We will be looking to make it three home wins out of three in the early going of the 2023-24 National League 1 campaign on Saturday afternoon as we take on Sale at the Brickfields.
The lads have brought home five points on both occasions at home so far this term, taking high-scoring wins over both Taunton Titans and newly-promoted Leicester Lions.
Intertwined with our strong home form have been equally impressive away performances, evidenced by our first wins at both Silver Leys and the Darlington Arena over Bishop’s Stortford and Darlington Mowden Park respectively.
The latter of those victories gave us our first full house away from home since Hull last season – another indicator as to just how far the squad and the club as a whole has come in recent months.
The assignments continue to get tougher and tougher though, and we face another stern test posed by Sale this weekend.
The Manchester-based side’s form has been less than representative so far this season while in lieu of several first team stars who were called up by Sale Sharks to compete in Premiership Rugby Cup Fixtures.
The cup, contested by Championship and Premiership sides, goes on a break this week, giving Sale an opportunity to field some stronger players.
Regardless of the opposition though, Ryan Lamb’s side are quickly developing a reputation as a strong outfit than can go toe-to-toe with anyone in this division, particularly when playing in front of a bumper crowd at the Brickfields.
It is the final home game of this opening stage of the season, and indeed the first and last of the month, so get yourselves over to the Brickfields on Saturday and give the boys all of your quintessentially outstanding support!
Last Season’s Meetings:
We walked away from the Brickfields against Sale last season with far less than we deserved, falling to a 27-24 defeat in spite of a fantastic performance. This weekend’s visitors then completed the double up at Haywood Road earlier this year.
Team News:
Newly joined after the unfortunate events at the Jersey Reds, Hallam Chapman makes his Plymouth Albion debut in the second row alongside Brad Howe.
Dan Pullinger comes back into the starting line-up as Jenson Boughton moves to the bench. Pita Ratukadreu re-takes the left wing spot, with Craig Duncan moving to full-back and Tom Putt to the replacement pool.
Jesse Lowe, who came on for his debut in last Saturday’s win in Darlington, makes his full and home premiere appearance in the centre. Tom Cowan-Dickie, absent for both of the previous two encounters, returns to the squad on the bench.
The Team in Full:
- Ramaz Rukhadze
- Harry Wilkinson
- Dan Pullinger
- Brad Howe
- Hallam Chapman
- Angus Hodges
- Torin Clarke
- Sam Daly
- Jack Oulton (C)
- Phil Jones
- Pita Ratukadreu
- Archie Hill
- Jesse Lowe
- Seta Raumakita
- Craig Duncan
Replacements:
16. Tom Cowan-Dickie
17. Jenson Boughton
18. Dan Collier
19. Tom Putt
20. Connor Eastgate
