National League 1 - 2015-6 Wk 3
On the road again...
By stonehousealbion
September 18 2015
After the luxury of two home fixtures to kick off the new season, Albion are on the road this weekend - to Hull Ionians (in the East Riding of Yorkshire for those bought up in the old school). No mistake, this is a big challenge for this team who have thrived on the familiarity of a long summer training and bonding in Plymouth. The press keep describing this as a long trip, but let's be clear - there are no short trips in Nat 1 this term. And there will be much longer to come. The lads are going to have to get used to several hours travelling - there and back. Don't forget the i-Pods, cards and eye shades, guys!
Hull Ionians are a comparatively young club, founded in 1989 when Hull and East Riding merged with Ionians (There is still a Hull RFC, which indicates an appetite for Union in a city with two high level League clubs). The "Is" are one of the three promotees to Nat 1 having been promoted from Nat 2 (N) for the second time in three seasons. This year they are celebrating 20 years in their modern ground at Brantingham Park which has a 250 capacity stand. Our hosts started the season with a win over Hartpury College, 37 - 32 and last week came away from Richmond with an LBP on the back of a 23 - 16 scoreline. Thanks to a 4T bonus on Day 1, they are two slots above us in the league table (6th).
All of this indicates a club with ambition that has begun the new compaign well, so we can't expect any favours. We may be heavily fancied for at least four points among the regular observers at this level, but that's no guarantee. Albion will have to survive without the considerable vocal support of the Brickfields faithful, for starts. On the team front we are still some way from starting with our "dream XV". GD is starting to rotate names and positions from choice rather than necessity in some cases; Matt Shepherd is at 9 from the off and skipper Jake Murphy moves to full back. Mark Koteczky (Kot-ett-ski, OK?) is in his favoured role at 12. There are also inevitable casualities up front from a hard game with Rosslyn Park; Dan Collier and James Penman are recuperating and are covered by Rupert Freestone and Andy Chesters with a little re-jigging to boot. No start yet for the new guys from France and S Africa, so we still have some untried options in the pack. Herbie is at eight again and is surely a marked man in this division. No problems, provided he stays injury-free; if he's pulling in extra markers, it will open up opportunities elsewhere. And on recent form, he'll still be making the yards...
Just in case you hadn't heard, RWC 2015 kicks off this weekend so there'll be rugby aplenty on TV. Our game clashes with Ireland v Canada, but you can keep up with the team via Plymouth Sports Gazzette's live coverage on Twitter: PSG - Live Events (just keep using F5 to refresh if your browser doesn't update automatically). If anyone is going to the game, feel free to contact me via PM with your impressions. It would be great to have our own supporters' view to publish next week.
Here is the full fixture list:Sat 19 Sep
Blaydon v Wharfedale 14:30 Crow Trees
Cinderford v Ampthill 15:0 Beavis Memorial Ground
Coventry v Hartpury College 15:00 Butts Park Arena
Esher v Loughborough Students 15:00 Molesey Road
Fylde v Richmond 15:00 The Woodlands
Henley v Blackheath 15:00 Dry Leas
Hull Ionians v Plymouth Albion 15:00 Brantingham Park
Rosslyn Park v Darlington Mowden Park 15:00 The Rock -
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
History of H.I's, well researched.
Well done
Plymouth Bred , Plymouth Born .
C'mon Albiiioooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
Semper Sersum.
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Quite a few travelling supporters, apparently.
Hull try, no con @ 15 mins.
Blaydon 10 - 17 Wharfe @ HT.
Hull pen @ 22 mins
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Albion counter-attack @ 26 mins penalised close to Hull line.
Albion YC (Seti Raumakita) for dangerous tackle @ 29 mins. Hull pen goes dead.
Hull pen @ 37 mins.
Albion have nothing to show for the first 40, but at least are keeping the lid on things when down a man.
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Blaydon 13 - 36 Wharfedale @ 68 mins
Cinderford 7 - 19 Ampthill
Coventry 13 - 17 Hartpury College
Esher 15 - 13 Loughborough Students
Fylde 10 - 20 Richmond
Henley 10 - 23 Blackheath
Hull Ionians 11 - 0 Plymouth Albion
Rosslyn Park 11 - 10 Darlington Mowden Park
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Albion pack under pressure - 2 x pen tries + cons from scrums.
Albion try + con, Searle @ 55 mins.
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Blaydon 13 - 43 Wharfedale
Cinderford 25 - 27 Ampthill
Coventry 21 - 23 Hartpury College
Esher 30 - 16 Loughborough Students
Fylde 27 - 29 Richmond
Henley 13 - 47 Blackheath
Hull Ionians 25 - 21 Plymouth Albion
Rosslyn Park 26 - 17 Darlington Mowden Park
Albion come back with tries from Hayler and Shepherd with Billy Searle getting the conversions. At least we come away with a LBP...
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:09:19:17:26:36 by stonehousealbion.