AN IMPORTANT DAY

SATURDAY PREVIEW

I have spoken in recent weeks about how we are focusing on our performance, doing the things that we are great at repeatedly. Saturday was mixed in this area which ultimately led to us being disappointed. We left with a valuable point and some equally valuable learnings but not the win we wanted so much.

In the first half we showed control and execution to go in ahead and we feel we even missed some opportunities. The learning we must take from the game is: if we want to mix it with the best in the league we need to perform for the duration. After conceding immediately after half time, which then became three tries in twenty minutes, we let the game get away from us. We had some big moments in the second half when, in try scoring situations, we drifted off our plan and failed to convert pressure into points. To win big games we must convert big moments and if we had executed we would have given ourselves a chance to change the day. The tries we did score were of a high calibre and something we can be proud of but conceding six very rarely ends any another way.

We welcome Barnes to the Marine Travel ground this weekend in the final fixture of this eight game block. This is the longest unbroken sequence of games in the season and we know that to feel happy with our opening run we must perform on Saturday. Barnes sit one place above us in the table and will be throwing everything into what will be an important result for both sides.

The Pilgrims turned out in style in their Friday night lights fixture against Deal and Betteshanger, scoring over 38 points for the third time this season. They travel on Saturday to Bromley, who sit in third, with only one loss to their name so far this season. We look to continue Pilgrims unbeaten run but know it won’t come easy.

Matt Corker, Head Coach