It’s not a wing and a prayer for Esher’s bigger boys
HAVING previously been unbeaten for several years in Hong Kong and only tasting defeat four times last season at Esher, Conor Ganley says his side’s losing run, which ended last weekend, was a shock to the system.
Newly-promoted Esher lost their opening five games in National One but beat fellow strugglers Darlington Mowden Park 31-21. Prop Ganley, 29, says the group, led by former England flanker Peter Winterbottom, are now desperate to kick-on and put their early-season struggles behind them.
He told The Rugby Paper: “At Hong Kong Football Club we were unbeaten for four seasons and crowned grand champions in 2019, 2023 and 2024. The reality set in that it’s not normal to win every weekend. So I had my first loss last season and I was like, woah, this is a bit different, and this season has been tough coping with those early losses.
“In Hong Kong, the Covid lockdown meant there weren’t many people coming over and a lot of the clubs were struggling, especially smaller teams, so it was easier to win.
“Last week’s win was tremendous. I don’t think the changing room has ever been that loud since I’ve been there.
“We probably should have had a couple of wins before but were unlucky. Things didn’t go our way but we’ve got a winnable batch of games to come with Sale FC, and then Dings, Leicester Lions and Bishop’s Stortford.”
Having moved to Esher in 2023, the 18st 8lbs forward enjoys being part of the Londoners’ front-row club, particularly their ‘Wing Wednesdays’.
Ganley added: “Myself and Theo (Skoumbourdis) played with each other last year, so we’re very close, but we’ve added a few new players to the front row.
“We’ve got big Sam Gratton, Jacob Morris, another ex-Hong Konger Tommy Spiers, who has pulled the short straw as he used to be a back-row player but has now moved to the front row club.
“Every Wednesday we go out for wings in central London, which usually makes the waiting staff cry. My record is 60 wings in an hour, other lads usually average 45. When I was in Hong Kong I finished 84 chicken nuggets in 20 minutes.
“They are a great bunch of lads and the coaching staff is amazing. Peter Winterbottom is great to learn from and listen to. He’s always full of stories about back in the day.
“The club itself is great. It’s a good location, right on the train line into London and there’s a great social aspect. They play a very good standard of rugby and an expansive game, so it’s been important to develop my ball skills.”
Over the course of the last four seasons, Esher have yo-yoed between the third and fourth tier, and Ganley is hopeful they can end that process with survival this time around.
“It’s the standard everyone wants to be playing at, but the step up is huge,” said Ganley. “It’s a lot more than I thought it would be.”
