Plymouth Albion
Bedford look forward to their trip to South West
By Frank Stormont
November 4 2011
Bedford head west for Plymouth showdown. Lets get behind our boys and show them what is what!
Following a humbling home defeat to former Premiership side Leeds last weekend, Bedford Blues go west in the hope of reigniting their Championship campaign as they face Plymouth Albion at Brickfields.
Games between Albion and the Blues are always tough and only three points separated the two teams in the same fixture last season which finished 24-27. Plymouth have an impressive home record this season having won four out of five while Bedford are a force to be reckoned with on the road with five wins out of six in all competitions.
Bedford travel to Plymouth with a number of long term injuries including Gregor Gillanders (ACL), Ben Lewitt (ACL), Henry Staff (broken jaw), Jon Fisher (fractured foot), Neil Cochrane (calf strain) and Ricky Reeves (nerve damage), whilst captain James Pritchard also misses out after picking up a knock last weekend.
Speaking ahead of the game Blues director of rugby Mike Rayer, said: “We’ve had to take a long, hard look at ourselves following the performance last weekend and address some of the key issues that led to Leeds coming back into that game and winning it so convincingly.
“No one is in any doubt about the expectations that we have, but as I’ve said numerous times before, the great thing about rugby is that you have the chance to put things right the following week.
“The lads now have to learn from the mistakes last week and not repeat them because if we do that against Plymouth, we will be punished again. Albion have a powerful squad who will come out all guns blazing, and we also know that they can dig deep to grind out results.
“We will have to be at the top of our game if we want to pick up an all-important and morale boosting win.”
Rayer makes a handful of changes to the team that started against Leeds last week with Brendan Burke replacing the injured Pritchard at fullback, Handre Schmidt coming in for David Vincent and Stefan Liebenberg getting the nod at nine ahead of Darryl Veenendaal. Nico Steenkamp and Phil Boulton prop the scrum instead of Sam Walsh and Dan Seal while Sean Tomes returns to the second row and Paul Tupai starts at number eight while Ian Vass is named as a replacement for the first time this season.
Starting line-up
15. Brendan Burke
14. Handre Schmidt
13. Ollie Dodge
12. Tom Bedford
11. Josh Bassett
10. Jake Sharp
9. Stefan Liebenberg
1.Nico Steenkamp
2. Chris Locke
3. Phil Boulton
4. Mike Howard
5. Sean Tomes
6. Alex Rae (c)
7. Sacha Harding
8. Paul Tupai
Replacements: 16. Harry Allen, 17. Dan Seal, 18. Sam Pailor, 19. Billy Johnson, 20. Darryl Veenendaal, 21. Ian Vass, 22. David Vincent
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleuponBedford look forward to their trip to South West
Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 04/11/2011 10:24
04/11/2011 10:24
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Quote:ianbol
Nice one, Frank.
Yes, straight off the Bedford Blues website, I believe.
Quote:charleyboyQuote:ianbol
Nice one, Frank.
Yes, straight off the Bedford Blues website, I believe.
Nice one Frank, as long as it's in the public domain and you don't abuse copyright, thanks.
Semper Sersum.
Going to be a good game I think. We can do it
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:11:05:07:48:45 by Elburton Albion.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:11:05:07:48:45 by Elburton Albion.
Not sure if will effect any of you but might delay some of Bedford getting to the brickfiels
[www.bbc.co.uk]
From a friendly chief and good luck today
[www.bbc.co.uk]
From a friendly chief and good luck today
Bedford will look forward to every trip to us if we let them run through our defence (if thats what it was supposed to be) like we did today. So many times i have heard that the players are good and that it will all come good but i, for one, can just not see it. Thought today was a really dreadful performance even though we scored some tries. Our defence is none existant and we do not score enough 5 pointers. Certain bottom 4 this year and it will be hard to call who will go down and at the moment don't be surprised if it us.
Sorry to be so down on the team but today i was just so mad at the basic school boy errors we were making - rubbish kicking to touch, rubbish at re-starts, rubbish at finishing off with huge overlaps, just rubbish.
Sorry to be so down on the team but today i was just so mad at the basic school boy errors we were making - rubbish kicking to touch, rubbish at re-starts, rubbish at finishing off with huge overlaps, just rubbish.
05/11/2011 20:18
We k offreceived the kick off lost possession and did nothing but defend for 20minutes playing our 'normal' tight game, then we succumbed to pressure and Let Bedford score, then we handed them the seconnd try on a platter, 30 minutes gone 14 points down, we attacked tried to play open, Bedord intercepted 21 down. (OPen rugby often leads to leaky defences.
Half time 28 - 7 we knew the result then.
In the second half (which we won 14-10) we scared a 13 man rolling maul try just!
Good point Love and Lewis trying to run the ball - bad points line outs, having a coffe break whilst waiting for the ball to telegraphed from the base of the scrum/ruck/maul, two crash bang wallop centres.
A crum half and a fly half with Bailey in the centre with Fisilau would I think make a great deal of difference.
in 20 + years of watching Albion this was one of the all time worst performances I have seen.
I fear if we
Half time 28 - 7 we knew the result then.
In the second half (which we won 14-10) we scared a 13 man rolling maul try just!
Good point Love and Lewis trying to run the ball - bad points line outs, having a coffe break whilst waiting for the ball to telegraphed from the base of the scrum/ruck/maul, two crash bang wallop centres.
A crum half and a fly half with Bailey in the centre with Fisilau would I think make a great deal of difference.
in 20 + years of watching Albion this was one of the all time worst performances I have seen.
I fear if we
05/11/2011 22:30
If we persist with the same flawed team selection that started today and play to the same old game plan of the last decade, then the best we can expect to finish is in 11th. place at the end of the normal season.
We must also pray that Esher are unable to manage a single win during the league season and hence take no points into the relegation playoffs, but that is probably asking for miracles.
Thats a lot of ifs, buts, prayers and miracles, but for those few deluded souls who refer to our useless coach as GOD then there can be no doubt on our survival if a mere few prayers and miracles are required.
The reality of this shambles once again drags us into a near certain dogfight in the relagation playoffs, with a coach that has little if any support from the terraces and a large part of the squad that can not wait for the season to end and be away from him.
We must also pray that Esher are unable to manage a single win during the league season and hence take no points into the relegation playoffs, but that is probably asking for miracles.
Thats a lot of ifs, buts, prayers and miracles, but for those few deluded souls who refer to our useless coach as GOD then there can be no doubt on our survival if a mere few prayers and miracles are required.
The reality of this shambles once again drags us into a near certain dogfight in the relagation playoffs, with a coach that has little if any support from the terraces and a large part of the squad that can not wait for the season to end and be away from him.
I enjoyed today's match, errors notwithstanding. Bedford have now won 6 of 7 away matches, including L. Welsh and Pirates. Does that make the other teams "rubbish" also? The Blues are, in my opinion, the best team in the league. Well done to our lads for winning the second half. It's good to see a change in our style of play, and to see the lads keep fighting to the final whistle. Congratulations to T. Lewis. Good try. More please.
06/11/2011 00:18
What game were you at ?
4 penalties kicked that did not find touch
3 or 4 Line Outs thrown completely over the top
Nearly every re-start dropped or knocked on
Poor Passing
Poor offloading
Backs out of position for large parts of the game
All school boy mistakes that should be coached out in training.
How many years do we have to go on before the board has the balls to sort out where the problem lays?
4 penalties kicked that did not find touch
3 or 4 Line Outs thrown completely over the top
Nearly every re-start dropped or knocked on
Poor Passing
Poor offloading
Backs out of position for large parts of the game
All school boy mistakes that should be coached out in training.
How many years do we have to go on before the board has the balls to sort out where the problem lays?
Agree with much of the above.
But even with Beds' BP in the bag at HT, that was a winnable game. The Blues were brittle - hard, but emminently breakable. You can see why Leeds got the result last week. With a little more focus and steel in our team, the opposition could well have been crying into their beer.
We would have had the consolation of one or even two BPs ourselves. It's a tad unsporting to say we won the body count, but with a smarter use of subs and some killer instinct, we could have come away with pride intact and maybe even the laurels. An golden opportunity squandered in woeful fashion.
We have no shortage of talent - it just has to be exploited consistently over 80 minutes. We are dangerously exposed without SMS who must be restrained from the one-man Fire Brigade role when he returns. I shudder to think what this has done to collective and individual confidence levels.
Whatever you think of the B&I Cup, it will be a welcome respite from our torrid travails in the C'ship next Sat...
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
But even with Beds' BP in the bag at HT, that was a winnable game. The Blues were brittle - hard, but emminently breakable. You can see why Leeds got the result last week. With a little more focus and steel in our team, the opposition could well have been crying into their beer.
We would have had the consolation of one or even two BPs ourselves. It's a tad unsporting to say we won the body count, but with a smarter use of subs and some killer instinct, we could have come away with pride intact and maybe even the laurels. An golden opportunity squandered in woeful fashion.
We have no shortage of talent - it just has to be exploited consistently over 80 minutes. We are dangerously exposed without SMS who must be restrained from the one-man Fire Brigade role when he returns. I shudder to think what this has done to collective and individual confidence levels.
Whatever you think of the B&I Cup, it will be a welcome respite from our torrid travails in the C'ship next Sat...
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Hello all I am new to the forum ,
But I had to comment on Allbion performance v Bedford. (Or the lack of it). Never before have I wanted to leave at half time it was just awful ! I think I strained my neck in the first half as we were unable to get out of our own half for about 85 % of the half. The forwards look disjointed and seem to have no organisation, I agree we miss SMS, but we do have some decent players but they seem to have no direction. Line out was awful . Kicking out of hand shocking ! Bedford just look more organised. Well. Well done Tyson thought defended and attacked well(when he got the ball)
But I had to comment on Allbion performance v Bedford. (Or the lack of it). Never before have I wanted to leave at half time it was just awful ! I think I strained my neck in the first half as we were unable to get out of our own half for about 85 % of the half. The forwards look disjointed and seem to have no organisation, I agree we miss SMS, but we do have some decent players but they seem to have no direction. Line out was awful . Kicking out of hand shocking ! Bedford just look more organised. Well. Well done Tyson thought defended and attacked well(when he got the ball)
06/11/2011 11:08
Losehead, if what you hear is correct the one director who did have the balls as you aptly describe it has now left due to being in the majority of one with regard to challenging GD and saying things as they are.
Unfortunately the remaining Dawe lackeys still follow him to the brink of extinction.
I do wonder how the shareholders can sit each week watching the same awful displays with no sense of imorovement and not call the board to task.
This club we have often been told is a bussiness and as such with the last 5 years of failure under the same DOR/coach you would expect there to be adeparture/change other than those within the playing staff. Call them what you may but he would have gone years ago in any other club or in any other bussiness.
Our coach year upon year shows he is unable to understand the modern game and the new generation of players as anyone with a modicum of intelligence and integrity would understand the club is more important than he is and would heed the fervent advice that several agitated supporters were offering him on the touchline at 5pm. yesterday.
Unfortunately the remaining Dawe lackeys still follow him to the brink of extinction.
I do wonder how the shareholders can sit each week watching the same awful displays with no sense of imorovement and not call the board to task.
This club we have often been told is a bussiness and as such with the last 5 years of failure under the same DOR/coach you would expect there to be adeparture/change other than those within the playing staff. Call them what you may but he would have gone years ago in any other club or in any other bussiness.
Our coach year upon year shows he is unable to understand the modern game and the new generation of players as anyone with a modicum of intelligence and integrity would understand the club is more important than he is and would heed the fervent advice that several agitated supporters were offering him on the touchline at 5pm. yesterday.
"What game were you at ?
4 penalties kicked that did not find touch
3 or 4 Line Outs thrown completely over the top
Nearly every re-start dropped or knocked on
Poor Passing
Poor offloading
Backs out of position for large parts of the game"
Believe it or not, the same game.
The first three points will be ironed out in training.
As for the last three.......HALLELUJAH!
We're passing, we're supporting, we're offloading, and the backs are hunting for the ball! Our game is changing. Thank you Mr Saumi.
I think that Bedford plays deceptively simple rugby which is stupidly fast, and (almost) flawlessly executed. I believe that saying the lads were "rubbish" underestimates the Blues' ability to control the game. We were outclassed in the first half and fought a good fight in the second.
4 penalties kicked that did not find touch
3 or 4 Line Outs thrown completely over the top
Nearly every re-start dropped or knocked on
Poor Passing
Poor offloading
Backs out of position for large parts of the game"
Believe it or not, the same game.
The first three points will be ironed out in training.
As for the last three.......HALLELUJAH!
We're passing, we're supporting, we're offloading, and the backs are hunting for the ball! Our game is changing. Thank you Mr Saumi.
I think that Bedford plays deceptively simple rugby which is stupidly fast, and (almost) flawlessly executed. I believe that saying the lads were "rubbish" underestimates the Blues' ability to control the game. We were outclassed in the first half and fought a good fight in the second.
06/11/2011 12:30
Rugbyank, the one flaw in your theory with regard to sorting it all out in training, is they have been training since early july.
Which would appear to be 4 months of coaching very little, and as I pointed out previously it is just another seasons failings following on from last years experience and the years before etc. etc. etc.
I also am led to believe that Nats coaching is competely nullified by GD selecting his team and his plays at short notice on the saturday rather than going with what they have practised in the previous week.
See my earlier posting with regard to mind games etc and players looking forward to leave at the end of each sesaon.
Which would appear to be 4 months of coaching very little, and as I pointed out previously it is just another seasons failings following on from last years experience and the years before etc. etc. etc.
I also am led to believe that Nats coaching is competely nullified by GD selecting his team and his plays at short notice on the saturday rather than going with what they have practised in the previous week.
See my earlier posting with regard to mind games etc and players looking forward to leave at the end of each sesaon.
I don't know about players leaving next summeer, a few are desperately trying some way of leaving at Christmas, so at least they might be a game before 75 mins are up. Once again Albions kicking from hand is dire, if Love had not fluffed that last penalty kick to touch, we well might have sen a much better result. It was not to be straight after that miss Bedford worked their way down field and were handed a penalty, game over. To round it all off they worked a very good try, our head head coach should be locked in one of the many containers around the ground and made to watch the video of that try. He should be made to watch it until he goes blind, then maybe we would get a better coach. As some one has said Albion are going be in the same play offs as last season.
Post mortem - a comprehensive account of the whole sorry tale for fans with masochistic tendancies and (hopefully) the PARFC coaching team.
thisisplymouth
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
thisisplymouth
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
And the true reasons for the unhappy performance, a la Dawe, with an exortation to fans to "please believe in us".
By implication, not his fault nor the coaching staff's but everybody elses.
[www.thisisplymouth.co.uk]
By implication, not his fault nor the coaching staff's but everybody elses.
[www.thisisplymouth.co.uk]
07/11/2011 10:24
This really is a game of "inches" and when the inches creep away from you it is very hard to claw them back. There are guys on this team that are big enough and ugly enough to know how to win these games and once the coaching team get the selection right then the guys on the pitch have got to do the business. I get the impression that guys are being picked not on form but on reputation. This is a very dangerous policy because complacency sets in. Having coached for quite a few years it is vital that every player is looking over his shoulder at a guy who is hungry to take his place and that guy must be given his opportunity to shine. Those "inches" are there and can be found and when they are this team will prosper. The management need to believe in the fans and give them something to cheer about. Sitting on the fence will never achieve that. Be brave, be strong but most of all believe. Come on Albion..........
And even my Guinness didn't taste very good.
We can - and do - all complain, but where is the solution. We are where we are, with what we have got.
I do think there is a problem off the park, as well as on it, and the Chairman needs to get a grip PDQ.
I also think there is a motivation problem - the lads were not fired up and subs looked like they were on a holiday.
Try Love at 10 but who will play 15 ? Oh dear.
Hopefully the selectors will put out a first team next Saturday.
We can - and do - all complain, but where is the solution. We are where we are, with what we have got.
I do think there is a problem off the park, as well as on it, and the Chairman needs to get a grip PDQ.
I also think there is a motivation problem - the lads were not fired up and subs looked like they were on a holiday.
Try Love at 10 but who will play 15 ? Oh dear.
Hopefully the selectors will put out a first team next Saturday.
07/11/2011 13:17
All the below commenmts are generalisms.
Albion are very one dimensional and very predictable. Its all about grinding it up through the forwards and if the backs get lucky they get the ball.
Part of the reason the backs don't get the ball is that often there is a forward standing in the passing channel between scrum half and fly half.
You may have noticed that when the fowrards score a try its on the back of the forwards grinding the ball towards the line, this is an observation not a criticism.
When the backs get the ball it is often due to fortuity or individual skill and not by a designed process/move.
We saw Bedford yesterday moving the balls swiftly through backs and forwards, moving the play from one side of the pitch to the other, strectching the Albion defence until it breaks
Albion never do this and they should, it should be part of thier play stratergy just as every other team does.
I have not seen a "backs move" all season although i have only seen 7 matches.
There also needs to be one dedicated kicker to touch. At the moment it could be the scrum half or the fly half or the full back, it should not be an optional thing, it should be one person only.
Without a game plan that is comprhensive and involves all the players Albion will not climb out of the relegation zone.
What i do think is that Albion have the quality of players to be higher in the league, they just need the quality of team management to be righty now.
Albion are very one dimensional and very predictable. Its all about grinding it up through the forwards and if the backs get lucky they get the ball.
Part of the reason the backs don't get the ball is that often there is a forward standing in the passing channel between scrum half and fly half.
You may have noticed that when the fowrards score a try its on the back of the forwards grinding the ball towards the line, this is an observation not a criticism.
When the backs get the ball it is often due to fortuity or individual skill and not by a designed process/move.
We saw Bedford yesterday moving the balls swiftly through backs and forwards, moving the play from one side of the pitch to the other, strectching the Albion defence until it breaks
Albion never do this and they should, it should be part of thier play stratergy just as every other team does.
I have not seen a "backs move" all season although i have only seen 7 matches.
There also needs to be one dedicated kicker to touch. At the moment it could be the scrum half or the fly half or the full back, it should not be an optional thing, it should be one person only.
Without a game plan that is comprhensive and involves all the players Albion will not climb out of the relegation zone.
What i do think is that Albion have the quality of players to be higher in the league, they just need the quality of team management to be righty now.
Yes Guest88, I agree with you. We do have the players. We also have the same coaches, and so you will see the same themes.
Whilst this goes on, I really think that Albi should go back to having 15 forwards on the park. It may not have been pretty in the past but it did win matches.
Open attractive rugby ? I rather have a W.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:11:07:15:34:54 by Jethro.
Whilst this goes on, I really think that Albi should go back to having 15 forwards on the park. It may not have been pretty in the past but it did win matches.
Open attractive rugby ? I rather have a W.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:11:07:15:34:54 by Jethro.
One can only agree with most of what has been posted.
How much longer is our chairman going to allow it to continue? It really is time he took control of this club.
It is generally known that Graham had the team he wanted to start the league programme weeks before the kick off, and he stubbornly refuses to allow any changes, though he is being told by his coaches that some players are not up to proper fitnsee level and more to the point not playing well.
They say 'pigs might fly' and until they do we are looking for salvation,let us hope this comes before it is to late.
How much longer is our chairman going to allow it to continue? It really is time he took control of this club.
It is generally known that Graham had the team he wanted to start the league programme weeks before the kick off, and he stubbornly refuses to allow any changes, though he is being told by his coaches that some players are not up to proper fitnsee level and more to the point not playing well.
They say 'pigs might fly' and until they do we are looking for salvation,let us hope this comes before it is to late.
balion you have given us the answer. The question is....
How does a coach get his team from here to the playoffs intact?
How does a coach get his team from here to the playoffs intact?
07/11/2011 21:18
Rugbyank, I am afraid I do not understand the question you are asking, perhaps you could expand on it a little.
I can only speculate that the decisions being made about who is playing now are being made with one eyeball on getting to March with as few injuries (and as mentally fit) as possible. Is what is seen by us as stubborn resolve, and a failure to play the "on form" team, part of a plan to share the workload over the entire season?
SttT, like others here I share some of your concerns about our team. I will always disagree with you about the time frame within which you expect a consistently high standard of performance from individuals and the team as a whole. Four or five months of training will develop a good solid proficiency, but it certainly will not eliminate the odd bad day. You may have experienced this yourself.
Led by a plodding Donkey or a wily Old Fox?
SttT, like others here I share some of your concerns about our team. I will always disagree with you about the time frame within which you expect a consistently high standard of performance from individuals and the team as a whole. Four or five months of training will develop a good solid proficiency, but it certainly will not eliminate the odd bad day. You may have experienced this yourself.
Led by a plodding Donkey or a wily Old Fox?
Lets not kid ourselves here, the only play offs we are getting ready for are the relegation bottom four ones.
We are in the second tier of professional rugby and i know we should be thankful of that fact, but we are one of the poorer teams in the league. Poorer financially (although teams with smaller fan base must have more investment) and due to ha ing no money we are poorer on the pitch.
This team is not great be honest we all can see it and it is not playing an entertaining brand of rugby. Vicious circle of no money = poor team = less fans = no money.
On saturday i saw mistakes that i donot see in the local leagues and have to ask why? The only reason i can come up with is the team is not very good.
I will still go to watch albion and will still cheer and shout as loud as i can but reality of it all is that we should prepare ourselves to being a bottom four team for the foreseable future as the board will not change anything.
We are in the second tier of professional rugby and i know we should be thankful of that fact, but we are one of the poorer teams in the league. Poorer financially (although teams with smaller fan base must have more investment) and due to ha ing no money we are poorer on the pitch.
This team is not great be honest we all can see it and it is not playing an entertaining brand of rugby. Vicious circle of no money = poor team = less fans = no money.
On saturday i saw mistakes that i donot see in the local leagues and have to ask why? The only reason i can come up with is the team is not very good.
I will still go to watch albion and will still cheer and shout as loud as i can but reality of it all is that we should prepare ourselves to being a bottom four team for the foreseable future as the board will not change anything.
08/11/2011 13:32
Rugbyank,
Its not the odd bad day that is so dissapointing it is the fact that pretty much every game this and seasons before we rarely catch the kickoffs and restarts cleanly and conversely never seem to be able to challenge the opposition from our kick offs due to the kicks being so deep.
Add to this our slowness of delivery and poor passing to usually static players it is not hard to work out why we struggle to score tries and hence win games.
Bedford are a good side but their ability to take the ball from deep on the run is something that has not changed over the years at whatever level or club you play for.
Except for Albion.
Hence I have to doubt the ability to coach.
Its not the odd bad day that is so dissapointing it is the fact that pretty much every game this and seasons before we rarely catch the kickoffs and restarts cleanly and conversely never seem to be able to challenge the opposition from our kick offs due to the kicks being so deep.
Add to this our slowness of delivery and poor passing to usually static players it is not hard to work out why we struggle to score tries and hence win games.
Bedford are a good side but their ability to take the ball from deep on the run is something that has not changed over the years at whatever level or club you play for.
Except for Albion.
Hence I have to doubt the ability to coach.
Plymouth Albion News 24/7
More Plymouth Albion headlines
- Prediction League 2025/26
- Fixtures Announced for 2026/27
- Ins and outs ahead of 2026/27
- NL1 Attendances for 2025/26
- Where are we going next...
- NL1 Promotion Play-off: Blackheath v Plymouth Albion
- Round 26: Albion v Leeds Tykes Preview
- Round 25: Sale FC v Plymouth Albion Preview
- Round 24: Albion v Sedgley Park
Plymouth Albion latest threads
- Seta Raumakita Testimonial
- Fixtures Announced for 2026/27
- Ins and outs ahead of 2026/27
- (How) did we blow it?
- NL1 Attendances for 2025/26
- Where are we going next...
- NL1 Promotion Play-off: Blackheath v Plymouth Albion
- Round 26: Albion v Leeds Tykes Preview
- Round 25: Sale FC v Plymouth Albion Preview
- Round 24: Albion v Sedgley Park