Opposition Profile - Henley
Regatta des blancs?
By stonehousealbion
November 6 2015
Back after a two week break, the team are off to Henley-on-Thames this weekend hoping for a third consecutive win. If the fixture list at the start of the season dealt us a string of teams who were mostly ostensible stalwarts/favourites at this level, latterly we have been tied with teams from the lower half of the league - for what that's worth. Just in case you haven't heard, there are no games to be taken for granted in Nat 1.
Henley, who have a bit of previous as a Level 3/4 yo-yo team, came back having won the southern component of the league below. (Yup - just like Hull Ionians who won the other half...). But their form this season has been patchy to say the least. They've had wins against other teams in the lower echelons of the table (Wharfedale, Loughborough and Darlington), but have suffered badly against some of the high fliers, notably Rosslyn Park (62 - 12), Hartpury College (0 - 46) and Richmond (54 - 5); with the latter two being their most recent fixtures. They held Ampthill (also from Nat 2 (S) last season) to a 14 - 14 draw away, which suggests a team who are capable of putting together a solid defensive performance at the very least. It's stating the obvious, but their aim will be to stop the rot against Albion.
Henley is just a stone's throw from Reading which is of course the home of the London Irish First XV, so it's no surprise that there are DR players from the (overseas) Exiles in the squad including England U18 prop Curtis Langdon. With the other (neighbouring) Exiles' fall from the Prem, they've also been able to sign some ex-Welsh players. Plus a couple more from Nottingham...
Like us, they've also had some absentees at the IRDC (four in total) who are back in the selection mix. Given that Wasps Academy and A League side play at their ground, there can be no shortage of quality tactics for the home side to emulate. On the debit side, they've been missing both skipper and kicker to injury for much of this season. Hawks' head coach Pete Davies sounded a tad defensive in a recent interiview for the local paper, "We have conceded quite a few points in a couple of games but that was against very good opposition."
Albion will take comfort from superior performances against the two most prodigious victors - a BP defeat against one, a narrow win against the other. The Albion team announced for tomorrow is barely changed from the winning side against Blaydon and Cinderford. Jarrad Hayler - who was voted RN player of the IRDC tournament, is on the bench vice Robin Wedlake. A final portent in our favour - the last time we played Henley (Nat Trophy in early 2008), we ran out 3 - 27 winners.
The biggest variable in the equation could well be the weather. Dry Leas will be something of a misnomer if the forecast pans out - prolonged rain and gales in the middle of the day could well make life difficult. The playing surface has a fine reputation, but conditions like that will make it a challenge for both teams. The feeling online is about 3:1 in our favour, with the majority predicting a four point win. For myself, I reckon if Albion apply themselves from start and remain ruthless, a full five pointer against the side with the leakiest defence in the league is a real possiblilty.
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Plymouth Bred , Plymouth Born .
C'mon Albiiioooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.