Lions better than last year - Cox (From Stourbridge News)

Lions better than last year - Cox

2:00pm Friday 15th March 2013 in Sport

DANNY Cox believes this year’s Stourbridge Lions are even stronger than the side which won last season’s Midlands Vase.

The 30-year-old winger is well placed to give such an opinion, having played for the club since it was formed 12 years ago.

Cox has bagged 14 tries this season as the Lions hunt success in both the Vase and Midlands Three West (North) and says spirits within the side are high as they prepare to host Old Leamingtonians this Saturday.

He said: “Things are pretty good, very positive.

“We are going in off the back of a good run of results and I think we will start Saturday with a stronger one than we put out last year.

“On our day we are more than a match for anybody and the fact we are at home is in our favour.

“Old Leamingtonians are a strong side but we tend to up our game when we face tough opposition.”

Cox was a relative late-comer to the sport, having joined Stourbridge Colts aged 16 after previously playing football for Forest Falcons junior side.

Almost 200 appearances later, the Gigmill Primary school teacher is something of a stalwart but admits his weekend exploits do create a stir in the classroom.

He said: “I’ve been into school before with black eyes and a broken hand.

“Some of the kids I teach are in the club’s youth section and know I play but I’m sure a few of the others just think I’ve been in a fight!”

He added: “Since Ian Strangward came in as director of rugby three years ago we have been run a lot more professionally.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing but in the last couple of years it feels like we’ve really stepped up, in the way we approach our fitness and everything else.

“The whole club seems to be doing well at the moment and the future looks bright.”

Stourbridge junior players found their winning ways at the first major tournament of the season last Sunday.

Players battled through unseasonal sub-zero temperatures and snow showers at the Birmingham and Solihull Bees event.

The under-11, under-8s and under-7 squads claimed first place in their age groups, a club spokesperson congratulated all the players on a superb performance.