season, thrust into the first XI following injuries, he lacks experience and consistency, and Ryan Kent has struggled to make a first XI impact following his dramatic late goal to christen New Croft with a win in Rovers' first competitive game there. Emmanuel is now confirmed to be at AFC Sudbury for next season after signing a one year contract, and it is questionable whether Cogger will be able to play regular football again following his injury woes. Betts has said he has summer replacements lined up to come to New Croft, and has insisted that these are first XI and not squad players, so hopefully these problems will have been addressed for next season.

Although the ammunition has been lacking for Rovers' frontmen, the strikers themselves have not been clinical. Owen Paynter looked like an inspired signing at first, though he has been hampered by injuries and made minimal impact. I was surprised that Betts seemed keen to maintain him in his future plans, saying: "The way we play has not suited his game. There's no doubting that he's a good player, it's just not been happening these last few months, but you don't finish as one of the top scorers in the division each season if you're not a good player." However good Paynter maybe, he seems to favour playing with a strike partner, while Betts' oft criticised insistence on a blanket 4-5-1 approach to games may deny him that opportunity. Perhaps the manager will be more flexible this year in presenting two forwards to opposition they can expect to beat?

O'Brien has enjoyed a good season, and though a respectable ten goal return leaves him some way off being a 20-goals-a-season man Betts believes he may become that with more ammunition from the wings. He has certainly looked capable up front, with experience beyond his years and strong beyond his stature. He has given Rovers more of a cutting edge up front, even if he is not as prolific as other team's forwards. A positive from Rovers' recent poor run of form has been the emergence of Callum Harrison, who I first noticed when Rovers dismantled CRC at New Croft before going on to complete the league double over the side that thrashed them home and away last season. He has looked formidable up front, and is one of a number of players Betts has praised as he forces his way into the first XI, the award of supporters' reserve XI player of the season acknowledging his progress.

Despite the improvements up front from last season, Rovers are still lacking a striker that will get past the 20 goal mark. Brantham Athletic's Ollie Mann contributed two goals to his ridiculous season total of 41 goals from 35 games when they beat Rovers 3-0 to avenge their earlier 3-1 defeat at New Croft, and if he is scoring that many for a side that finished five places and 14 points behind Rovers, imagine how many more points and places he could have secured for Betts' side? Mildenhall Town's John Sands showed what a difference a top class forward makes when he single-handedly won the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup for his otherwise inferior side on a cold night at Abbey Stadium, and his goals tally of 31 strikes from 37 games has propelled Mildenhall to fifth. These are the players that Rovers need, but with money scarce it is difficult to see how they will attract them. Betts even expressed his reluctance to 'do a Leiston' and spent 'stupid money' even if he had the opportunity.

A quick glance at the table reveals Rovers' have a goal difference of three, and their goals for record is a paltry 50 - only two sides have lower (Newmarket Town on 45 and Wivenhoe Town on 48 - both of whom Rovers have doubled) and one the same (second from bottom Histon Reserves), and all three of those are in the bottom four. Only their defensive record has maintained a respectable goal difference, and even that somewhat unravelled with the thumpings at Leiston and Mildenhall. Their scoring record, and the fact that their centre halves and second and third highest scorers, is a damning indictment of what the club lacks. This lack of goals has often concerned Betts, who must now find a frontman to turn their dominance into points. Betts insists he will move to address these issues in the close season with 'four or five' additions to the side before the pre-season schedule gets underway.

After a lengthy campaign that offered greatness but delivered mediocrity, Rovers can still look back with a degree of satisfaction. They are now firmly established as top ten side, and now venture into most games as favourites instead of underdogs. They still lack the firepower to propel them further up the table and the defensive cover to build up from, but if Betts can address these issues in the close season then the 2011-12 campaign may deliver what fans were given a taste of before Christmas and will now come to expect.

Dream disappears in sinking Sands

They dominated the game for 60 minutes, but in the end Haverhill Rovers' hopes of ending their four year trophy drought were dashed in 60 seconds. That's the difference a top striker makes - Rovers may have lavished possession and felt comfortable enough on a chilly Tuesday night (April 12) at Cambridge United's Abbey Stadium, but all of their dominance was unrewarded, and instead it was their wastefulness that was punished. Rovers were the better team, but they were not the winning team and football teams win by scoring goals, not setting the tempo or controlling possession or anything else, and so when the whistle blew it was Mildenhall Town who lifted the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup while Rovers were left on the pitch as the dejected losers.

It was a difficult and frustrating night for Rovers and it is hard to think what they could have done differently with hindsight given their resources. The whole team did well the set the pace of the game and control things from early on, but a few half chances that the attacking trio of Dalton O'Brien, Owen Paynter and Marc Abbott failed to capitalise on was an ominous sign of things to come. Defensively the team was solid, and their opponents certainly did not look like a team that had thumped Rovers 6-0 three weeks earlier. Joe Boreham did an excellent job deputising for the injured Stuart Kingham, who was not as sorely missed as he has been in recent weeks, although the teenager does have more tendencies to surge forward as well as shielding the back four. It was a relief to see manager Peter Betts resist the urge to put captain Marcus Hunt in that role, preferring instead to retain him in his preferred role alongside Stuart Wardley at centre half, and the two always make an imposing obstacle, their primary weakness a lack of pace that can leave to the team being countered against sometimes.

It was this weakness that saw Rovers fall behind. Mildenhall's super-striker John Sands - who had not been too influential up until the hour mark - got through and was hauled down by Wardley outside the box, who was perhaps fortunate to only see yellow. Another blunder, this time from Matt Morrison between the sticks, saw the goalkeeper wrong footed as Sands' unimpressive free kick glided to the side of the wall and into the centre of the goal. I had barely had a chance to scribble down what had happened when, within a minute, left-back James Paterson - who had been Mildenhall's sharpest player with a piledriver over the bar in the opening half - weaved down the left and crossed into the middle for Sands to head home his second. Haverhill Rovers 0, Mildenhall Town 2. All that good work had been for nothing - it almost appeared that Mildenhall had not had to bother, that they just chose their moment to strike and then won at will.

Rovers continued to push but failed to make any real headway. Paul Abbott surged forward down the right and Greg Strong down the left, but all too often by the time the full backs had got their head up to release the ball the space was closed down and the chance lost. Sitting in the stands it was frustrating to watch, but at this level it would be unrealistic to expect players to be able to play with their heads up and the ball at their feet. Abbott and O'Brien had half chances, but never made any real headway. Joe Harvey was a disappointment, and it was no surprise to see him hauled off to be replaced by the energetic Callum Harrison. Owen Paynter was replaced by Craig Cutts, and for all the struggles of the Hundon striker to establish himself at New Croft, he actually set up the best chance of the night, chipping Josh Pope for Higgs to shoot at open goal, only to see his shot hit the head of a Mildenhall defender on the line. The unlikely save summed up Rovers' frustrations on the night, and as the stoppage time minutes ticked away, so did Betts' hopes of having his good work this season rewarded.

When I spoke to Betts the following morning, it was clear the frustration was not so much with the final loss, but as much as it was losing to a team that was effectively second best. Rovers had been on a poor run of form in the Ridgeons Premier League, winless in nine and being doubled by Stanway Rovers and stuttering to a goalless draw against Wroxham. Their form had picked up in doing the league double over Newmarket Town with a second string XI, but they still seemed to have lost form at a pivotal moment of the season. Rovers' ambitions had risen from surviving to unsuccessfully applying for promotion and saying finishing outside of the top four would be a 'disappointment' to accepting a top six finish would be an achievement.

In the preceding weeks the injuries had piled up for Rovers with Neil Cogger and Kingham still missing, along with other players like cricket captain Adam Dellar, who had seen an increasing amount of first XI opportunities, but nevertheless this was a game Rovers were confident of winning. Ultimately, Mildenhall won on the night not because of a better XI, but because of a better one - Sands. A glance at their form from before he joined in the season speaks volumes - after an opening day win they endured an eight game winless run before winning 19 or 29 since, turning them from relegation candidates into pace setters near the top of the table. He has scored 30 goals in 34 games, narrowly eclipsed by Brantham Athletic's Ollie Mann on a reverse of 34 goals from 30 games, though his strikes have only propelled Brantham up to 16th in the table. Rovers will have the chance to tame him and do the double over Brantham when they head there on Saturday (April 16, 3pm kick off).

How Rovers could use such a striker. A cursory glance down the top scorers of the Ridgeons Premier League chart reveals that Rovers do not even get a mention. Wisbech Town are the only other top six side to not feature a striker on the top 12 leader board, while champions Leiston have two in Michael Brothers (17 goals) and Gareth Heath (16 goals). Second placed Wroxham have benefited from Damian Hilton's 16 strikes, while third placed Dereham Town have had ten more from Danny Beaumont and of course Mildenhall have Sands. That is what it takes to compete at the top of the division, and that is what Rovers are lacking.

O'Brien has done a fine job this season, and with ten strikes from 29 games finally gives Rovers someone that will reach double figures, though the fact that centre halves Hunt and Wardley are joint second top scorers with seven apiece is ominous, as is Cutts and Harrison coming after with four each. Dan Emmanuel pops up next after his brief stint, with three goals in five showing Rovers the class they are missing. Clearly what Rovers are missing is a 20-goals-a-season-man, but as with any level of football, from the Ridgeons Premier League to the Barclays Premier League, they are rare and expensive. While O'Brien and Paynter will no doubt provide numerous goals - and hopefully the latter will remain next season - they will not be cutting the imposing figure that Sands did on Tuesday. Despite having a strong contingent of Haverhill born-and-bred players and a young squad, Betts has already said the town is 'not great at producing 6ft 2in forwards', and he will have to shop elsewhere. Given the club's financial position, it is difficult to see where they can acquire such a player when competing against the league's heavyweights.

Their lack of firepower is evident in the league table, where you have to scroll down to Felixstowe and Walton United in 17th to find any team with as low a goals scored ratio (52). Only the bottom four teams in the division have a worse scoring record than Rovers. It is their defensive record (conceded 44) that has seen them climb up to sixth, even if it took a pounding with the thrashings at Mildenhall and Leiston. However, games are won by outscoring the opposition, not by stopping them from scoring (although obviously this is a merit). It echoes back to the troubles of the 2009-10 season in which Rovers would draw or lose games at Hamlet Croft after dominant spells due to a lack of bite up front, leaving them to finish mid-table with the potential to be much higher.

Now Rovers have just five league games remaining, starting at Brantham on Saturday. The players will no doubt remain motivated despite the cup final heartache, and can hopefully finish on a high. Betts talked to me about 'progressing' the club - something he has no doubt done since reviving them from a basement club to a top six side - but now he needs to take the next step, and the obvious hole in his side is a top, top striker. Mildenhall proved what a difference that can make when they lifted the cup that looked like it was heading back to New Croft for an hour on Tuesday, and now Rovers need to find their own Sands to keep competing at the top of the league and lift their first trophy since the 2007 3-1 triumph over Saffron Walden in the final of the Ridgeons Division One Knock-Out Cup. If Rovers could find someone to provide them with those extra goals, and if they submit their promotion application on time next season, then perhaps Betts' ambition of seeing Rovers departing the Ridgeons League for the Ryman League may be realised sooner than anyone expects.

Same old, same old

Watching Haverhill Rovers draw against Histon Reserves last Saturday (March 12) was almost like being back at Hamlet Croft last season. It was not so much that they dropped two points against the Glassworld Stadium outfit - who, let's not forget, fielded several first XI players as their Blue Square Premier League side took a weekend rest from their own relegation battle - but more in the manner of which Rovers contrived to get one point when three should have been guaranteed long before the 90 minute mark. Just like last season, chances were not finished, defending was sometimes sloppy, and it all culminated in gifting the basement club a stoppage time equaliser to take a point back from the New Croft.

Too many times at Hamlet Croft I endured watching Rovers surrender 1-0 wins into 1-1 draws, or fail to turn a 0-0 draw into a win and even make it a 1-0 defeat, but this season's arrivals seemed to have put an end to those ways, starting with Dalton O'Brien's emphatic debut in Rovers' 4-0 win over UCL Premier Division side Northampton Spencer in the FA Vase. However, recent performances - the freak 5-3 win over Histon Reserves in the quarter finals of the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup not withstanding - Rovers have struggled to find the back of the net, particularly from open play.

Owen Paynter's arrival looked set to boost the squad and remedy that problem, but in truth they have looked at a loss as to how best to utilise the hitman with Dalton O'Brien. Manager Peter Betts adopts a universal 4-5-1 approach to every game, which leaves Paynter isolated and often inefective and O'Brien stuck on the wing and leaving space when getting into his best positions centrally. They may control the midfield in many games, but they are left somewhat toothless in the final third as there is not enough support in the goalscoring areas. Their lack of goalscoring prowess was underlined further in Tuesday's (March 15) 0-0 draw at Felixstowe and Walton United. Marc Abbott may be a strong creative force in midfield, but they still need an injection of pace into the side.

Rovers seem to have struggled in two particular types of fixtures in this Ridgeons Premier League campaign - against the top of the table opponents, but more worryingly, against bottom of the table opponents. The first is understandable - Betts admits they will never have the financial clout to challenge league leaders Leiston, and Rovers have already been doubled by second placed Dereham Town, and they cannot be expected to beat the very best teams in this division at the moment. That said, they have competed well in these games, losing to unfortunate late goals to Leiston and Dereham at New Croft and at Leiston after extra-time in the FA Vase, and have also beaten Mildenhall and have yet to play Wroxham - that double header is due on March 26 (away) and April 2 (home). First they face their third game against Leiston, who they travel to on Saturday (March 19).

However, the more worrying trend is Rovers' inability to beat the bottom sides - in five games against bottom three opposition, Rovers have picked up a meagre five points. They may have doubled the likes of Wisbech Town and CRC, but they have failed to beat rock bottom Histon Reserves and contrived to lose at home to Debenham LC. This is where Betts' insistence on always playing 4-5-1 comes into question. It is an understandable tactic to deploy against the top sides - even if it seems to be reaping little reward - but why against the minnows? Rovers are now in a privileged position of being underdogs no more, and are rightly expected to beat bottom half of the table sides. What do these sides think when they arrive at New Croft to see just one striker in the starting XI? They probably see a lack of ambition, and are optimistic of being able to contain the threat and even cause an upset by nicking something on the counter.

The obvious solution that most spectators would like to see more often is 4-4-2 employed, especially against the lower sides, with O'Brien and Paynter looking to forge a partnership up front. When I put this to Betts, he stated that they had tried that formation without success in earlier games - such as at Histon - whereas 4-5-1 had proved effective in the majority of their games. It seems a very defensive approach to take, but it is understandable why he has faith in the system that has propelled them from a basement club to title challengers within the space of two season. However, perhaps the final step to fulfil Betts' ambition of becoming a Ryman club instead of a Ridgeons club may be to release the shackles in some of the games and aim to blow the opposition away before aiming not to concede against them.

Of course, Rovers problems have only been made worse by their current injury woes - Joe Boreham is still out, Stuart Kingham will be out for two-three weeks after he was knocked out against Histon, and wing wizard Neil Cogger is expected to finally return for the trip to Wroxham. Marcus Hunt is due back for the daunting trip to Leiston, as is Greg Strong, while Sam Holmes may also return for that game. It is the worst time of the season for the injury list to pile up, but Betts' fine work is building a strong squad have helped to see them through it, though with an indifferent start to March his fears that this month may prove the undoing of their season may still be realised. Dan Pilcher has returned and put in a good shift against Histon, Ant Fernandez is improving with each game and Jamie Challis has also been putting in numerous man-of-the-match performances lately. However, Joe Harvey is still to break into the first XI, and Liam Paton has been released after an uneventful stay at New Croft.

There is still much to look forward to though - not least the upcoming cup final against Mildenhall at Abbey Stadium in little over three weeks (April 12) - and reason to be optimistic instead of pessimistic. Upcoming trips to in-form Mildenhall - unbeaten in 12 league and cup games, and only on Pancake Day (March 8) ending an eight game winning sequence with a 0-0 draw at Norwich United - and Wroxham may make or break Rovers' season, but if they can show the resilience that sent them on long unbeaten runs earlier in the season then it may make their season, compounding their place in the top four rather than condemning them to sixth or below (which would still mark a vast improvement from pre-season expectations, a testament to the rapid progress they have made under Betts).

Rovers still have 11 games to play, and a favourable end of season run in that will hopefully still see them in the mix after this difficult month. Saturday will provide a tough test, and one that, in likelihood, will put Rovers on a three game winless run. However, they have showed resolve throughout this season after poor results and will hopefully continue to do that to bounce back and finish the month strong. If they can have a successful end to the season, and if Betts can maintain and build on this squad over the summer, then there may be even more successful times to celebrate next season.

My full interview with Betts was published in this week's Haverhill Echo, out today (Thursday, March 17).

Out of their misery

On Saturday (March 12), Haverhill's three year stay in the East Women's League came to and end when they were swept aside 4-1 by relegation rivals Christchurch. The script for their unlikely survival was in place, but being in need of successive wins with results going in their favour, relegation already seemed inevitable. The result marked a premature end to a sorry season for Haverhill, one in which their record reads - played 19, lost 17, drawn one, lost one, goals scored 14, goals allowed 58 - and still with three games to play. That sort of form was never going to see them stay in the league.

From the first game of the season their struggle seemed certain, although a 2-1 home reverse to likely champions Norwich City could be seen as a good result. However, thing quickly deteriorated, as narrow defeats became crushing defeats. Although a 5-3 win over Loddon in November provided some hope that their fortunes may pick up, those were quickly dashed with a comprehensive 3-0 home defeat by then relegation rivals University of East Anglia Women (UEA) - it was results like these that condemned Haverhill, as Saturday was their second defeat by Christchurch after a 4-0 win in November, while UEA doubled them with a 2-0 home win the Saturday before. These results conspired to keep Haverhill at the foot of the table, and cut them increasingly further adrift as their rivals pulled clear.

Captain Tina Bunch remained optimistic throughout her side's deterioration - as recently as a fortnight ago she had hoped they could string the necessary results together. But with each defeat that optimism faded - there may have been a great escape last season, with Bunch providing the last minute winner at Lincoln Roses (who find themselves likely to be relegated from Division Two NW this season), but this season there was no fairytale ending. They were always likely to be relegated at almost the earliest opportunity, and that threat could not inspire them to victory.

Where did it all go wrong for Haverhill? I understand they have not been confident at this level since their arrival, despite cruising up in the 2007-08 season with 19 wins and a draw in the Suffolk Premier League, but at the start of the campaign Bunch told me she expected this to be an easier division that Two NW that they only just stayed in last season, and that the divisional reshuffle had been to Haverhill's benefit. At least last season though they put up a fight, and despite being in the lower reaches for much of the campaign managed a respectable points total to survive - this season they are unlikely to reach double figures. Still, Bunch hopes they can get a few performances in too late so as not to be 'to much of a disgrace' in getting relegated - they look set to go down as the worst team across all four second divisions.

A lack of pace has been identified as a key reason for their shortcomings - one of the reasons Haverhill found themselves overrun by a UEA side often at the wrong end of a hiding from the top teams. This is not something that can be easily remedied in a non-university town, as Bunch said often players will turn 18 and then leave the team to pastures new for their hockey, leaving Haverhill with the veterans. However, the captain is looking to freshen up the team and said there may be a couple of pacey players returning for the next campaign.

As well as pace, a goal threat has been lacking. Bunch and Elaine Ward have been chipping in with a few, while new player Vicky Haylock has also done well, but their dismal scoring record speaks volumes. Short corners were often seen as a speciality for Haverhill and an ideal opportunity for goals, but they were soon failing to capitalise on those too. Debbie Petrucci has done well between the sticks, but there is no use in being solid at the back if you are blunt up front, and it did not take long for the defence to become flakey either. There seemed to be no difference either between their home or away form, as the losses continued on the road and at the leisure centre.

The skipper told me 'it will be interesting to see how we play now', and that the lack of pressure may lead to a more relaxed game, which in itself may yield results. At the very least, Bunch was looking forward to having the opportunity to blood a few youngsters in the hope of the being ready for next year's challenge. The team does need to change and adapt, and hopefully this will settle a few new players before the next campaign.

As for the 'challenge' of next season, it does not seem to be substantial - Bunch said they could at least 'look forward to winning the vast majority of our games and scoring over 100 goals'. For a team that has averaged less than a goal a game, to average five a game must necessitate quite drop in quality. Bunch said: "There is a massive gap between the two leagues that usually results in a yo-yo situation." The trouble is, Haverhill clearly need to improve at this level in order to be competitive should they be promoted again - such a drop in quality can only lead to complacency and an even shorter-stay in the higher echelons of the league after promotion. Bunch said they will try to arrange friendly fixtures with Division Two teams throughout the next campaign, but easily these can be arranged mid season is debatable, as is how many players will turn out if they are in the off-season. Haverhill will need to play some better opposition if they are to stay sharp and hopefully put up a bit more of a fight in the event of their promotion for the 2012-13 campaign.

For now, Haverhill will be left to reflect on this failed campaign with disappointment. They had numerous opportunities to reverse their results and the trickle of poor results became an avalanche, but were unable to attest the slide. Now they have become Haverhill's second sports team to exit their division within a month, they too have the opportunity to regroup and prepare to come back strong in the East Women's Leagues, hopefully at the earliest opportunity, and not just be the cannon-fodder for the rest of the league that they have been this season.

My full interview with Bunch and a match report will be in tomorrow's (Thursday, March 17) Haverhill Echo.

Que Sera Sera

Well they may not have reached Wembley, but Haverhill Rovers will still have the chance to lift a trophy at Abbey Stadium for the first time in several years. The fact that captain Marcus Hunt can no longer assume he will be on the pitch to kiss the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup (should Rovers defeat Mildenhall Town in the final of course) further shows just how far the squad have come in terms of developing depth. Rovers were far from their fluid best as they eased to a 2-0 victory over March Town United at New Croft on Tuesday (February 22), but they certainly had enough to beat their Ridgeons Division One opponents in what seemed like a training game.

The first surprise for me on Tuesday was to see Hunt in the reserves with Sam Holmes joining Stuart Wardley at centre half. When I spoke to manager Peter Betts yesterday (Wednesday, February 23) morning, he explained that Hunt had missed two of the last three games, and as Holmes had been playing well in his absence, he would keep the shirt. 'Nobody is guaranteed a place in this team, not even the captain', he said. Despite his absence, coupled with the loss of players including Joe Harvey, Neil Cogger and Joe Boreham, it was a comfortable enough night for Rovers.

From early on in Tuesday's game the visitors did what was expected - made themselves hard to break down, got stuck in and tried to counter against Rovers. The hosts had to be patients, but there was little doubt they would fail to make the break through, despite some frustrating moments such as Dalton O'Brien weaving in and hitting the underside of the crossbar. The striker, who has been a revelation since joining Rovers, soon but Betts' side ahead with a cool finish after Jack Higgs, another fine addition to the team who is proving more of capable of deputising in Cogger's absence and threatening to keep the wing wizard out of the first XI, sent in a measured low cross from the left byline.

Chances were not at a premium but March never serioulsy threatened, their best chance coming when Juliano Gomez de Menezes rounded Michael Morrison only for the ball to get away from him and go out for a goal kick with the score still at 1-0. Owen Paynter, who I was watching for the first time, did do well to make space and chance for others but was not the lethal force in front of goal I was expecting. His flick on that drifted wide of the far post was as good as it got chance-wise, but Betts did say 'he did everything right but score'. His selflessness paid off when he held the ball up in the area to force a foul, with the reliable Wardley on target to fire home past Lee Brooks to seal the win.

The only drawback from Paynter's arrival is that O'Brien has been pushed onto the right wing to accommodate him. It is a tricky dilemma - a player of his quality must start, but O'Brien has been prolific all season. Rovers have been successful throughout this league campaign playing 4-5-1, so switching to 4-4-2 to put both in their preferred positions would be ill conceived, but it still seems unfortunate that O'Brien is now playing right wing while wide players like Louis Harper are benched, while Paynter takes O'Brien's favoured lone striker spot, especially as he looked the more likely to score of the two on Tuesday. No doubt Paynter will come good, and even if he does not regularly find himself on the scoresheet he looks like his play will continue to ensure that his team mates do.

When I spoke to Betts, he said they were just 'two players short' of being able to climb out of the Ridgeons Premier League and join nearby AFC Sudbury in Ryman North League. Who those players are or what positions they would fill he has not said, but judging by the team's latest transfer success I would not be surprised if Betts found and signed them. "This time last year we had 13 or 14 players who could play at this level, and now we have 20", he added, again reinforced by Rovers results with numerous absentees. He also said the upcoming final may attract more sponsorship for Rovers, something he appealed for recently.

With Cogger due to return imminently (within a week), Boreham soon fit again and Harvey getting experience quickly, Rovers will soon boast an even more competitive squad. Added to this was Haverhill Cricket Club captain Adam Dellar making his debut at centre half - the first Haverhill man to play for both Rovers and the cricket team for well over a decade. Betts has only positive things to say about Dellar, who has excelled in the reserves to force his way into the first XI.

I asked Betts if he thought being in a cup final may lead to complacency, but quite the opposite he said it would inspire the team to perform. Each player now knows their performances will contribute to earning themselves a place in the starting XI on cup final day. Rovers should have a full strength squad to face Mildenhall Town by then, who, in fifth place and on the back of five consecutive wins, are one of the form teams of the division. However, much can chance in two months (the final is likely to be midweek in the final week of April - Tuesday 26?), and hopefully there will be a positive change for Rovers.

Rovers have not fared terribly well against the top sides - despite beating Mildenhall already and drawing 0-0 with then league leaders Kirkley and Pakefield in September, Rovers have lost to Dereham and Leiston (twice). However, they have not been comprehensively outplayed, suffering a narrow reverse in all of those games, and confidence must be high heading towards the game.

Before then Rovers travel to now seventh placed Kirkley on Saturday - Betts' insistence that three points are demanded, mainly to compensate for the two dropped at home against Great Yarmouth Town earlier this month, is a sign of just how far Rovers have come. The familiar 'we need to make ourselves hard to play against' is still being recited, but in reality Rovers are going into games like this confident of not just beating their opponents, but outplaying them with a better man-for-man squad. When I spoke to Betts before the game, he said their play 'deserved' a cup final, but that you 'do not always get what you deserve'. Now Rovers have got what they deserve, and hopefully Betts will be right in predicting his players will up their performances as they audition to be in the starting XI for the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup final. If they do, three points at Kirkley this Saturday (February 26) is easily achievable, as is the club's first cup for a long time. Long term, Betts may even realise his ambition of moving Rovers up through the non league structure if his good work at New Croft continues.

Down and out

And so the sad story of Haverhill Rugby Club's trouble fraught debut campaign in the Greene King IPA Eastern Counties Division One came to a sorry end last week and the club chose to exit the division. Having found just eight players prepared to make the trip to fellow promoted side Harwich and Dovercourt last Saturday (February 12) for a fixture they won comfortable last year, those running the club thought it best to follow Fakenham's example and opt out of the league before being booted out, and the full consequences of that decision are still unclear.

Where will Haverhill Rugby Club be playing next season? According the Eastern Counties (EC) league, it certainly will not be in one of their divisions. Club chair Ian Forton was crystal clear in explaining to me that any team that chooses to end their EC season prematurely - including Fakenham as well - will not be allowed to play in another EC league next season. The official suggestion from them is that Haverhill should look to compete in the Suffolk Merit League, albeit with Haverhill having to shed the glory and play against second XVs where they previously played first VXs, though at least the shorter journeys and easier games may increase the squad numbers for the senior team. The idea would then be that Haverhill can regroup, and if they can prove to the EC that they can fulfil their fixtures and raise a squad, they can compete in the EC leagues again from 2012-13.

However, the club's understanding seems to be different from that of the EC. Chairman Chris Spencer explained that they had received conflicting advice from the EC and the league secretary, with the latter telling them dropping out would be more beneficial than being expelled. Forton told me that expelled clubs would face a four to five year wait to return to the EC leagues whereas clubs that voluntarily left could return after one season in exile, so the point would still hold true. However, the idea coming from the club is that by exiting they had hoped to return to EC Two next year, not spend a year in the wilderness before then. The club certainly would have been expelled had they submitted to another home walk over after failing to field sides at West Norfolk (on September 25) and Woodbridge (on November 13) this season.

Has there been a mix up or misunderstanding? As yet it's unclear. Spencer told me the club are hoping to meet with an EC representative within the week to discuss their position, and only then will the situation be fully understood. However, Forton was quite clear in telling me that the league's position was that Haverhill will not be an EC team next season, so it would be a surprise to see that view contratdicted.

As for the club's immediate future, that certainly appears to be secure, as Spencer was keen to stress to me. "The future holds a speedy return to competitive rugby and a healthy and flourishing rugby club in Haverhill", he said when I spoke to him for this week's Haverhill Echo (our tomorrow, Thursday, February 17). "This is not the death of the club - we have a thriving junior and youth section, and so this is only about the senior section, so it in no way affects the long term future of the club", he added. First XV coach Andy Price certainly seemed to place a long term future hope on developing players, and Spencer also added that there are numerous promising young players coming through the system that will soon be complementing the first XV.

But saying it is 'only about the senior team' somewhat negates the point that any club's flagship team is its senior side - Haverhill does still have a strong youth section, but ultimately everything should be in place to build up to the senior side, which has been a disappointment this season. They opened with a 74-0 thrashing at high flying Southwold, and things have not improved much since. It was the third game of the season when Haverhill first failed to raise a side, and two narrow defeats (6-3 by Holt and 18-14 by Ely) and a comfortable victory (25-6 at Fakenham, which was later expunged). League leaders Stowmarket reached triple figures when they thrashed Haverhill (104-6), and then they again failed to field a team.

Further thrashings followed in January including at Ely (60-5) and Holt (97-0) as Price appealed for players to bolster the team, to little avail, and Haverhill finally exited the league last week, their spirited home defeat by Stowmarket (33-12) transpiring to be their last game in EC One. The outcome perhaps would have been sooner had it not been for the postponed cancelled fixtures in December. Price told me in recent weeks about how he was using inexperience, retired and injured players, and that the aim had turned from surviving into having fun. Some senior players came to the aid of the club, with Paul Bergin saying it was their 'responsibility' to keep the club going for the younger generations, though operating on a shoestring squad was inevitable going to lead to one thing.

Price said the situation 'leaves us where I thought we would be anyway'. He added: "We were living on borrowed time, as when you only have 18 to 20 players available you can't rest people, and you end up playing people when they need to be rested, so when they have a minor injury they play and that compounds the problem. We only needed a few injuries and unavailability for this to happen." The coach said that he knew EC One would be a 'tough challenge', but said it was one he was 'totally confident of meeting'. Now he has been robbed of that opportunity, both to establish Haverhill as an EC One side and to prove himself as a coach at a higher level.

Will Price stay at Haverhill? It's too early to say, but nobody could blame him for leaving. If a coach can ask for anything from a group of players then its likely to be commitment and effort, something that has been lacking so much it has ruined Haverhill's season. The club was optimistic after promotion last year, finishing just behind Harwich in a close fought title race that placed the top two well ahead of the pack in EC Two. The current problems had not surfaced, and Price, who had promised to get the club promoted within three years, had achieved that goal in two. Now the club looks likely to spend a season in limbo, he may well choose to go to a club with a more clearly defined target that is resourced to achieve it, though Spencer said the club would be keen to retain Price.

But then came all the problems of availability, which seems bizarre considering how well the team did last season. It may have been travelling further and longer, harder games, the loss of a winning mentality - only those players that would not make the effort to play will know. Although Price foresaw the imminent exit of the club from the league, he certainly did not see player availability becoming the issue it has. "I thought we'd have two teams and competitions for places, but that has obviously not come to be", he said. Price had previously slammed the commitment of certain players, hoping to get more available and find new players, but it had little impact in aiding the ailing club. He has said developing a first and second XV and bringing through youth prospects will help the club in the long term, but whether he wants to stay and see that come to pass is not yet certain.

Now the club will face a period of reflection and future planning, namely to address where and why everything went wrong this season and how it can be prevented from happening again. Exile from the EC leagues, even for one season, will likely cause frustration and the indignity of being in the merit league, but it will provide the club with exactly what the EC demand - the chance to show they can fulfil their fixtures, have a full strength and committed squad, and be competitive at this level. Haverhill's fate will be confirmed - probably within a week - and the club will be able to start planning long-term to ensure it become the 'healthy, flourishing club' Spencer envisions, while supporters will be hoping Price chooses to be patient and continue his work at Castle Playing Fields.