By Tom Little.
November 18 2012

Saturday 24th November sees the first ever visit by Coventry Rugby to St.Albans as they face newly promoted side Old Albanian kick off 3pm. Correctly the club is Old Albanian RFC without an ‘s’ despite most media referring to Old Albanians.

St.Albans designated a City in 1877 was also known in Roman times as Verulamium and its modern name comes from St Alban the first British Christian martyr beheaded in AD 380. The City has many historical associations perhaps one of the lesser  known it was the site of the first battle in the Wars of the Roses, although the participants were probably  less in number than the current average attendance at Old Albanian.

Formed in 1924 by the old boys of St.Albans School, it moved to its new site at The Woollams Playing Fields in 2002, now know generally as ‘ Woollams’.

Reputed to be the largest rugby club in England, it has 750 mini and junior members, and is home to Premiership side Saracens “A” league fixtures. The league structure has seen the club rise rapidly through the leagues promoted to National League 2 South in 2010 and this season to National League 1.

Under Director of Rugby and Head Coach James Shanahan, assisted by coach Bruce Millar, Old Albanian have made a good start to this new league and are currently in 5^th place on 35 points just 3 points and 3 places ahead of Coventry Rugby. Strangely enough both them and Coventry have  identical  playing records having both won 6, lost 5 and drawn one, and indeed their home records are the same only losing one and drawing one game at home.

Old Albanian have won 3 out of their 5 matches at home beating Sedgley Park, Cinderford and Richmond, as well as drawing with  Wharfedale.The one they lost was a high scoring game with Blackheath. Away from home they have had excellent wins at Fylde, Ealing Tfs and last week Cambridge. Defeats away from home were against Tynedale, Esher, Loughborough Students and Blaydon. Yet even in defeat OA have the ability especially in their backs to score tries and are third in the league for try scoring.

The club have some key players with wing/fullback Ollie Marchon recently selected for England 7’s duty, whilst   fullback Richard Gregg is in the list of leading goal kickers. With experienced halfbacks James Shanahan and Stefan Liebenberg providing the guile and experience they are able to orchestrate the backs in a free flowing game. More experience in the backs come with centre Johannes Lombaard with fellow centre Sam Collins, as well as wingers Jimmy Spiers and Chris May. In centre Terry Adams OA also have a leading try scorer on 8.

Although not the largest pack in the league it is well drilled and has usually held its own. Experience comes in the shape of hooker Brett McNamee and prop forward Michael Cade, as well as lock/back row Ollie Cooper-Miller. Back rowers Matt Chambers and Andy Daish are also prominent.

It is a first for Coventry Rugby as they travel to Hertfordshire as Coventry will look to build on their hard fought win over Wharfedale and their need to improve their away form to challenge those above them.

With both sides having almost identical records a close match is expected, a fascinating contest as the power of the Coventry pack and the team’s impressive defensive record, take on a team that is try scoring at will. A win for Old Albanian will give them their 5th win in a row and maintain pressure on Esher in 4^th place, whilst a win for Coventry Rugby will get them to overtake OA and put them up into the top 6.

The Coventry side to face Old Albanian will appear on the website as soon as it is known.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

18^th November 2012

Coventry Rugby v Old Albanian match preview.

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 18/11/2012 17:47

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
18/11/2012 17:47

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bigm/ mark harrison.
19/11/2012 08:21

ive been to the ground several times with the coventry bears.i have to say its an excellent modern multi sports facility.One of the few rugby grounds i have been to where they can accommodate helicopters landing.A huge area surrounds the clubhouse with many pitches for rugby, cricket and tennis.There is a modest main stand similiar design to broadstreet.
Looking forward to the whole day and visiting st albans as well

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