On the road again...

By stonehousealbion
September 18 2015

After the luxury of two home fixtures to kick off the new season, Albion are on the road this weekend - to Hull Ionians (in the East Riding of Yorkshire for those bought up in the old school). No mistake, this is a big challenge for this team who have thrived on the familiarity of a long summer training and bonding in Plymouth. The press keep describing this as a long trip, but let's be clear - there are no short trips in Nat 1 this term. And there will be much longer to come. The lads are going to have to get used to several hours travelling - there and back. Don't forget the i-Pods, cards and eye shades, guys!

Hull Ionians are a comparatively young club, founded in 1989 when Hull and East Riding merged with Ionians (There is still a Hull RFC, which indicates an appetite for Union in a  city with two high level League clubs). The "Is" are one of the three promotees to Nat 1 having been promoted from Nat 2 (N) for the second time in three seasons. This year they are celebrating 20 years in their modern ground at Brantingham Park which has a 250 capacity stand. Our hosts started the season with a win over Hartpury College, 37 - 32 and last week came away from Richmond with an LBP on the back of a 23 - 16 scoreline. Thanks to a 4T bonus on Day 1, they are two slots above us in the league table (6th).

All of this indicates a club with ambition that has begun the new compaign well, so we can't expect any favours. We may be heavily fancied for at least four points among the regular observers at this level, but that's no guarantee. Albion will have to survive without the considerable vocal support of the Brickfields faithful, for starts. On the team front we are still some way from starting with our "dream XV". GD is starting to rotate names and positions from choice rather than necessity in some cases; Matt Shepherd is at 9 from the off and skipper Jake Murphy moves to full back. Mark Koteczky (Kot-ett-ski, OK?) is in his favoured role at 12. There are also inevitable casualities up front from a hard game with Rosslyn Park; Dan Collier and James Penman are recuperating and are covered by Rupert Freestone and Andy Chesters with a little re-jigging to boot. No start yet for the new guys from France and S Africa, so we still have some untried options in the pack. Herbie is at eight again and is surely a marked man in this division. No problems, provided he stays injury-free; if he's pulling in extra markers, it will open up opportunities elsewhere. And on recent form, he'll still be making the yards...

Just in case you hadn't heard, RWC 2015 kicks off this weekend so there'll be rugby aplenty on TV. Our game clashes with Ireland v Canada, but you can keep up with the team via Plymouth Sports Gazzette's live coverage on Twitter: PSG - Live Events (just keep using F5 to refresh if your browser doesn't update automatically). If anyone is going to the game, feel free to contact me via PM with your impressions. It would be great to have our own supporters' view to publish next week.

Here is the full fixture list:

Sat 19 Sep

Blaydon v Wharfedale   14:30   Crow Trees

Cinderford v Ampthill   15:0    Beavis Memorial Ground

Coventry v Hartpury   College   15:00   Butts Park Arena

Esher v Loughborough Students   15:00   Molesey Road

Fylde v Richmond   15:00   The Woodlands

Henley v Blackheath   15:00   Dry Leas

Hull Ionians v Plymouth Albion   15:00   Brantingham Park

Rosslyn Park v Darlington Mowden Park   15:00   The Rock -

National League 1 - 2015-6 Wk 3

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 18/09/2015 10:13

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
18/09/2015 10:13

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ianbol
18/09/2015 10:22

Nice one, Stonehouse.

History of H.I's, well researched.

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hills22
18/09/2015 13:45

Here's to a good result and weekend of rugby with the World Cup starting.

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BALION PREDATOR
18/09/2015 15:06

Cracking pre-match report .

Well done

Plymouth Bred , Plymouth Born .

C'mon Albiiioooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

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noibla
18/09/2015 18:11

Here here, thanks stonehouse,

Semper Sersum.

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stonehousealbion
19/09/2015 14:56

As I'm stuck at work, I will provide 20 min updates for those unable/willing to follow the PSG live feed. Sun shining(!), pitch looking good and no probs reported from E Yorks. Also scores from the other Nat 1 games.

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

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stonehousealbion
19/09/2015 15:22

Hull Is 8 - 0 PARFC @ 22 mins.

Quite a few travelling supporters, apparently.

Hull try, no con @ 15 mins.

Blaydon 10 - 17 Wharfe @ HT.

Hull pen @ 22 mins

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

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stonehousealbion
19/09/2015 15:42

Hull Is 11 - 0 PARFC @ HT.

Albion counter-attack @ 26 mins penalised close to Hull line.

Albion YC (Seti Raumakita) for dangerous tackle @ 29 mins. Hull pen goes dead.

Hull pen @ 37 mins.

Albion have nothing to show for the first 40, but at least are keeping the lid on things when down a man.

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

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stonehousealbion
19/09/2015 16:04

HT scores:

Blaydon 13 - 36 Wharfedale @ 68 mins

Cinderford 7 - 19 Ampthill

Coventry 13 - 17 Hartpury College

Esher 15 - 13 Loughborough Students

Fylde 10 - 20 Richmond

Henley 10 - 23 Blackheath

Hull Ionians 11 - 0 Plymouth Albion

Rosslyn Park 11 - 10 Darlington Mowden Park

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

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stonehousealbion
19/09/2015 16:18

Hull Is 25 - 7 PARFC @ 60 mins.

Albion pack under pressure - 2 x pen tries + cons from scrums.

Albion try + con, Searle @ 55 mins.

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

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stonehousealbion
19/09/2015 17:21

Full time scores:

Blaydon 13 - 43 Wharfedale

Cinderford 25 - 27 Ampthill

Coventry 21 - 23 Hartpury College

Esher 30 - 16 Loughborough Students

Fylde 27 - 29 Richmond

Henley 13 - 47 Blackheath

Hull Ionians 25 - 21 Plymouth Albion

Rosslyn Park 26 - 17 Darlington Mowden Park

Albion come back with tries from Hayler and Shepherd with Billy Searle getting the conversions. At least we come away with a LBP...

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



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:09:19:17:26:36 by stonehousealbion.

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hills22
19/09/2015 17:26

Interesting to see Coventry lost at home and park keep ticking along.

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