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By stonehousealbion
September 21 2015

Three out of four at home isn't a bad way to start the season - until you start thinking about all those trips Oop Nawth in t'bleak midwinter. Never mind; just enjoy the mild weather (forecast: 16°, cloudy and a southerly breeze) while you can and cheer the lads on. As we sit at 10th in the league table having nicked a LBP at Hull, we welcome Fylde (named after the square-shaped sticky-outy bit between the Ribble and Morecombe Bay in Lancashire) who, like us, have a win single win (L'boro Students) and two losses (Hartpury and Richmond) to their name, but are two rungs below tied on points. After this past weekend's Nat 1 reality check, we can't take anything for granted (again!). Fylde finished fourth last year in line with the previous few years, so they really are representative of what the top quarter of Level 3 has to offer. And - dare I say it, where we'd really like to be...

Who are they? Well, the club was formed about the same time as Plymouth and Devonport Albion merged just after WW1. They could have been a footie club, but a coin was tossed and it came down for the oval ball. They flourished between the wars and really established their pedigree in the 60/70s - loads of teams playing every week, international touring sides stopping by with big crowds and big names playing/coaching. Roger Uttley, Bill Beaumont (& sons!), Brian Ashton and Wade Dooley have all figured significantly for the team that play in white, claret and gold stripes. (If those names don't ring a bell, then you need to get googling...) More recently, RWC 2003 winner Jason Robinson was involved with the coaching. Current England caps Richard Wigglesworth and Kieran Brookes started off in their Minis/Juniors. Fylde have links with Prem side Sale Sharks and provide a good few players to Lancashire and the England Counties set-up, too. Get the picture? Right - no picnic!

Albion will be chastened ("gutted" was the term used in PSG) after the trip to Ionians. It's pretty clear that our pack was bossed around and any first half opportunities evaporated to errors or ill-discipline. If all the RWC TV this weekend has taught us nothing else, it's that "lesser" packs have to work smarter to offset the weight and/or experience disparity in the set piece. Injuries aside, we have to run with what we have player-wise. With the returnees from the sick list, Albion have to bring some stability to the situation and be sure to get the most from our present resources. Is "le nouveau Greg" ready for a game yet? What is clear is that team morale is excellent and the fitness, stamina and ability to perform under pressure was telling in the last quarter. We also coped with a man in the bin much better than last term.

With three games under our belt, we're 10% into the new season. A bit early for predictions and the like, but we do know a bit more than at the end of August. Looking at the table (NCA Rugby - the RFU version has at least one howler on it) shows Rosslyn Park and Coventry up where you'd expect, but trailing Ampthill - a club (like Hull Is) promoted from Level 4. The last of the supposed "minnows" from Nat 2 (S) have already beaten Darlington. A wise man has already tagged us a "promotion" club, given the way we put our squad together, so it's plain what we're up against without even looking at the established clubs. A good read for an overview of our new home is contained in an ominously titled article from our next visitors' website: Fylde Rugby - League of Death. This is not going to be straightforward...

We also have to be realistic about what we honestly expect from this campaign. To survive at C'ship level, you need a C'ship squad (obvs!). To presume that the new lads and arrivals can step up to that level in a single season is plain foolish. Don't even mention the money... I'm not saying we should turn down promotion if we were to win the league, but let's not let pie in the sky expectations get the better of us this season. A bigger worry would be assuming we're better than the rest and coming a cropper. The Fylde article (with a quote from Coventry's coach in TRP) says that to win Nat 1, you can only lose 3 games. Guess what - we're two thirds of the way there already... The hard line according to SHA is let the team grow in confidence and experience, bring the crowds back in and restore financial stability. At the end of the day, anywhere between second and fourteenth, more Ws than Ls, more F than A would do the job. Then worry about a return to Level 2.

With the World Cup re-igniting national awareness of rugby in general, there's no reason why the gate should take a massive dip this weekend. Got a mate, neighbour or work colleague who was impressed by the way Japan did a number on the 'Boks? Drag 'em along to Brickfields on Saturday (KO: 15.00) and show 'em there's quality entertainment on the doorstep. Word is the namibian squad will be in attendance. Put Italy v Canada on catch-up, hang around in the Clubhouse or marquee for the live entertainment (Barnet Bros) or S Africa v Samoa, and (if you must) you'll be back in plenty of time for the England v Wales clash later in the evening. Better still - hang around and get a late pass from them indoors...

Here's the fixture list:

Sat 26 Sep

Loughborough Students v Blaydon   14:00   L U Stadium

Hartpury College v Esher  14:30   College Stadium

Ampthill v Henley   15:00   Dillingham Park

Blackheath v Darlington Mowden Park   15:00   Rectory Field

Hull Ionians v Rosslyn Park   15:00   Brantingham Park

Plymouth Albion v Fylde   15:00   Brickfields

Richmond v Coventry   15:00   Richmond Athletic

Wharfedale v Cinderford   15:00   The Avenue

Fylde factoid: Their distinctive colours are those of Huddersfield Old Boys - and nobody really knows why...

PS. If you do go on Saturday, hang on to your ticket stub - it will get you into the Albion v Cornwall (Development XVs) game next Monday evening (KO: 19.15)

National League 1 - 2015-6 Wk 4

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 23/09/2015 11:02

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
23/09/2015 11:02

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stonehousealbion
24/09/2015 08:31

Monday evening Development XVs game - KO confirmed as:

19.15

Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!

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hills22
24/09/2015 20:27

The Flyde preview is a good read too and on the Flyde website.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2015:09:24:20:30:25 by hills22.

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