Feb 23 2025 76 mins 5
This week we focus on the Bears Women's upcoming semi-final play off with Gloucester-Hartpury on Sunday 2nd March at 3pm.
Not only do we invite a proper dual season ticket holder onto the pod as a special guest but we also have an exclusive and in-depth interview with Dave Ward and Tom Luke. They give us a behind-the scenes deep dive into the season so far as well as their thoughts on how they will plan and prep for the play-off.
It's a fairly lengthy and interesting chat after which we discuss a few of the issues that it throws up before previewing the game itself and offering our score predictions.
We finish off by discussing Dave's excellent punditry performance on TNT Sports on Friday night having been warmed up nicely by our interview the day before and then finally sign off for the night.
It is a bit of a long one again but to help you navigate your way through it here is the running order:
Introduction:
Start - 9:10: Pre-amble and a brief chat about the England A game at Ashton Gate
Dave and Tom interview:
9:10 - 12:04: Motivations for this season after last year's final defeat
12:04 - 13:41: How the Women fit into the HPC set-up alongside the Men
13:41 - 15:26: How Dave and Tom work together
15:26 - 17: 10: Coaching on match days
17:10 - 18:55: Shaftesbury Park vs Ashton Gate as home venues
18: 55 - 20: 28: How they plan and prep for games
20:28 - 23:00: Managing squad rotation and selection issues
23:00 - 26:50: New player recruitment pathways
26:50 - 29:39: Tracking and signing established players
29:39 - 34:23: How Tom signed Ilona Maher
34:23 - 37: 36: Dave's thoughts after the Loughborough Lightening defeat
37: 36 - 39:49: How they will prep for the semi final
39:49 - 42:14: Messages to the traveling fans
42: 14 - 45:41: Tom's failed attempt to sign Fury the Gladiator and a vote of thanks
Post interview:
45:41 - 55:15: Our thoughts on the chat
55:15 - 65: 53: Semi-final preview
65: 53 - 70:15: Score predictions
70:15 - the end: Dave's punditry trousers
