1st time in Plymouth

By stonehousealbion
November 11 2015

Our visitors this Saturday are Darlington Mowden Park, currently a good few places below us in the table and struggling to get some form together. With probably the swankiest rugby stadium outside of the Prem, this is their second season in Nat 1. They're not short of ambition or resources that's for sure - even the Chiefs will be hard pushed to fill 25 000 seats, but right now they (as a club) are finding it hard to deal with some of the side effects of that surfeit of riches. I spoke to a couple of DMP regulars, Kevin and David to get some of the inside gen on this week's opposition.

For starts, the Northern Echo Arena is a bit of a double-edged sword. It's so swanky, it was deemed a good enough home for the All Blacks in the RWC preparation and campaign. That meant major disruption to the ideal of alternating home/away games to start the season off - major as in 5/6 away from home and no cosy little trip up the road to Blaydon, either. Travel sickness? Not half - losses on long trips to Rosslyn Park, Ampthill and Blackeath and a proper whipping a few weeks back at Hartpury. The stadium was built for football crowds and concerts, but has been described as "cold and cavernous", too.

There was also a BIG turnover of players in the summer, of which we are all too aware. (Toms Jubb and Harrison, Ally Bone, Pete Homan and Jake Henry all elected to ply their trade up in Co Durham this season.) First XV regulars like ex-Albion centre Cameron Mitchell (skipper, too) departed for Richmond, so there was a whole load of work to do in pre-season and beyond. Perfecting partnerships in the early weeks of the season is no easy task at the best of times - just try doing it on the road. And factor in some injuries as well...

When asked to sum up their team's playing style, the answer was along the lines of "depends who's playing", which sounds rather random, but also translates as "we play to the strengths of the guys on the pitch". Check out the match report for their last game at home to Richmond (currently 4th). Narrowly behind at HT, they came back and only lost it by a single point at the death to a converted try from the visitors. Apparently, Tom Jubb (he ended up MoM) throwing in to their line-out made a massive difference last Saturday and their backs would appear to be a weapon just waiting to be unleashed. The whole "wounded beast" scenario springs to mind.

In terms of players to watch out for, the Albion OBs are all on the list, naturally - and surely they'll be welcomed back politely. Bruno Bravo (9) is a name that will be familiar - previously a fans' favourite at Donny, he has eased into the same role at his new club. Warren Seals is a newly arrived S African who plays at 10 (Dave Fisher will be having his brains picked, for sure); Gary Law, ex-Roth is nominally a fly half but often plays at inside centre - a midfield playmaker/kicker in the Mike Catt mould; and Rob Conquest is a second row forward. No lack of ability then, just the perennial problem of making it all "gel", it would seem.

Perhaps with their poor record on the road in mind, DMP have shaken out the piggy bank and wangled some cheap seats to Exeter courtesy of Flybe. They'll be arriving fresh as daisies, so we can't expect any favours; don't let them settle and let's get into our stride straight away. Can't see there being a whole heap of travelling support, so once more the Albion trump card of crowd noise will have to be exploited to the max - lozenges and plenty of "neck oil", folks! It would be surprising if their weren't at least a few northerners among the services contingent who will also be welcomed this Saturday for Armed Forces Day. (If you see a matelot "in rig", say "Touch your collar for luck, Jack?") And lastly, the PARFC 2016 calendar was officially launched this week and will be on sale, if buff blokes without shirts is your bag.

If the weather seemed like a problem last week, it may be in our favour this time around. Right now, the BBC are showing gale force winds and the possibility of showers. Playing in a large, all-round arena can cut the crosswinds right down, so our guys may have a little bit more of an edge in this case. If the conditions are anything like the predictions, it'll be a question of keeping it very tight and not loosing off random kicks upfield. It would be too easy to say, "do what they did at Henley", but the same resolve and energy certainly won't go amiss. As per the past few weeks, we're heavily backed to take this game, but I have a gnawing feeling that DMP will be aiming to do an Esher on us. They may well be in turnaround; but if we're on it, we'll be too much for them. In view of the high winds on the way, maybe it's just as well that the PA Portakabin/Mission Control has been exchanged. No change on personnel/dodgy music choices, though...

Darlington Mowden Park are obviously a side aiming high with plenty of talent, but they've got a lot to live up to. Let's just make sure that they don't start doing that until next week, at least.

Opposition Profile - Darlington Mowden Park

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 13/11/2015 09:47

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
13/11/2015 09:47

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