National League 1 - 2015-6 Wk 15
Back to school...
By stonehousealbion
December 13 2015
For the last game of this half of the season, Albion travel to Gloucestershire once more for their second "derby" game - against Hartpury College. On their website, the set-up looks a bit like the old Seale Hayne agricultural college near Newton Abbot. They specialise in agricultural, equine (horsey stuff) and sport courses; although they don't quite have the pedigree of Loughbourough - yet. In their short history, they've produced internationals for England, Ireland and Wales, as well as emerging nations like Canada, Zimbabwe and Georgia. The closest ties are with AP stalwarts Gloucester and the current squad includes DRs from that club who are currently studying or are recent graduates.
Hartpury are doing very well in the league at present, running Richmond a very close second (- just a single 4T bonus point separates them). They have only three losses against them; a first day banana skin at Hull Ionians and narrow away defeats to Blackheath and Rosslyn Park. They're skippered by ex-PARFC player/coach Rhys Oakley who scored a try in their 21 - 27 win over the league leaders last Saturday. (Mind you, he did have to exercise his leadership abilities from the comfort of the touchline for ten minutes, too...)
They don't have the most prolific attack in the league, but they do have the tightest defence and best points difference. We may have beaten the top of the heap at home when they were finding their feet, but away at Hartpury is definitely the biggest ask of Nat 1. If Loughborough showed some of the pitfalls of student sides at this level, our next opponents would appear to be demonstrating most of the strengths. A recent quote (from a Richmond supporter) on rolling-maul.com described them thus; "Hartpury are very efficient, have an excellent defence, good lineout, slippery backs and Albion's scrum will not push them back." Suffice to say, whatever we do will have to be considered and well executed. I seem to remember a similar fit of unbridled optimism prior to Blackheath, but knowing that Hartpury lose very few games, I'll just say that this will be one of them - another league upset to Albion by the shortest of noses.
The long-range weather forecast is pretty benign given recent weeks and there will be the usual vocal travelling contingent to cheer the lads on. From scant evidence, the facilities appear to be good and there is some friendly local support including decent corporate attendance. It looks like a relatively easy and cheap opportunity to experience Albion on the road. Why not wangle an "awayday"? If ever the boys needed support, this will be the game. And January will be a much leaner proposition; longer trips to RP, Fylde and Esher - plus, you know you'll be skint!
Here's the full fixture list:
Sat 19 Dec
Loughborough Students v Hull Ionians 14:00 UoL Stadium
Wharfedale v Fylde 14:00 The Avenue
Ampthill v Coventry 14:15 Dillingham Park
Hartpury College v Plymouth Albion 14:30 College Stadium
Blackheath v Esher 15:00 Rectory Field
Darlington Mowden Park v Blaydon 15:00 Northern Echo Arena
Henley v Cinderford 15:00 Dry Leas
Rosslyn Park v Richmond 15:00 The Rock
Hartpury College factoid: Although they lost their first league game after formation in Sep 2004, their second defeat didn't come until 2009!
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covmick/Michael Carter
1. More from my Richmond contact: "There is nothing exceptional about them except their efficiency. Out wide they can be dangerous, and if you make elementary errors as we did you're done for. We were without Chris Davies and the opinion amongst us fans is he's always worth a try (11 in 13 matches). Play at your best and you can beat them. It's a nice pitch and ambience there and in no way intimidating like some places up north."
We may not have our choice starting XV, but I'm sure Herbie can be relied on to inspire the boys to give it their best shot.
2. The weather - in a word, it'll be awful!
BBC Weather - Hartpury
Another wet one, then. If the pitch is all it's claimed to be, that shouldn't be a problem...
3.Tickets reckoned to be cheaper than Brickfields - they were all off at a Xmas party when I called.
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Weather like most of my predicitions was way out. Dry, bar a few drops of rain - but a variable, swirling cross wind that favoured neither side when kicking from the spot. Billy S's ambition and execution made the difference and he racked up the 7 points which ultimately separated the two teams sufficiently. Got to feel a bit smug though with a result prediction totally against the grain.
The whole starting XV played the full 80! Had a word with GD in the bar and he admitted to having been criticised in the past for not using the bench (by me for one!). Not a tactic to be used week in, week out I would venture - but it says to the squad, "If you start, you should reckon to be there at the end." A real incentive to push on with S&C - and it keeps the rest of 'em keen and champing at the bit...
Tickets were only a tenner, so the best self-bought pressie I'll get this year. Two prizes in the well-organised (and executed) Travel Club raffle on the coach home, too
Top day all round!
PS. More bottled Doom Bar in the clubhouse, HC.
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
DMP Match Report
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Semper Sersum.