Albion's Dawe demands same again
PLYMOUTH Albion chairman of rugby Graham Dawe's wish for more of the same has been reflected in his squad selection for tomorrow's Championship match with Moseley (3pm).
Dawe's side appear to be up and running at last after two keenly contested local derbies. The first, against league leaders the Exeter Chiefs, didn't quite go to plan, but it laid the foundations for last week's unlikely 16-8 win over the in-form Cornish Pirates.
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Plymouth Albion lock Tom Skelding will line up against his former club Moseley in the Championship at Billesley Common tomorrow
The Devon side now travel to the Midlands backing the same 22-man squad to produce the goods against EDF National Trophy holders Moseley.
Dawe said: "We enjoyed the game last week and looked at the DVD and we haven't picked up any knocks. From what we can see, a lot of individuals want another chance to keep impressing.
"It's always hard to keep the same side, you want to try and improve the team every week. But this week we can make improvements while keeping the same team as the guys get more confidence. Continuity is an important ingredient that you shouldn't overlook."
Albion brushed Moseley aside in the first league fixture between the two clubs last season, but tomorrow's hosts exacted revenge on the final day of the season, condemning Dawe's men to 50-32 defeat.
Dawe admits he has had little opportunity to run the rule over them so far this term, but expects this season's Moseley side to be made of similar stuff.
After failing to pick up a win in their opening three games of the season against the Chiefs, the Pirates and Nottingham, Moseley have won both their last two matches.
A first win of the season was achieved against Doncaster two weeks ago – and that was converted into back-to-back victories in a controversial 28-25 win over near neighbours Coventry, where three penalty tries secured the points.
Dawe said: "We've not had the opportunity to see much of Moseley this season, but by all accounts they are playing the same type of game. They are tricky customers in the tight and they play a pretty free-flowing game.
"With the best will in the world it's always difficult to get anything out of Coventry. They did have a particularly good run after Christmas last season to stay in the division and went on to win the Cup."
One member of the Moseley side will be particularly familiar to Albion, however. Canadian international winger Justin Mensah-Coker made the switch between the two sides over the summer.
"Let's hope he'd like to gift us something," joked Dawe. That seems unlikely judging by the words of Mensah-Coker himself. Although he does expect Albion to come seeking revenge for that defeat on the final day of the last campaign – Mensah-Coker's final game under Dawe.
"Personally, I'm looking forward to playing on Saturday, and if selected, it would be great to duck down over the whitewash against Albion," said the Canadian international.
"I know Graham Dawe well enough to reckon he'll be looking for redemption against us. Moseley put 50 points on Albion at the end of last season, so he'll be aiming to put that right. We'll be looking to stop Albion achieving that, so it's setting up nicely for a tight match."
Former Moseley lock Tom Skelding is looking at a reverse scenario when he lines up for Albion tomorrow, but Dawe does not necessarily subscribe to the theory that all players surpass themselves against their former clubs.
He said: "It can work the other way, you give away penalties and get binned, so it's swings and roundabouts."
Dawe also confirmed that Martin Rice has still not fully recovered from a shoulder injury. Dawe said: "Ricey is still suffering from a damaged shoulder, but all the 22 involved last week are all fit."
Plymouth Albion: G Kingdom; B Mercer, K Fisilau, S Tu'ipulotu, L Gibson; K Hallett (capt), R Cushion; D Porte, J Clark, R Hopkins; T Skelding, T Hotson; S-M Stephen, D Clayton, K Marriott. Replacements (from): A Davies, M Lee, D Morton, J Owen, M Lewis, W Sprangle, R Watts-Jones, J Waterhouse, J Nava.












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