Warriors Academy Backs Development Coach Gordon Ross heaped praise on his Worcester Cavaliers side after their emphatic 52-21 win over Sale Jets on Monday night at Sixways.
The young Cavs ran in eight tries as the youngsters showcased their promising talent in front of a big crowd on Easter Bank Holiday Monday.
And Ross, who has been overseeing the Cavs for their Premiership Rugby A League campaign, insists it’s great to see Academy players making “massive contributions”.
He said: “It was a very good performance. People don’t see these guys that often but most of them train with the first-team every day and they do an exceptional job in setting very high standards and it was good to see them get some rewards.
“They did well at Sale a couple of weeks ago and they were unlucky up in Newcastle against a very strong side but they showed some high-skilled rugby.
“Core skills were done extremely well but it was good to see players from one to 23 looking confident with ball in hand and making massive contributions.”
Warriors’ new signings Grayson Hart and Dorian Jones made their first Sixways appearances, playing 40 minutes.
Ross hailed their impact as the Cavs went in at the break with a strong lead but also praised the leadership of young captain Will Butler, who scored two tries in the first-half.
He explained: “They are both experienced players and both ran the game very well in the first-half and that’s why we were in a good position at the break through their game control.
“But we’ve got Will who at 19-years-old has shown really good leadership qualities as well and he’s helping the other guys immensely.
“He has come on hugely this year. He didn’t get as much game-time as he wanted for England Under 20s but he’s come back to Worcester and worked extremely hard and put in three outstanding performances.”
Warriors Under 18 youngster Ollie Lawrence set up four tries and scored one to round off the evening in a standout performance.
And coach Ross insists it’s important for the young centre to keep working hard.
He continued: “Now he’s got a half-decent haircut he looks alright! But on a serious note he’s done some good stuff with England in the age-groups and it’s good to see him back in a Worcester jersey.
“He’s a good kid and he has an outstanding skillset. Perhaps we don’t see enough of him but he makes good contributions when he plays and there are guys around him who are doing good work to create opportunities.
“Fair play to him, for a young kid he’s doing some good work and he’s going in the right direction and if he keeps his head screwed on and works on his core skills then he’s hopefully got a really bright future in the game.
“He does look older than he is. He did lots of things well but there are still things to work on. As long as he keeps striving to improve and get better every week, then hopefully he will do well next year when he comes into a full-time environment.”
Ross also ensured the forwards received the praise they warranted after a solid night up front.
He added: “We’ve got to make sure the forwards get praise too. They’ve put in a great shift against a pretty experienced Sale pack especially the front row in the first-half. They dug in and it was tough at times.
“Ted Hill and James Scott, for example, have been away with England Under 20s and have come back, put on the Worcester jersey and given everything and that’s what you want from these guys.
“Tom Dodd went off with cramp just through the amount of effort he put in so all these guys are working really hard behind the scenes that you don’t always see and they’re getting some rewards.
“That’s what we want to keep encouraging within the Academy – working hard and if they do that they get better and get rewarded.”
The Cavaliers’ final Premiership Rugby A League game of the season is against Wasps at Ivor Preece Field on Monday 9 April (kick-off 7.30pm) and Ross insists the players will be looking to finish the campaign on a high.
He concluded: “The players wanted two big positives in the last two games and they got one against Sale. The important thing is they review that game, look to areas where we can get better and then go to Wasps next week and show the exact same intent.”