Pope groomed for a higher standard (From Bournemouth Echo)

Pope groomed for a higher standard

7:00am Friday 5th March 2010 in

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DAVID Dunn insists Bournemouth won’t hold back teenage talent Michael Pope as they continue to prime him for a career at a higher level in the future.

The 19-year-old protégé came within three points of equalling his club record haul of 31 in a single league match when he plundered 28 in a riveting win at Reading last weekend.

It was the utility three-quarter’s third 20-plus performance inside five months at National Three South West level.

So there is little doubt Pope will have attracted the attention of clubs higher up the pyramid than Lions.

Dunn, whose ambitious outfit would love to take the youngster up with them to National Two, said: “Michael’s still a young lad. He got the try scoring record for the league two years ago when he was only 18.

“He has a great future ahead of him and all we are trying to do is develop him as much as we can for the next stage of his career.

“Michael’s on a gap year at the moment, considering his options, considering his own education and career.

“We are working with him to find the right course and right club to go to, should he want to explore that option.”

Lions are without unavailable Argentinean Tomas Ford when they visit Old Patesians tomorrow (3pm) hoping to repeat their superb 14-13 home triumph over the second-placed outfit. James Payne is doubtful with a rib injury, but Higgins and Dean Bradley return to the squad.

Bournemouth: (from) K Lynch, Hearson, Edwards, Stewart, Payne, Dunkerley, Pope, Ngapaku, Chislett, Burns, Wareham, Wilford, Manning, Burns, Collier, Armstrong, Stanton-Ketchley, Hughes, Higgins, Bradley.