Report by Rob Kershaw / Photography by David Cunningham
This season’s impressive Albion side have faced some tough challenges this season, but none more so than against leaders Rams, who have won every one of their opening nine games of the season.
The Berkshire boys have been on fine form this season, putting 367 points on the board during their nine victories, all of which have seen them score four or more tries.
Only second-placed Cambridge have managed to get to within seven points of this weekend’s imperious hosts, so round 10 will be a huge challenge for the Ocean City side.
Hard work and resilience have characterised an Albion side who have shown this season that they can go toe-to-toe with some of the best of the league, and on their finest day, results against the big hitters are possible.
Albion returned to winning ways with a fine win over Darlington Mowden Park last Saturday, securing their fifth victory of the season to remain seventh, keep pace with Cinderford and Bishop’s Stortford and sit just 15 points behind this weekend’s opposition.
It was exemplary of a massive turnaround from this time last year, after which Albion had recorded less than half the league points that they have this campaign. Indeed, they had only accrued 13 league points (30 this term), and were six positions worse off, having managed three wins to this season’s five.
The improvements have been significant and having tasted six defeats in the first nine games in the 2021/22 season, these are much better times than we were going through 12 months ago.
Selection-wise, it’s very much as you were with the only changes coming on the bench; Tom Petty, George Mills and, returning from his stint north of the border, Connor Eastgate all slot back in. This will be an 80-minute examination for the Ocean Cities finest and there is no doubt all 20 selected will need to be on their mettle to get the win
Last season’s meetings:
Albion took a losing bonus point at Brickfields early doors last campaign, before coming out on the wrong end of a 41-27 score at Old Bath Road.
Travel:
A three-and-a-half hour journey up the M4 and the M5 takes you past Bristol and across towards Reading, on the outskirts of which Albion will be playing on Saturday.
There are still spaces available on the supporters’ coach, please message albitravel@gmail.com for more details!
Weather:
A bright, sunny afternoon is expected for kick-off on Saturday, with temperatures of around 16 Degrees Celsius.
