This Weekend

v
Albion v Moseley
Saturday 18 October
K.O. 3 pm

Also

Warriors v Blackheath
3pm top pitch

Also 
on Tuesday 21st 7pm 
Plymouth v Combined Services

Moseley sit two places above Albion with one extra bonus point. They have seen 7 yellows against Albion's 2 and have leaked 30 tries to Albion's 18. Their biggest loss was against the Chiefs when they allowed the Devon side to put on 70 points!

This will not be an easy match in any respects as Moseley have being playing hard at times this season and even at one point heading the league at the beginning of the season. 

The Birmingham based side normally send out a 40+ page newsletter on the club and its activity which gives a lot of information on  both their matches but also a round up of the other NL1 games of the weekend. This week it is late in coming out although I have seen a draft copy. When this is available I will make it available to you too. 

Two season's ago this would have been considered as an easy match but much has changed with Moseley's tie up with Gloucester their team performances have improved and the chances of Albion putting 50 points on the visitors or a player getting 5 tries in a match are remote.

I had the fortune of missing the meting of the two clubs in March this year as I, with Anne, were celegrating our 25th Wedding anniversary in sunny Cyprus. This week end I will not be so lucky and I hope that Albion, even depleted with injuries, will put on a good performance and hopefully collect 5 league points.

Recent meetings

29 March 08
Plymouth Albion 13
Moseley 16

Attendance: = 2116

After a win last week Albion did not perform well at home against team that they should have shown how to play the game. With Albion in 8th and Moseley in 12th it should have been a repeat of the Birmingham fixture back in November.

Moseley's team was augmented by the return of loan players from Gloucester. Albion had the wind behind them in the 1st half and went into the turn around 2 penalties to 1 up. Brad put us ahead early on when Moseley were pelalised for not releasing but Albion were penalised for offside in front of the posts. The final score of the half came from a penalty on Moseley's 22. ED Lewsey did go over the line off the back of the scrum, the way he does, but was judged to have been held up.

With Keni off the field for a high tackle early in the second half Moseley could have taken the advantage but it was Nic Sestaret that collected the points. Brad kicked for the corner from a penalty and Albion played the catch and drive move. The maul was pulled down and with a penalty advantage Ed Lewsey made sure that Nic had the ball to place under the posts.

With ten minutes left on the clock Albion were yet again caught offside on their 22 and Moseley collected 3 points to bring them just 4 points away and a try to win the match.

With only 6 minutes left to play Moseley went into the lead when Paul Arnold drove over and the conversion took the team 3 points into the lead.

with just 3 minutes left Chris, Adam, Brett and Ross came on for Colin, Mike, Kyle and Keni but it was too late for them to make any difference.

Albion had given away too much ball and the determination of Moseley when they were playing catch up rugby was just too much for Albion.

Opponents Report

Team: Nat Saumi, Darren Ritchie, Arran Cruickshanks, Keni Fisilau, Nic Sestaret, Brad Davies, Ed Lewsey, Tim Mathias, James Owen, Scott Zimmerman, Colin Stewart, Tom Hayes, Kyle Marriott, Mike Denbee, Jannie Bornman Replacements: Ross Laidlaw(used), Gareth Evans(used), Chris Lowrie(used), Brett Stroud(used), Adam Kettle(used), Nigel Cane, Graham Dawe

Scorers :- Tries Nic Sestaret Penalties 2x Brad Davies Conversions Nat Saumi Sin Bin Keni Fisilau

17 November 07
Moseley 10
Plymouth Albion 29

Attendance: = 770

Albion take 5 points from an away match for the first time this season. Moseley started with 4 dual registered players but consensus amongst the supporters that I spoke to said that this was not neseceraly a good thing for them.

Albion played some good rugby in parts but failed at times to make the best use of the ball. On several occasions Albion were camped on the Moseley line before a turn over or penalty allowed the hosts to relieve the pressure.

On the good side for most of the game Albion's defence was good and although Moseley did make it across the line twice that was the only points they were allowed to score against us.

Arran Cruickshanks had three separate attempts that nearly made it across the line before he finally scored in the second half and the driving maul was pulled down so many times that a yellow and finally a penalty try was awarded to Albion in the last play of the match to collect the bonus point.

Team: Emyr Lewis, Liam Gibson, Arran Cruickshanks, Brad Davies, Nic Sestaret, Ross Laidlaw, Nigel Cane, Tim Mathias, James Owen, Steve Barretto, Tom Hayes, Ben Gulliver, Chris Lowrie, Brett Stroud, Jannie Bornman Replacements: Ed Lewsey(used), Wihan Neethling, Adam Kettle(used), Richard Oxley(used), Scott Zimmerman, Mike Lewis, Colin Stewart

Scorers :- Tries Arran Cruickshanks Nic Sestaret Tom Hayes Penalty Tries Penalty Try Penalties Ross Laidlaw Conversions 3x Ross Laidlaw

31 March 07
Plymouth Albion 48
Moseley 0

Attendance: = 2723

Albion played well on a breezy afternoon against a weak side. The only talk that will be said after the match is that of Nic Sestaret.

Nic Sestaret most league tries for Albion in a season takes club record 26 (was 23 set by Dan Ward Smith in 2002).

Nic Sestaret most tries in a league match for Albion takes record with 5 (was 4 set by Steve Walkin in 1987).

Nic Sestaret equals the all time record for tries in a season for any club in National League 1 (held by Duncan Roke of Worcester in 2003).

Nic Sestaret equals the club record for points in a league match 25 points (set by Dominic Cundy in 1988).

Nic Sestaret takes the match day’s sponsor Man of the match.

Nic Sestaret goes to the top of the leader board for tries this season ahead of Jason Forster of Doncaster who has 23.

Other than that a match that Albion played all 80 minutes scoring 29 points in the first half and 19 in the second.

More ...           Opponents Report

Team: Nat Saumi, Tom Arscott, Regardt van Eyk, Keni Fisilau, Nic Sestaret, Ed Barnes, Ed Lewsey, Gareth Evans, James Owen, Scott Zimmerman, Ben Gulliver, Tom Hayes, Federico Genoud, Brett Stroud, Chris Lowrie Replacements: Matt Newman(used), Sila Va'Enuku(used), Arran Cruickshanks(used), Dan Smith(used), Richard Oxley(used), Mike Lewis(used), Andy Williams(used)

Scorers :- Tries Arran Cruickshanks James Owen 5x Nic Sestaret Penalties Regardt van Eyk Conversions 5x Regardt van Eyk

18 November 06
Moseley 5
Plymouth Albion 50

Attendance: = 1082

A game on the outskirts of Birmingham that saw 8 tries being scored and Albion playing a good team game. No player shinned more than the others and no one played badly for any length of time.

The first half was slow and Moseley spent a lot of their time in Albion’s half but with no real advantage. With two yellow cards Albion finished the half with only 13 players on the pitch. Ben Gulliver sin binned for dangerous play at a line out and Ed Barnes for going in from the side.

With two men down Albion came out for the second half taking the game to Moseley and were on top for the rest of the match and even scoring a try with a man down. Federico scoring his second try for Albion after a long pass from Ed Barnes.

The only time Moseley troubled the scorer was when a loose pass from Albion allowed them to run from the halfway line to score in the corner.

More ...         Opponents Report

Team: Wihan Neethling, Tom Arscott, Regardt van Eyk, Keni Fisilau, Nic Sestaret, Ed Barnes, Ed Lewsey, Martin Rice, Richard Oxley, Scott Zimmerman, Colin Stewart, Ben Gulliver, Federico Genoud, Danny Thomas, Tom Hayes Replacements: Matt Newman(used), Nat Saumi(used), Arran Cruickshanks(used), Tim Mathias(used), James Owen(used), Brett Stroud(used), Chris Lowrie(used)

Scorers :- Tries Federico Genoud 2x Nic Sestaret Richard Oxley Tom Arscott Tom Hayes Wihan Neethling Penalties Wihan Neethling Conversions 6x Wihan Neethling Sin Bin Ben Gulliver Ed Barnes

Frank's Side to play Moseley 

My side shows the recall to first team of Wihan Neethling and the recall of Darren Ritchie from the loan to Mounts Bay. With Gareth starting in the back row he will act as replacement hooker, if required. This leaves two bench places for back row forwards and I have rested Danny, although he has done nothing wrong!

Martin

James

Jane

Gareth

Mike

Arthur

Mike

Sean-Michael

Greg

Kieran

Justin

Ross

Arran

Tom

Wihan

Bench

Ross

Keni

Darren

Ryan

Colin

Wayne

Kyle

National League One Data

This table shows the for and against for each team. eg Tries 74/17 is 74 tries scored and 17 conceded. Con Rate is the percentage tries converted.

Next Fixtures

Side by side
Gate 3632 avg 6871 max	Gate 934 avg 1090 max
Form home l l w w away w l l	Form home l w w l away l l w
Best home game 47 - 6 Man Worst away game Nott'ham 43 - 19	Best home game 34 - 12 Cov Worst away game Chiefs 70 - 10
Most points in a match 15 Ross Laidlaw Albion 47 - 6 Man	Most points in a match 15 Richard Vasey N Blues 12 - 30 Moseley
Most tries in a match 1 Arran Cruikshanks Nott'ham 43 - 19 Albion Otley 16 - 31 Albion Gareth Evans Albion 14 - 41 Chiefs Otley 16 - 31 Albion Keni Fisilau Otley 16 - 31 Albion Nott'ham 43 - 19 Albion Albion 47 - 6 Man Liam Gibson Albion 47 - 6 Man Geoff Griffiths Albion 47 - 6 Man Albion 24 - 25 Welsh Kieran Hallett N Blues 19 - 11 Albion Ryan Hopkins Albion 13 - 5 Cov Justin Mensah-Cover Otley 16 - 31 Albion Albion 47 - 6 Man Greg Nicholls Albion 47 - 6 Man Martin Rice Albion 24 - 25 Welsh Wayne Sprangle Albion 47 - 6 Man Albion 24 - 25 Welsh	Most tries in a match 2 Charlie Sharpels Moseley 34 - 12 Cov Henry Trinder N Blues 12 - 30 Moseley
Recent results Albion 14 - 41 Chiefs Otley 16 - 31 Albion Albion 24 - 25 Welsh N Blues 19 - 11 Albion Albion 47 - 6 Man Nott'ham 43 - 19 Albion Albion 13 - 5 Cov	Recent results Moseley 24 - 26 Nott'ham Titans 47 - 23 Moseley Moseley 36 - 26 Otley Chiefs 70 - 10 Moseley Moseley 34 - 12 Cov N Blues 12 - 30 Moseley Moseley 9 - 15 Welsh
TRIES 3 Keni Fisilau 2 Arran Cruikshanks Gareth Evans Geoff Griffiths Justin Mensah-Cover Wayne Sprangle 1 Liam Gibson Kieran Hallett Ryan Hopkins Greg Nicholls Martin Rice	TRIES 6 Charlie Sharpels 4 James Rodwell 3 Henry Trinder 2 Paul Arnold 1 Jack Adams Nathan Bressington Paul cox Neil Mason Tristan Roberts
Kicking Points Con DG Pen Points Kieran Hallett 8 2 5 37 Ross Laidlaw 5 - 8 34	Kicking Points Con DG Pen Points Richard Vasey 12 1 11 60 Tristan Roberts - - 1 3
Discipline SinBin Keni Fisilau Sean-Micheal Stephen	Discipline SinBin Paul Arnold (2) Neil Mason James Rodwell Terry Sigley

Visiting and returning fans.

There is plenty to eat and drink at Brickfields check out the new welcome to Brickfields by clicking on the map below.

Weather forecast

Current forecast is for sunny intervals max temp 15^oC with light westerly winds

Warriors

After their loss to Rosslyn Park last week the Warriors are set to play the League leaders Blackheath. With Park going down to the leaders 7 - 28 t the beginning of the month this is not going to be the easiest of games. Blackheath have come out on top against London Scottish and a narrow win against Ealing in the first match of the season.

With injuries to first team players the Warriors are likely to have to use more younger players. 

A big question that is on the supporters lips is "will Wihan get into the first team?"   Whilst his experience, like Nat's, is of a great benefit to the team he could also be a good addition to the 1st team to play our Birmingham visitors.

Matt Newman was unwell last week and not fit to play last week, hopefully he will be back to lead the team out, although Ross Alan always does a good job. Darren Ritchie and Steve Johns were on loan to Mounts Bay, with injuries in the squad at home will they be called back? 

The match is currently set for 3pm on the top  pitch but we are attempting to move it to 2pm so you could see the first half. If this happens then I will let you know.

Ladies

The ladies side have a weekend off and will need to make good use of it after going down to Southampton based Trojans.

They managed 3 tries in the 44 - 20 loss and played well at times but other times were unable to keep to their game plan.  There is a lot they have learnt from the trip.

They need to reproduce the performance they out in against Saints the previous weekend. Then they started both halves on the front foot running in a tries in the early minutes.

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