London Welsh
London Welsh v Plymouth Albion - Match Preview
By Mark W-J
November 11 2009
The structure of the new Championship season certainly has its critics, and it seems strange to relate that this weekend our first 2-00pm kick-off of the autumn marks the midway point of the league campaign. Whether the first 22 games are of any relevance is a moot point, given that the ‘main’ season finishes in early March, but promotion and relegation won’t be decided until mid-May.
Many observers – although maybe not those who witnessed the display against Doncaster a fortnight ago – expect Welsh to be still involved in the promotion battle in six months’ time. The general consensus, however, is that Plymouth will be involved in the relegation play-offs come the spring, something which would have been inconceivable just a couple of years ago. They achieved consecutive 3rd place finishes in 2003-04 and 2004-05, and seemed to be involved in a three-way struggle with Exeter and Pirates to be the first team to bring Premiership rugby to the South West. And while they have fallen year-on-year since then, to a low of 11th last term, they still managed to inflict the heaviest defeat suffered by Welsh at Old Deer Park with their 55-7 win in December 2006.
For balance, it’s worth mentioning that we once inflicted Albion’s heaviest defeat in league rugby, a 67-8 win in September 1995 confirming that we were, indeed, back after five years in the wilderness. While we were promoted along with Exeter at the end of the year, Plymouth finished bottom with only four wins from 18 and subsequently spent five seasons playing at Level Four South themselves. It could have been worse, for consecutive finishes of 13th (1997-98, and including a 70-0 walloping at Esher) and 12th (1998-99) of 14 clubs saw them escape relegation to the South West leagues by a whisker.
It was all a far cry from the early years of league rugby. Originally placed in Courage Three, Plymouth swapped places with Welsh at the end of the 1988-89 season, topping the 12 team division with a 100% record and remaining at this level for three years. Once we’d each endured the same pattern of back-to-back relegations, five year struggles in Four/ Five South and then consecutive promotions, Albion regained their place at Level Two for the start of the 2002-03 season. They were promoted as runners-up to Orrell, with an identical playing record of 23 wins from 26, losing out by a points-difference of just 12. The previous year they’d topped Three South with another 100% record, this time in a 14-team league; consequently, over the course of two years they won more than 50 consecutive league fixtures.
The turnaround in Albion’s fortunes came with the appointment of former Bath & England hooker Graham Dawe as Head Coach in 1998. Dawe’s international career stretched for eight years, during which time he won only five caps as understudy to Brian Moore, yet two weeks ago he came off the bench against Nottingham for a fleeting appearance at the age of 50. It’s a considerable achievement, all the more remarkable for the fact that he was stretchered off in a neck brace on the final weekend of last season against Leeds. Dawe’s position has been under increased scrutiny as the league position has steadily worsened, but despite persistent rumours that he had offered to resign on more than one occasion last season the Board seem to be fully behind him. Many observers suggested that last year’s struggles were inextricably linked to the adoption of the ELVs which nullified the rolling maul, Albion’s chief weapon. However, there’s also a feeling that financial constraints, caused by the development of their new home at Brickfields, have impinged upon the playing side and that Dawe shouldn’t be made a scapegoat.
While it’s true that Albion traditionally favour a big pack, and the 13-man maul has been seen on many occasions, Welsh fans will recall only too vividly that Dawe’s teams are also more than capable of running in tries out wide, too. The coach’s former Bath team-mate, Richard Hill, plucked many Albion players from the relative backwaters of National One to play in the Premiership, including the Arscott brothers, Lee Robinson, Ed Barnes and Dan Ward-Smith, who scored an incredible 98 tries in 199 appearances for the club, while lock Will James unbelievably won full honours for Wales after his move to Gloucester.
This season has been a struggle, with only three wins from six home matches to-date. An opening day victory over Bees has been augmented by surprise wins over Pirates (16-8) and Nottingham (31-25), but defeats at Rotherham, Moseley and Coventry, plus allowing Doncaster to register their first win in round seven, sees them currently down in 11th place. Centre Ben Mercer is top try scorer with four, while fly-half and captain Keiran Hallet has bagged 82 points, although his strike-rate is only 53%. Canadian flanker Sean-Michael Stephen, meanwhile, is due to appear for the Barbarians against the Combined Services tonight (Wednesday) at Aldershot.
Nick Runciman fires out pass against Plymouth last season
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Semper Sersum.
The Board have been tough with the finances, and there are no signs of cracks as things stand at the moment. Dawesy has been taking a lot of flak, but who would replace him ? The man is tireless in his efforts and committment to the Club and a great ambassador for the game. He also attracts serious levels of sponsorship to Albion.
So we are looking forward to a good match at ODP on Saturday. Albi play a more open game nowadays, and with our Tongan torpedos in midfield and England 7s wing, it is sure to be an exciting encounter. I understand the squad have not been given the normal pasty and cream tea diet this week, so we'll see if that improves our fortunes.
But seriously, Albi are fit lads, train hard and wear the shirt with pride, so the breaks will come. After all, there is no point in peaking too early ! May the best team win !
...the supporters are bringing up a coach load - hoping to get there by 1pm - hope there's plenty of room at the bar
they'll a few of us 'onliners' onboard - hoping to say 'hi' to as many of you as i can - i shall be wearing my 'traditional' hat if you want to say 'hello'
Don't let anything get in the way of a good game of Rugby Looking forward to the game. I'm partaking of the pre-match meal for the first time this year, looking forward to that too.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:11:11:22:25:45 by dottigirl.
Even the usual accurate score reports.
Not a good performance from LW
Well done Plymouth
the ground 'set up' you have is wonderful, and the supporters i met were very welcoming
hoping to return the hospitality when you visit us
Thanks again, from the steward that helped us with the coach parking, to those who drank with us after the game..
WELL DONE
Don't let anything get in the way of a good game of Rugby Time to stop messing around being Englands training partner and start to think about OURSELVES.
Nottingham next up at home. Oh great.
See you again on 6th February at the Brickfields. Cheers.
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