Old C'ship foes - again..

By stonehousealbion
October 8 2015

After a great trip away (bar the result, of course...) to Coventry last weekend, we're on home territory again this Saturday as Esher come to visit the Brickfields for the first time in three years. Another entertaining afternoon in prospect; the forecast is good (cloudy, 14°, easterly breeze) and the opposing teams scored a total of nine tries last week. With all respect to our Caledonian brethren, there's no real excuse for staying at home to watch the RWC this weekend. (Rest assured, Wales v Oz and the England game will both be shown in the evening, though.) It's also a chance to pay respects to Vernon Pinches, a past player and three times chairman who crossed the celestial try line this week.

Nat 1 continues to confound the pundits with simple form out of the window right now. At Molesey Road last Saturday, our visitors put 6 tries past Richmond, who had given Coventry a torrid time the previous weekend. We were heading for a draw at the end of 80 mins against them, only for a final try to send us home with a single point as consolation. Go figure.

The word from the "Eesher" (the short E is a wind-up or real anachronism, methinks) support is that they are happy with the season so far - apart from the Day 1 loss to Ampthill whose energetic start to the campaign wasn't really anticipated by anyone. Seventh to our tenth in the league and with an extra win to their name, they reckon that they've got their preparation right since then. Their squad, which includes ex-Albion fly half Paul Roberts, has integrated it's new/young players well. They have a restored link with Harlequins, so squad depth and quality is pretty good. They are pretty chuffed with last Saturday's result - a pulsating win against confident, well-coached local rivals. The pace of the game and the team contributions all round went down certainly well with the home crowd. So, yet another "not easy" game ahead, then...

The really impressive thing about Albion at the Butts Park Arena was the improvement of the pack in the set piece - none of that "heart in the mouth" stuff every time the ball went into touch. On the other hand, the early shipping of two early tries is something that really must have been scrutinised and remedied this week. It is absolutely vital we hit the ground running (in attack or defence) to prevent a re-run and consequent shift to the back foot. Of course it's early days, but the team's overall ability to fix shortcomings has been pretty commendable to date; it's something that has to continue week after week. The fixture list may have been quite hard on us, with three out of four of last year's front runners thus far, but we're in a league where bonus points are what determine league standing. While opinion reckons we will prevail modestly at home, we really need to start nailing for those elusive 4T BPs.

Once again, GD has rung some changes in the starting line-up to even out the workload. Over the last three months, the squad's progression has been thoroughly reassuring, but I personally reckon that young Tom Putt deserves some measured recognition for the creditable way he has stepped up to the kicking responsibilties. Six weeks ago, he was wondering if he had a look in at a contract and where he would end up at school. Next thing you know, he's slotting long range penalities from the half-way line like a good 'un - well done, boy! With that kind of outlook from the youngsters, Albion can only flourish across the board.

Here's the full fixture list:

Sat 10 Oct

Loughborough Students v Henley   14:00   U L Stadium

Hartpury College v Cinderford   14:30   College Stadium

Ampthill v Blackheath   15:00   Dillingham Park

Fylde v Rosslyn Park   15:00   Woodlands

Hull Ionians v Coventry   15:00   Brantingham Park

Plymouth Albion v Esher   15:00   Brickfields

Richmond v Blaydon   15:00   Richmond Athletic Ground

Wharfedale v Darlington Mowden Park   15:00   Threshfield

Esher factoid: The boys from Hersham put an eye-watering 148 unanswered points past Manchester back in 2009/10 - the season they won promotion to the C'ship. 

National League 1 - 2015-6 Wk 6

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 09/10/2015 08:14

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
09/10/2015 08:14

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