Marine coach looks to next season (From This Is Wiltshire)

SUPERMARINE coach Gavin Russ wants his players to go out and express themselves against Wimborne tomorrow as the club begin to shift their focus towards next season.

The Marine boss admitted defeat in his side’s battle to avoid Southern Counties South relegation following the 56-0 defeat to Wootton Bassett last weekend, with the South Marston side sitting eight points adrift at the bottom of the table.

The next test is a visit to fourth placed Wimborne, and Russ wants his players to relax and play with freedom in a game in which he intends to blood a few young players.

“We are starting to plan for next season, although there are a few dejected players about the place art the moment,” he said.

“We will just do what we normally do and prepare in the way we have prepared before, and then go out there and express ourselves with the pressure off a little bit.

“Maybe now that pressure has gone there will be a different atmosphere around the club.

“We go to Wimborne as normal and will give everything we’ve got, even though they are a very good side.

“There are a few players we are looking at maybe for next year, and this game will be a great chance to see how they stand up in Southern Counties rugby.”

Marine are likely to return to Dorset & Wilts 1 North for next season, and Russ believes a number of new faces will be needed to rejuvenate the playing squad and earn promotion at the first attempt.

“If we get the chance to come back up we will be better prepared, but we need that little bit more quality in the squad,” he said.

“A few of the players have been left wanting a little bit this year, but it’s a big step. Maybe we need a different type of player to sustain ourselves in this league.

“We have worked hard but it just hasn’t happened for us, but we are not the first team for that to happen to after being promoted, and we won’t be the last.”

Elsewhere in the division, Wootton Bassett travel to Walcot for a game skipper David Martin insists they need to win to pull further clear of the relegation places.

“When they came to us earlier in the season they were under strength, so I think they were low on numbers and we managed to get a win (28-5),” he said.

“In that time they managed to pick up a win despite losing a few, so they have some fight and they are a proud club.

“They have played at a high level before, so we need to put them away and we are targeting a win.

“We have to have the killer instinct we showed against Supermarine, and we pulled out all the stops in that game so we have to do it again.

“You do your best to put the league positions of the two sides out of your mind when you go into these games, and that is what we will try and do.

“It is great to see the enthusiasm in the squad at the moment and that the guys are really up for playing, and we are improving all the time.

“There is some competition for places now which is only good for what we are trying to do.”