WHO JERSEY
ARE FACING
Plymouth
Albion Rugby Club.
Founded: 1875
Home Ground:
The Brickfields
Head
(player) Coach: James Shanahan
Last season:
Ninth
Last season:
Plymouth
started the last campaign in excellent form, winning four of their first five
league matches, their best ever start to a championship campaign. This was in
complete contrast to the previous season where they struggled badly, finishing
second bottom with only six wins. Sadly for the Albion they could not sustain
this precocious form and fell away badly, winning only three of their last 17
games, one of those against already relegated Doncaster. Despite this terrible
run, many of these matches were closely fought. No team managed more losing
bonus points, including four games in a row which kept them out of trouble, and
ahead of Jersey. In fact their twelve bonus points overall were matched only by
the top four sides. With only thirty points and one win more than Jersey last
term it was their defensive abilities and Jerseys poor start that was the
difference between the two sides.
This season
so far:
A much
changed and stronger Plymouth started off this season. New head coach James
Shanahan combining his playing duties with a new look coaching team. Their pre
season was notable for the match against Worcester that never was, after the
Warriors coach caught fire spectacularly on the way down to Plymouth. Results
have been mixed in the opening few matches. An opening day win over a Jersey
side which faltered badly, saw them off to a cracking start. Despite the early
dominance in their next match with Moseley which saw them 31-6 ahead just past
the half hour, they somehow contrived to throw away the win and were left
hanging on for a 34 all draw. This was followed by a heavy defeat to London
Welsh, and then a two point loss at home to London Scottish. Against Scottish,
Albion were leading 20-17 with only moments remaining, despite having lock
Brett Beukeboom sent off, when a last gasp try in the corner condemned them to defeat.
Albion got back on track with a comfortable win over Nottingham followed by a
thumping six try 38-12 win over Stirling County, both in the British and Irish
cup. Albion come into the match one position and three points better off than
Jersey, with the bonus points they have accrued being the difference between
the two sides. Discipline does seem to be hampering the side as they currently
top the table when it comes to red and yellow cards, already half of the total
accrued in the whole of last season.
Previous
with Jersey:
Last season’s
results despite being tight, both finished in Jerseys favour. Albion was the
only team to have been beaten home and away by the reds. At St Peter, Jersey led through James
Copsey’s try as early as the third minute, cancelled out soon after by an Aaron
Carpenter score, and with 15 minutes left of the encounter Jersey trailed
14-10. Mike Le Bourgeois’ kicked two pressure penalties, winning 16-14 which
gave Jersey their third consecutive victory. Jersey’s first and only away
league win last term was Albion’s ninth straight defeat, in the return
encounter at the Brickfields stadium. Leading 19-3 with three tries - including
a brace for Nicky Griffiths - in the bag early in the second half, Jersey
overcommitted and allowed Albion back into the match. Jersey hung on for a
tight 19-15 victory in a match that lasted just shy of two hours due to
injuries. It should have been three wins from three meetings for Jersey but for
a second half capitulation in this season’s opener. The first game Jersey has
ever played live on Sky TV started so well for the Islanders. Leading 21-13
early in the second half and seemingly in complete control of the match,
dominating in the forwards, looking dangerous with ball in hand. All the hard
work was undone by a 25 minute spell where Albion scored four scorching tries,
ripping the Jersey team apart, leaving the newly professional outfit to ask
some searching questions.
Having seen
off last season’s runners up Bedford and the Scottish champions Ayr at home,
unfortunate to take nothing from division favourites Bristol, and having beaten
Nottingham away since the last encounter with Albion, Jersey should be
favourites to take at least four points from this clash. Albion will not be
pushovers, but fortress St Peter is getting tougher to breach by the game.
PLYMOUTH ONES TO WATCH
Name: Chris Elder
Age: 21
Position: Full back/Centre
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 100kgs
Utility back
Elder signed from Esher this summer having scored nine tries and kicked 55
points in 27 matches. He began his
career at the Wasps academy, representing England’s Under 18 and England
Counties. Whilst he prefers inside centre he was used in devastating style as
full back in the opening day win over Jersey. With pace to burn, Elder scored a
brace of tries as Jersey were carved open. In the final year of a Geography
degree, he has deferred his studies to concentrate full time on rugby with Plymouth.
Name: Dan Mugford
Age: 22
Position: Fly half
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 87kgs
Signed for
this season from fellow Championship side London Scottish, having spent the
majority of the last campaign on loan at National One sides Blackheath and
Rosslyn Park. His kicking has been near flawless this season, with a conversion
rate of 96% which includes seven kicks from seven attempts against Jersey on
the opening day. The former England Counties star has a respectable return of
over 50 points this season, and he will kick the goals should Jersey give away
needless penalties.
Name: Eoghan Grace
Age: 26
Position: Flanker
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 102kgs
A
product of the Munster academy, Grace joined Premiership side Exeter Chiefs,
although an achilles injury curtailed his game time there. A spell at Pro-12 side Connacht followed where
he played for two seasons in both the league and Heineken Cup matches. This preceded
a move to Albion for the current season, where he hopes he can reignite his
career. Still harbouring aspirations of playing for the full Irish national
side, the former Ireland under 20’s player has also turned out for the Ireland
sevens team.
Name: Toby Howley-Berridge
Age: 23
Position: Centre
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 89kgs
In
his second season with Albion, having signed at the start of last season from
Doncaster. Previously having played with new Albion head coach James Shanahan
at Cambridge he is well used to the systems of play currently employed. Equally
adept on the wing or at full back, he is another player with plenty of pace. Having
struggled with injury at his previous clubs, Howley-Berridge started 22 league
and cup matches last term. He has also represented England Eastern Counties on
their African tour two seasons ago.
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