PLYMOUTH ALBION TAKE ON THEIR ‘OLD FRIENDS’ ROSLYN PARK THIS SATURDAY
It was a long way to travel, and a disappointing last minute penalty from Darlington that lost the game for Plymouth Albion last Saturday, and the home side are determined to rectify their three game losing streak this weekend at Brickfields.
Head Coach, Kieran Hallett was happy with the initial start from Albion at Darlington and being 12-0 up should have put them in with a good chance of taking the points. Although his side found it hard to maintain their lead, conceding some soft tries, they clawed their way back to even the score, but an easy penalty for Darlington made the result very disappointing.
Kieran said, “It’s extremely frustrating that we have only won four games out of eleven, but the games we have lost have been close. We need some better decision making at times to try and capitalise when we have opportunities. We’re really not a million miles away. We know we are not playing as god as we can, we are in these games right to the death and it’s only going to take a little bit of fine detail here and there to turn the narrow losses into wins.”
The team will have to pick themselves up for their home match on Saturday against Rosslyn Park whom Albion first played back in 1922. In their last two clashes, Albion managed a convincing win at home, but only a draw when they travelled away. So how does the head coach see things happening this weekend?
“A month ago our discipline and line-outs were really poor, but in the last three games they have been really good, so we are ready for the game on Saturday and will be trying to put our complete performance together. We will approach it in the same way as we always do. I’m not too bothered as to who is where in the league. Every game we have been in has been tight and I don’t doubt that it will carry on this way for the season.
Rosslyn Park are currently 6th in the league and only ten points ahead of Albion, and as Kieran pointed out no-one is running away with the league and there have been some random results happening with other teams too.
Kieran added: “We have more players available to us this week, and it’s difficult for us to chop and change the team much when the players are not doing an awful lot wrong. We are being very effective in preparation and collectively we admit we do need to be a little bit better, but it’s not a million miles away, we need to sort the detail and it’s frustrating, but we’re certainly not playing badly.”
The backs line up consists of Connor Eastgate alongside Dean Squire, Matt Shepherd and Fraser Honey, with Jack Arnott and Jordon Gott on the wing and James Tait in at scrum half.
The forwards for Saturday captained by number 8 Herbie Stupple are; James Kenny, Jamie Salter and Dan Pullinger in the front row, backed up by Dan Collier and Lewis Pearson with George Mills and Dan Swain at the back. Replacements include a return for John Kelly with Davy McGregor, Cam Setter, Ashley Crouch and Sam Fellows. Although the team is always subject to change.
Albion kick off at 1500 this Saturday and tickets are still available from the website or on the gate. This Saturday Plymouth Albion are supporting Movember as some of the players have been attempting at growing their mo’s this month in aid of men’s health. Tickets for the game are £15 for adults, with under 16s allowed free entry with a paying adult.
