Magners League Official Website : Holwell delighted with award

Holwell delighted with award

28 April 2005, 9:40 am

By Jonathan McConnell

For the second time this season David Holwell has been voted Bank of Scotland (Ireland) Player of the Month, this time for his outstanding performances in both the Celtic League and Heineken Cup campaigns during March.

Almost without exception Leinster fans have cited Holwell’s performance against Llanelli where he earned a record breaking 26 points and a man of the match award as the reason for their overwhelming support of the New Zealander.
Speaking exclusively to the Leinster website www.leinsterrugby.ie ahead of Friday's Celtic Cup Quarter Final tie with Glasgow he said that he was delighted to receive the accolade and is looking forward to the game.
"It's obviously flattering to receive this award from the supporters and I'm delighted that they have voted for me for a second month this season.
"I've really enjoyed my time in Ireland and I've loved playing for Leinster. I travelled around Cork and Dingle a couple of weeks ago and they're beautiful places. It has been a great experience living here and it's a shame that I couldn't have played for a few more years but that's the way that it has panned out.
"Glasgow are a good quality side and they pushed us close over in Hughenden a fortnight ago so we're expecting another tough game.
"Hopefully we can play a good brand of rugby that will be good enough to win the game. It's a Celtic Cup Quarter Final. That's motivation in itself and the team are determined to get the right result on Friday."
The New Zealand star is the second highest points scorer in the Celtic League - behind Gavin Henson - with 158 points but is, more impressively, on a 22 successful kicking run.
Holwell also has the highest kicking ratio with 85.29% - a fraction more than Dan Parks who he looks set to line up against on Friday.
"Records like that don't bother me at all. The way I see it is that if I take my kicks then I am doing my job for the team. It's all about winning. Who does or doesn't kick the points doesn't really bother me.
"It's great to be playing in Lansdowne Road. It's a superb place to be playing footy and hopefully it's a fine day and we can put on a good performance. In the last couple of weeks things haven't gone as well as we would have hoped, particularly after the defeat to Leicester.
"We all want to prolong the season for as long as we can."
Once again Holwell beat off stiff competition from Leinster stalwarts Denis Hickie and Victor Costello to receive this award. Holwell joins Felipe Contepomi as the only Leinster player to have won this award a second time.