Plymouth Albion return to Brickfields this Saturday looking to carry a perfect opening month into October when Cambridge make the trip to Devon for round five of the National 1 season.
Four games have brought four bonus-point victories for Ryan Lamb’s side, with wins over Rosslyn Park, Camborne, Sheffield and London Scottish delivering the maximum 20 league points available.
After three away fixtures in those opening four rounds, Saturday brings Albion back to Brickfields for only the second time in the league this season.
The numbers underline the strength of the opening month. Albion have scored 190 points across their first four matches and are yet to trail at any stage of a league game this season. No opposition has secured a try-scoring bonus point against them either.
But if the opening weeks of National 1 have demonstrated anything, it is that Saturday’s league positions offer little indication of the challenge Cambridge could provide.
More Than the League Table
Cambridge arrive at Brickfields currently sitting at the bottom of National 1 and searching for their first victory following relegation from the Championship.
Look beyond the league position, however, and their opening results tell a much more competitive story.
Cambridge began with a narrow 38-33 defeat against Birmingham Moseley before travelling to Tonbridge Juddians, where they came within a single point of one of the division’s two remaining perfect sides in a remarkable 53-52 contest.
Another close encounter followed as Bury St Edmunds won 38-31 at Cambridge, before Leeds Tykes recorded a 57-33 victory last weekend.
Three of Cambridge’s opening four defeats have therefore been decided by seven points or fewer.
Their performance at Tonbridge provides perhaps the clearest warning for Albion. Tonbridge joined Albion in completing September with maximum points after their dramatic 52-49 victory at Sale last weekend, yet Cambridge came within one point of ending that unbeaten record.
A side that won only four matches during last season’s Championship campaign has undergone significant change following relegation, with 16 players departing and nine retained as Cambridge rebuilt for National 1.
Among their additions are second row Jake Parkinson from Ampthill, fly-half Luke Boucher from Leicester Lions, winger Joe Hill from Bedford Blues, prop Callum Smith from Worcester Warriors and second row Mike Dacres from Rams.
Cambridge may still be searching for their first victory, but their opening month suggests a side capable of causing problems and one increasingly desperate to turn competitive performances into league points.
Albion Bring London Form Home
Albion return to Brickfields following another significant performance on the road.
Last Saturday’s 50-14 victory over recently relegated London Scottish saw Albion run in eight tries through Noah Fenton twice, Jarrard Hayler, Harry Wilkinson, Sam Daly, Rhys Williams, Bobby Wigginton and Jack Oulton.
The result was impressive, but so too was the manner of the performance.
Albion’s physicality provided the foundation, while their scrum and lineout enjoyed an excellent afternoon. Another rapid start saw Fenton cross twice in the opening quarter before Albion secured the try bonus point before half-time.
They continued to apply pressure after the interval, eventually reaching 50 points for the second time in four league matches.
There were individual positives throughout the afternoon, including an influential performance from Morgan Eames and a try-scoring return from injury for Wigginton.
This weekend, Wigginton is rewarded with a place in the starting XV.
Changes for Cambridge
There are changes in the front row, where Cameron Doak starts at loosehead alongside Rhys Williams at hooker and co-captain Dan Pullinger at tighthead.
Morgan Eames and captain Huw Taylor form the second row, with Jake Clemson, Jarrard Hayler and Sam Daly continuing in the back row.
Jack Oulton captains the side from scrum-half, with Exeter Chiefs loanee Ben Coen retaining the number 10 shirt following his first Albion start against London Scottish.
Noah Fenton and Wigginton start on the wings, with Chris Preen and Oscar Stewart combining in midfield and Frankie Dart at full-back.
Perhaps one of the most significant pieces of team news comes among the replacements.
Iwan Jenkins returns to the matchday squad.
Albion have continued to produce results during his absence, but Jenkins has been an important part of how the side plays and his return gives the coaching team another major option from the bench.
He is joined among the replacements by James Kenny, Angus Hodges and Archie Hill, while new signing Mackenzie Oliver is also included.
Oliver has already featured for Albion against Camborne this season. His rugby background includes Bahrain Rugby Club, the Exeter Chiefs Academy and Nissa Rugby, having previously played junior rugby at Redruth.
It leaves Albion with considerable experience and quality waiting among the replacements.
After a demanding opening hour of National 1 rugby, it is not a bench many opposition sides would relish seeing introduced.
Twenty From Twenty, Then Back to Zero
Albion could hardly have asked for more from September.
Rosslyn Park away brought a 61-17 victory. Camborne followed with a hard-earned 32-21 win in front of more than 2,600 at the Recreation Ground. Sheffield were beaten 47-5 on Albion’s first league afternoon at Brickfields before another long journey ended with eight tries and a 50-14 victory at London Scottish.
Four games. Four bonus-point wins. Twenty points from twenty.
But October represents a reset.
Cambridge arrive with little to lose and plenty of motivation to turn a series of near misses into their first victory of the campaign.
Albion, meanwhile, finally get the opportunity to bring the momentum generated during three successful away trips back to Brickfields.
The league table may put the two sides at opposite ends heading into Saturday.
The opening four weeks suggest Albion will be paying little attention to it.
Plymouth Albion v Cambridge
Saturday 3 October
Brickfields
Kick-off 1500
Plymouth Albion: Cameron Doak, Rhys Williams, Dan Pullinger (CC), Morgan Eames, Huw Taylor (C), Jake Clemson, Jarrard Hayler, Sam Daly, Jack Oulton (CC), Ben Coen, Noah Fenton, Chris Preen, Oscar Stewart, Bobby Wigginton, Frankie Dart.
Replacements: Mackenzie Oliver, James Kenny, Angus Hodges, Archie Hill, Iwan Jenkins.
Supporters can beat the queues by booking in advance at here, with adult tickets available for £16 in advance compared with £20 on matchday.
