By Spencer Morris
THURSDAY night was one of my best visits to Sixways in the past ten years – ranking alongside some great home victories in past seasons.
In the dimly lit training hall under the West Stand, Dean Ryan outlined his masterplan in front of some 800 frustrated supporters.
I am sure that most left positive following a season of disappointment. After years of coaches coming and going, each of them promising Heineken Cup fixtures at Sixways, it was refreshing that Ryan admitted that this sort of success cannot, and will not, be bought.
A return to growing our own stars seems rather obvious, yet, for whatever reason, the academy had been disbanded under previous regimes.
Finally, gone are the days where ex-internationals come out to graze like retired racehorses. I hope that Jonathan Thomas does not get labelled as such because nobody can question his commitment to the cause over the year.
A familiar feeling reappeared on Saturday, down by three tries to nil, until Gloucester were handed the script.
It was fitting that Ryan Lamb slotted over the winning penalty, even though the crowd held their breath when Freddie Burns missed the chance to win it for the Cherry & Whites at the end.
But I don’t believe that Saturday’s game was the last of the season as it was more like the start of something new.