Mark
Gabey hopes to enjoy his return to former club Exeter on Saturday by helping Pertemps
Bees reach the EDF Energy National Trophy final.The experienced lock joined the Bees from Exeter last summer and is relishing the opportunity to face his old club in the semi-finals as it will give him a chance to see Exeter’s impressive new Sandy Park ground for the first time.
The Bees were beaten 22-11 by Exeter at the Premiership-standard stadium alongside the M5 motorway in November but Gabey missed the trip because he was recovering from knee surgery.
“I’m looking forward to going back to Exeter and to seeing the new ground for the first time,” Gabey said.
“I was there when the stadium was being built but I haven’t been there since they opened it.
“I had to miss the game down there earlier in the season because I had just had my knee done and I couldn’t travel but the Bees players tell me it’s very impressive.
“It’s a chance for me to catch up with some old team mates and I’ve had quite a few calls from the Exeter boys since the semi-final draw was made.
“But most of all I’m looking forward to the game because we think that we have got a chance of winning and going through to the final.
“We beat Exeter at home on the second day of the season and we played very well in defeat down there.
“We would have liked a home draw but our next preference after that would have been a trip to Exeter or to Plymouth Albion because we have already beaten them this season.
“We’ve had a reasonable season in the league and are comfortable in mid-table so reaching the National Trophy final has become a big incentive for us.”
Gabey, a former Queensland Reds player, has experienced Premiership rugby with Bath, Bristol and Worcester but is now enjoying the challenge of combining rugby with a teaching degree at Newport University.
“I’m pretty busy at the moment travelling from my home in Bristol to Newport, picking up the kids and driving up to Birmingham for training and matches,” he said.
“But I’ve slotted in pretty well at the Bees. I was frustrated by the knee injury but we managed to keep the time I was out to about six weeks.
“But I’m enjoying my rugby, we have got a good bunch of lads at the club and a good coaching staff. To be the only part-time side through to the semi-finals is quite an achievement.
“The difference between us and the other teams left is that they have a couple of extra training sessions a week. “But we still have quality players and I think that playing on drier pitches might suit us.
“We are a side that likes to run the ball as much as we can. We have some quick boys in the backs and hopefully a week of dry weather will help us.”