Preview

Exeter Chiefs v Plymouth Albion Another big local derby has finally arrived, as Albion visit Sandy Park packed to the rafters with fans from all over Devon and even a little further. 

Both teams turn out having won their respective matches last week with fairly lack lustre performances, Albion against Otley and Chiefs against Sedgley Park. But as with all the South West local derbies, current form seems to go out of the window and so this game promises to be the usual close encounter. 

Albion are suffering from a host of injuries which will make their task all the more challenging, whilst Exeter have also a large number of recent injuries, the condition of Matt Jess following last weekend’s injury being uncertain, and Sestaret having today been announced as laid up for the rest of the season, however, a host of returning players and the size of our squad is now showing its worth. 

This derby is usually incredibly close, although the away fixture at Brickfields this season, bathed in glorious sunshine, resulted in a 41-14 win to the Chiefs, it was still a tough hard won game. 

Previous seasons results show just how close this fixture is, with Exeter having come away with the league spoils in each of the last 5 meetings, and Albion with the 4 meetings before that:

 2008/9              A          W         14-41

2007/8              H          W         11-10

2007/8              A          W         19-28

2006/7              A          W         13-20

2006/7              H          W         18-14

2005/6              H          L            0-7

2005/6              A          L          12-8

2004/5              H          L          18-19

2004/5              A          L          17-18 

Exeter must come into this match as the favourites, although if they play at the same level as last week, they cannot expect to come away 4, let alone the 5 points they need to maintain their pressure at the top of the table. 

Weather forecast for the game is: following a wet day on Friday, Saturday should be a cool slightly breezy but cloudy day with a possibility of some light rain. 

My prediction for Saturday is 32-18 to the Chiefs.

Chiefs squad:-

15 Sean Marsden
14 Paul McKenzie
13 Bryan Rennie
12 Matt Cornwell
11 Josh Drauniniu
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Clive Stuart-Smith
1 Brett Sturgess
2 Sam Blythe
3 John Andress
4 Lewis Stevenson
5 Tom Hayes
6 Tom Johnson
7 Andy Miller
8 Richie Baxter (capt)

Replacements:
16 Saul Nelson
17 Chris Budgen
18 Dan Tuohy
19 Alan Miller
20 Ed Lewsey
21 Danny Gray
22 Tom Bedford

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