With match day one under our belts, it’s now time to start playing National League 1 Rugby at the Brickfields again, and we get our home campaign underway with a local derby on Saturday.
The Titans stayed in the division with a good run at the end of last season and, like ourselves, grabbed two points on the opening day of this term with a 33-36 defeat at the hands of Blackheath.
That result leaves them in 11th, just behind Albion in the National League 1 table heading into the second fixture of an exciting season.
For us, match day one did not necessarily yield the result we deserved but two points from Rosslyn Park in London was a strong result nonetheless, after a performance that gave us plenty of positives heading into this weekend.
A fast start last weekend was followed by an almighty battle in which we competed for the full 80 minutes, and Lamby’s side aims to continue that momentum into Saturday afternoon.
Last Season’s Meetings:
We got the double over Taunton last season, beating them away from home in our first meeting which also happened to take place in the second game of the season.
The second encounter was our last of the calendar year 2022, where four tries secured victory under the lights.
Team News:
Ramaz Rukhadze, having made his 50th appearance for the club against Rosslyn Park last week, returns to the starting line-up at loosehead prop, with Dan Pullinger starting from the bench.
Billy Orchard is set to make his first competitive start for Albion on Saturday at right wing, and Phil Jones moves to fly half. Tom Putt heads over to full-back in place of Craig Duncan who sits Saturday out. Sonny Hirini starts at centre, while Seta Raumakita is absent. Shea Cornish picked a knock last week, so he too is rested for match day two.
Jake Bond is set for his first Albion appearance off the bench after recovering from a calf injury; he joins Morgan Stone on the bench – the Welshman set for his first appearance of the season.
Connor Eastgate, recovered from his knee injury picked up in pre-season, also grabs a spot on the bench.
The team in full:
- Ramaz Rukhadze
- Harry Wilkinson
- Jenson Boughton
- Dan Collier
- Brad Howe
- Angus Hodges
- Torin Clarke
- Sam Daly
- Jack Oulton ©
- Phil Jones
- Pita Ratukadreu
- Archie Hill
- Sonny Hirini
- Billy Orchard
- Tom Putt
Replacements:
- Tom Cowan-Dickie
- Dan Pullinger
- Jake Bond
- Morgan Stone
- Connor Eastgate
