By Frank Stormont
March 16 2007

Squad sees Wihan return to starting lineup! Albion travel to Manchester with the aim of getting 5 points from the weekend. Georgina Rozario kicks off tonight against Nomads

Sedgley Park

Tim Mathias

Richard Oxley

Scott Zimmerman

Mike Lewis

Tom Hayes

Federico Genoud

Danny Thomas

Chris Lowrie

Ed Lewsey

Ed Barnes

Nic Sestaret

Keni Fisilau

Regardt van Eyk

Wihan Neethling

Nat Saumi

Matt Newman

Tom Arscott

Arran Cruickshanks

Gareth Evans

James Owen

Dan Smith

Brett Stroud

Ben Gulliver

Bench

 

Spy in the Park Camp

 

Saturday 17th March 2:30pm
Sedgley Park RUFC
Park Lane
Whitefield
Manchester
M45 7DZ
Tel: 0161 766 5050

Whilst Richard Oxley may have had a hard match when the team visited Rotherham last Saturday the rest of the team will be hoping hat he will be able to give some insight into Sedgley Parks game play. Richard although very committed to Albion was seen during the week wearing his old Park shorts - perhaps he was just getting into the old way of playing.

Park were saved from relegation last season when the RFU changed the rules to increase the size of National League One to 16 and stopped relegation for one season only.  This season they are now 12 points clear of the relegation zone and with a match in hand.

The have only taken 6 league points in the last 5 matches, one point when the managed to hold Leeds to 20 - 27 at the end of January.

Albion will know that all matches in the league are hard and if Albion do not come away with all 5 points they risk being passed by Exeter.  Although Exeter Chiefs have on paper their most difficult match of the season as the travel to Headingley to take on Tykes on Sunday.

The other south west side are at home to Titans on Sunday and are live on Sky TV!

Albion are expected to see the return to the starting line-up for Wihan Neethling and even Ben Gulliver. Martin Rice has been away for investigations on his neck and Gareth Evans is back available this week. Nigel Cane is still out which will leave Ed at scrum half.

 

Franks Team: Nat Saumi, Wihan Neethling, Regardt van Eyk, Keni Fisilau, Nic Sestaret, Ed Barnes, Ed Lewsey, Tim Mathias, Richard Oxley, Scott Zimmerman, Mike Lewis, Tom Hayes, Federico Genoud, Danny Thomas, Chris Lowrie.

Replacements: Mat Newman, Arran Cruickshanks, Tom Arscott, James Owen, Gareth Evans, Ben Gulliver, Brett Stroud

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Last time out

11 November 06
Plymouth Albion 30
Sedgley Park 6

Attendance: = 2706

A fast game that saw Albion score two tries in the second half and claim a bonus point and all the replacements at least played a part in the game.

With overcast conditions and a light wind meant that kicking was an option but the position or touch was not always achieved.

Wihan Neethling went down early in the first half from a hard tackle and it seemed to have affected his place kicking missing both conversion attempts in the second half.

Park played a fast game never giving up and turned down several opportunities for three points for the possibility of 7 but never made it across the strong Albion defence.

A match that was easily won but you were left thinking that Albion could have had more points on the board. But who can complain about 5 points in the league?

More ...    This is ... Report   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: Brett Stroud(used), Nat Saumi(used), Arran Cruickshanks(used), Matt Newman(used), Tim Mathias(used), James Owen(used), Chris Lowrie(used)

Scorers :- Tries Ben Gulliver, Federico Genoud, Regardt van Eyk, Richard Oxley Penalties 2xWihan Neethling Conversions 2xWihan Neethling

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Tries so far this season

Current Standings

 

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How to get there and costs

Travel club still have plenty of room on the coach

 

Admission 

Adult £12

OAPs £5

Under 16 FREE

Programme £2

Car Park FREE

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Predictions

BetFred

Albion to win by 20 points

Terrace talk

Not yet available

Rugby Times

Not yet available

Rugby round up

Park have won just once in their last six league outings, halting their impressive climb off the bottom from a few months ago. The Mancunians are always competitive but will find Albion a tough proposition as shown by how the Titans were run close last week. Neither side is in great form but Albion may just have the quality in their ranks to win by seven.

Frank's

No match is certain but it is feasible that Albion will come away with 5 points.  The form that Nic is on could see him break through the club record for league tries in a season.  Nic is on 21 and requires just 2 more to equal the record set by Dan Ward Smith back in 2002.  What could be even more of a target for Nic is the all time record for any club in National League One which stands at 26 set by Duncan Roke of Worcester back in 2002/3  

This week me prediction is that Albion will win by 25 points and Nic Sestaret will come away with 2 tries.

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Other Matches

SATURDAY

Bedford v Nottingham
Doncaster v Moseley
Otley v Newbury
Pertemps Bees v London Welsh
Waterloo v Coventry

 

SUNDAY

Cornish Pirates v Earth Titans
Leeds v Exeter

 

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Weather

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Warriors

WW have no match this weekend but have two midweek matches on Monday they are due to travel to Bristol for a return fixture and on Wednesday evening keep an eye on the site for time the take on the the Royal Navy at Brickfields

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Ladies

The ladies had a match against Royal Navy on Wednesday which they came through 45 points to 0 winners.  The match saw Helen Duffin scoring he first ever try for Albion and Anna Shepherd running in 4.

Georgina Rozario is set to make her second start for England A at Clifton on Friday night on her 21st birthday

8 of the Albion side are expected to feature in the ladies Varsity match on Monday K.O. 6pm