BEN Kelland took over the forwards coach responsibilities alongside his work in Bury St Edmunds’ second-row and has created a formidable pack that have contributed to his side’s unbeaten home record.
The 26-year-old had worked alongside director of rugby Jacob Ford coaching on and off in previous seasons but took charge of the forwards full-time for this campaign.
Bury came into this weekend in third and are on course for the club’s highest ever finish after beating their previous best last season with a fifth-place finish in National Two East.
The 6ft 5ins, 18st 5lbs lock has made 12 appearances this season, and says balancing both re-sponsibilities have been a challenge mentally but is delighted his side are thriving under his stewardship.
Kelland said: “I’m only doing previewing and reviewing but it is hard on the pitch because if we lose a lineout I’m thinking what’s going wrong there and I can’t move on from it as quickly as I’d like to. It’s definitely something I’ve learned to live with and be efficient as a coach, separating myself from the two roles.
“With where the club is in their journey they didn’t want to branch out and get a new coach with new ideas because we knew what Jacob wanted.
“I think we’re going really well at the moment. We’ve got a really strong scrum with Ben Cooper who’s been with Bedford in the past in the Championship and then Paddy (Robinson), Archie Bourne who have been at Loughborough. It’s been great to have a scrum that we can rely on in a game, our go-forward and how we want to play is really goo
