Skipper faces big test

Aug 6 2008 By Mark Bengoechea, Surrey Herald

SKIPPER Toby Clouston has set himself a double target for Esher's new campaign - a starting spot and a top-half finish in National One.

The Surrey-born centre was voted Player of the Season by his team-mates in the club's debut campaign amongst the country's top 28 teams.

Clouston, 28, was rewarded with the club captaincy, but admits he is under no illusions of the task ahead, both on a personal and team level.

Competition for first-team places is sure to be fierce, with director of rugby Mike Schmid bringing in 14 new faces, plus a handful of Harlequins stars on loan.

But Clouston is looking forward to the challenges and is confident Esher's greater strength in depth can help them improve on their 12th place last term.

Clouston, who succeeds the retired Duncan Cormack as captain, said: "Duncan's going to be a diffi-cult act to follow.

"It's a great honour for me, especially being a local lad.

"I've been at the club many years, starting with the U7s, and I've been in the first-team squad for the last 10 years.

"I wasn't a guaranteed starter last year by any means, but I started 19 out of 30 games, which I was extremely pleased with.

"To be voted Player of the Season was a great moment. It was nice to have the other guys appreciate how I've done and the effort put in. That's probably my biggest achievement at Esher.

"It has been noted I am club captain rather than first team captain, which gives them the licence to appoint the captain on the day.

"The difference was that last year Duncan was our loosehead prop and that was it. There was no competition. He was the league's best prop, but I'm certainly not the league's best centre.

"On a personal level, my target will be the same as last year. I've got the same guys competing for my spot. I've got a British Lion competing for my spot, which doesn't help."