By Frank Stormont & CD
January 2 2009
Almost a local derby with Newbury being the closest club to us outside of Devon and Cornwall. It sort of makes up for the long trip up north last weekend when we had a good number of travelling supporters.
v 
![]() Jannie | ![]() Jamie | ![]() Ryan | ![]() |
![]() Sean-Michael | ![]() Mike | ![]() Arthur | ![]() Mike | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() Kyle | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() Greg | ![]() Ross | ![]() |
![]() Tom | | ![]() Ross | ![]() Matt | ![]() Liam |
![]() | ![]() Geoff | ![]() |
![]() Alex | ![]() Justin | ![]() Matt | ![]() Callum | ![]() Graham |
![]() Colin | ![]() Danny | ![]() Wayne |
Last week saw Ross Allan take on the captains role when Arthur Brenton was replaced late in the match against Manchester.
With Albion's form looking impressive and Newbury on a fall it should be a good result for the hosts. But as we found out last time we played anything can happen in this league.
Some of the bench players from the main match may well get a chance against the team coached by Nigel Cane at 5:15. Why not stay around and get good value for your money.
Newbury
In the first match of the New Year Albion play host to Newbury ‘Blues’. When Albion visited the Blues in September, there were high expectations for Albion as it was the Fourth game of the season, Albion had Won two and lost one. But the Home crowd saw Albion literally have the blues, with a score of Blues 19 to Albion’s 11 this time Newbury make the trip to Brickfields. Albion having won the last home game by a point are hoping to do the same again.
Last week the Blues played the Blues, Newbury were away against Bedford, unfortunately Newbury were ‘whitewashed’, Bedford scoring 34 to nil
Newbury’s average gate is 472, so travelling support may be sparse, but Fortress Brickfields will make both the ‘Blues’ and their supporters welcome.
Players to look out for…….
TRIES
Waylon Gasson, 5 tries
Jack Bentall, Mark Lee and Andrew Henderson who with 2 tries and 1 yellow each
Nathaniel Catt, J Hilton, Chris Ridgers and Mathew Williams with 2 tries each
Matt Humphries with 1 try and 1 yellow
Paul Fincken, Sean Fox, Jonny Hylton, Bradley Mockford and Martin Nutt with 1 try each
The two main kickers for the Blues are:
Gareth Griffiths with 5 conversions, 2 drop goals and 13 penalties
Ben Stevenson with 9 conversions and 7 penalties
Also look out for ‘bad boy’ Chevvy Pennycock with 2 yellow cards
CD’s prediction
not sure as last time they played Albion lost, but think that was just an ‘off day’ for Albion. If Albion ‘play’ then there could easily be a bonus point for them
League Table | ||||||||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | dif | TF | TA | BP | Pnts | ||
| 1 | Leeds | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 769 | 222 | 547 | 107 | 22 | 12 | 84 |
| 2 | Chiefs | 18 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 691 | 252 | 439 | 97 | 30 | 14 | 76 |
| 3 | B Blues | 18 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 524 | 263 | 261 | 71 | 27 | 10 | 62 |
| 4 | Nott'ham | 17 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 517 | 285 | 232 | 70 | 30 | 12 | 62 |
| 5 | Knights | 18 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 498 | 348 | 150 | 58 | 38 | 10 | 60 |
| 6 | Albion | 18 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 394 | 355 | 39 | 43 | 44 | 6 | 52 |
| 7 | Welsh | 17 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 405 | 328 | 77 | 45 | 37 | 7 | 47 |
| 8 | Pirates | 17 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 418 | 329 | 89 | 53 | 35 | 7 | 45 |
| 9 | Titans | 18 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 519 | 492 | 27 | 65 | 62 | 8 | 38 |
| 10 | Cov | 17 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 339 | 368 | -29 | 43 | 47 | 6 | 38 |
| 11 | Moseley | 17 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 405 | 415 | -10 | 50 | 61 | 10 | 38 |
| 12 | Esher | 18 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 299 | 506 | -207 | 38 | 65 | 6 | 24 |
| 13 | Tigers | 18 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 281 | 675 | -394 | 38 | 89 | 6 | 22 |
| 14 | N Blues | 17 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 217 | 618 | -401 | 25 | 86 | 4 | 16 |
| 15 | Otley | 18 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 236 | 646 | -410 | 23 | 91 | 5 | 13 |
| 16 | Man | 18 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 236 | 646 | -410 | 29 | 91 | 7 | 11 |
Points by type & Discipline Record | ||||||||
| Team | Tries | Cons | Con Rate | Pens | Drop goals | Pen try | Yell | Red |
| Albion | 43/42 | 32/24 | 74 | 37/27 | 2/2 | 0/2 | 7/9 | 0/0 |
| N Blues | 25/83 | 14/58 | 56 | 20/23 | 2/0 | 0/4 | 11/8 | 0/0 |
This table shows the for and against for each team. eg Tries 74/17 is 74 tries scored and 17 conceded. Con Rate is the percentage tries converted.
Side by side | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | ![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gate 3131 avg 6871 max | Gate 518 avg 879 max | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form home w w w w w w l l w w away w w l l d w l l | Form home l l l w w l l w l away l l l l l l l l | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best home game 47 - 6 Man Worst away game Leeds 49 - 18 | Best home game 26 - 6 Man Worst away game Titans 62 - 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Most points in a match 21 Kieran Hallett Albion 26 - 25 Nott'ham | Most points in a match 16 Gareth Griffiths N Blues 26 - 20 Otley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Most tries in a match 2 Matt Hopper Albion 36 - 14 Esher Justin Mensah-Cover Albion 31 - 7 Tigers | Most tries in a match 2 Jack Bentall Tigers 42 - 37 N Blues Andrew Henderson N Blues 26 - 6 Man | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Recent results
| Recent results
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| TRIES 5 Matt Hopper 4 Gareth Evans Geoff Griffiths Justin Mensah-Cover 3 Arran Cruikshanks Keni Fisilau Ryan Hopkins Tom Jarvis Wayne Sprangle 2 Mike Denbee Kieran Hallett 1 Ross Allan Jannie Du Toit Liam Gibson Kyle Marriott Greg Nicholls James Owen Martin Rice | TRIES 5 Waylon Gasson 2 Jack Bentall Nathaniel Catt Andrew Henderson J Hilton Mark Lee Chris Ridgers Mathew Williams 1 Paul Fincken Sean Fox Matt Humphries Jonny Hylton Bradley Mockford Martin Nutt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Discipline SinBin Arthur Brenton Arran Cruikshanks Gareth Evans Keni Fisilau (3) Sean-Micheal Stephen | Discipline SinBin Ian Ashcroft-Leigh Jack Bentall Joe Clark Andrew Henderson Matt Humphries Mark Lee Mark Lilley Chevvy Pennycock (2) Sebastian Perkins Scott Witcomb | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If you haven't been to Brickfields before you will be in for a friendly welcome from the club and the home support.
The ground is growing into a great stadium with plenty of food and beverage outlets to suit all comers. You can get anything from a chocolate bar to a four course sit down meal.

Click to see more details on the ground
Book your place on arrival with Darren Hands who will be at the north end (main car park end) of the grandstand. Any steward will be able to point him out.
Best of luck!
Current forecast is sunny max daytime temp 3oC with light westerly winds up to 9mph.
Don't let anything get in the way of a good game of Rugby 