Category: Match Preview

Getting The Job Done

Posted on | by David Haigh

SATURDAY PREVIEW

I’ve shared a quote with the players previously, and I did again after the Henley game, from the great Bill Belichick. He was head coach of the New England Patriots during their six super bowls winning run. He says: “You get the job done or you don’t”. The first time I read this I didn’t feel that it applied to us; I felt it didn’t take into account all the other factors that can go against you in a game. I now understand that’s why it’s true. In any game you can be in control, in the lead for 79 minutes but to get the job done you have to be in that position for the full 80. To get the job done you have to take the opportunities that you create. The players away at Henley put in a great effort, they worked extremely hard in some of the worst conditions you can play in (I’m sure you’ve seen the photos) but we didn’t get the job done. There’s no shame in our performance but you could see how disappointed the lads were and that’s a not a bad thing.
We went into the week off with some clear objectives and the players have worked hard to make the two weeks of training as productive as possible. The conditions tomorrow are predicted to be a repeat of what we faced at Henley, so we have an opportunity to execute the same game plan, with the focus this week on going the distance.
Last time out, the Pilgrims had a mud fight of their own against Cranbrook. They came out well and truly on top with a 38-0 win. They have a big couple of weeks coming up starting with 4th place Heathfield and Waldron who visit the Marine Travel Ground on Saturday. This is followed by travelling to second place Sevenoaks next week and two wins will put them in a strong position.
Don’t let the weather put you off, with both the 1st XV and the Pilgrims at home for the first time since the start of the season it will be a big weekend at the club with plenty of important rugby on offer.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

HENLEY BLOCK THE WAY

Posted on | by David Haigh

SATURDAY PREVIEW

Last Saturday our first half performance was easily one of the best in recent years. Going in at 40-7 the players had shown the extent of their ability to move the ball and execute under pressure. This was obviously pleasing from my perspective and I loved the way the team and its leaders controlled the game. At fifty minutes we extended our lead to a margin of 52-14, an impressive score line, and we have spoken in the week about what happened next. Conceding three tries, and the manner of these tries, are not part of our defensive identity. We took our collision intensity down a notch and at national league level all teams will expose this. It is some good feedback that we can’t ignore and if we use the learning will be extremely valuable. The other silver lining is that we wrestled our way back into the driving seat with a twenty two phase attack sequence that ended in us winning a penalty. This was a big moment in the game and swung the momentum back in our direction and we finished with another score. When the pressure begins to build this is exactly the type of understanding and character that the best teams have.
In the blink of an eye we are at the final game this three game block. These short bursts of matches will be the prevailing rhythm for the remainder of the season and to finish this first one off with three wins we must travel to Henley. Henley sit above us on equal points and this has always been a challenging fixture. I feel we have grown a great deal in the last two weeks and Saturday will give us a true test of this progress.
The Pilgrims came through their own test last week away at Dover. A team full of experience and ability ran out 27-43 winners scoring seven tries. This keeps them at the top of the table ahead of their game away at Cranbrook this weekend.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Responding To The challenge

Posted on | by David Haigh

SATURDAY PREVIEW

In last week’s preview I wrote about both squads chomping at the bit to put the previous losses behind us. I feel that the players really brought this to life, scoring a combined total of 99 points over the two games. Not learning from losing is the real crime and we feel that we have exorcised some demons. Our challenge now, for both teams, is to back up these strong performances. We know many teams in the league yo-yo between good and bad performances, but to be at the top end we have to be consistently producing our best.

In the 1st XV’s game against Old Albanians, the real turnaround from Barnes was our attack execution. We accumulated three attacking errors, and six turnovers compared to thirteen and twenty three two weeks ago. That might sound a bit negative, focusing on making less errors, but this allows the players to express themselves with the ball in hand and there were some fantastic performances across the squad.

Bury visit the Marine Travel Ground tomorrow and they sit just three points behind us even though they have two less wins. Another reminder of the importance of bonus points. They have a number of new faces this season and their league position will only improve as they bed in. I think we’re in for an entertaining afternoon of rugby and I am looking forward to seeing the team respond to the challenge.

Those of you who came to see the Pilgrims last week would have been treated to a great afternoon of rugby, the lads coming out 45-7 winners against Beccehamians. We travel with a strong squad to Dover this weekend, where last year’s end to end game pushed us all the way. We will have to be at our best again to come away with the result and the players are up for it

Matt Corker, Head Coach.

AN IMPORTANT DAY

Posted on | by David Haigh

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

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

Posted on | by David Haigh

SATURDAY TEST

It’s always strange when after a five point win you are left feeling unsatisfied, but our performance against Havant gave us many questions to answer. Our discipline was an area that put a great deal of pressure on us, four cards with one being a red. This is a situation we can’t afford to put ourselves in again. Havant kept knocking on the door until the final whistle and had chances to change the scoreline. That said, there were some great defensive sets in the last ten minute that ultimately proved the difference. After playing with 14 for large parts of the game, and even 13 on two occasions, we can celebrate the tries we scored and the resilience the players showed to do what was necessary.
This weekend’s fixture is always a big one in the calendar as Westcombe Park are the visitors to the Marine Travel ground. They sit one point ahead of us in the table after having a strong start to the season themselves, with their only loss also coming away at Guernsey. This fixture is always highly competitive and I’m expecting tomorrow to be another one to remember. This week we have been focusing on getting back to our best, after falling a long way short of it last Saturday.
After two weeks without a game the Pilgrims return to action tomorrow against Park House away. We are sending up another strong team full of experience and ability as they look to continue their unbeaten start to the season. The standard of the team improves every week and this week at training has been one of our most competitive so far.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Expect A Battle

Posted on | by David Haigh

Away at Guernsey has historically always been a tough fixture and after taking the lead early we put ourselves in a great position. Conceding twice in quick succession put us on the back foot but we scored a well worked try to go in at half time trailing by four points and very much in the game. Within the first fifteen minutes of the second half we had conceded three tries and given ourselves a mountain to climb. The silver lining is that we fought back to within two scores and created enough chances to retake the lead, but our execution at crucial times undermined us.

After some honest conversations this week, we reviewed that we didn’t get to the right level physically for us to earn the win we so badly wanted. Coming away empty handed has dropped us to 6th in the table and for us to keep pace with the top of the league the next three games are very important.

We welcome Havant to the Marine travel ground this weekend, who are new to the league but sit only a few places behind us after four games. They will have learned a lot in the first four rounds and I’m expecting Saturday to be a battle.

The Pilgrims go into their second week without a game, last week’s cancellation and this week’s planned rest weekend means they have had a fortnight off. They are training hard as they prepare for Park House next weekend.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Toughest Challenge

Posted on | by David Haigh

SATURDAY PROSPECTS

Nine from nine! It has been a great start to the season across the 1st XV, Pilgrims & Canons and all still remain unbeaten three games in. This weekend the first team travel to Guernsey for our toughest challenge of the season so far. The journey does add an extra logistical dimension and Guernsey are also three out of three. It is an exciting battle so early on the season and if we look back to this fixture last season we were proud of the performance we put in, coming away with a win for the first time in recent history. Guernsey are in a much stronger place this season and we will need to raise our performance another level to experience the same success.
Against Worthing we took a noticeable step forward. We set our focus on improving our execution and we did that, reducing our penalty and turnover count. There is still more to do in these areas and going into a tougher contest on Saturday we will need to minimise the opportunities we give Guernsey. This game has come at a good time for us and I can’t wait to see the players rise to the challenge.

For those of you who saw the Pilgrims Friday night game against Ashford, you were treated to a close first half with only three points the difference before the Pilgrims found their stride finishing up 38-7 winners. Unfortunately, this week’s fixture against Charlton Park has been cancelled due to them being unable to raise a team. Charlton Park are a proud club with a long history running back to 1893 and it is a stark reminder of how many clubs are fighting against decreasing playing numbers. As a rugby community we need to keep working hard to find new ways to support each other for the good of the game.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

Work Still To Do

Posted on | by David Haigh

WEEKEND PROSPECTS

Two from two and six from six across the 1st XV, Pilgrims and Canons, not a bad start!

A result away at Sevenoaks is one that we have been hunting down for the past three seasons. Five points on the road, at a ground we haven’t won at in recent years is something that we are most definitely proud of, but on review we know there is still a lot to work on. We clocked up 16 penalties and 21 turnovers, a combined loss of possession that is double our target. Our lineout maul dominance and some emotional defence sets ultimately proved the difference, but we must be more effective with the ball if we want to play the brand of rugby that we are aiming for and show the improvements we believe we are making. This weekend against Worthing we will be focused on taking a big step forward in our attacking execution.

The Pilgrims ran out 43-17 winners against Sevenoaks 2nd XV in a convincing performance. They look to continue this strong form against Ashford tonight (Friday) 7.30pm kick off. The Pilgrims squad is full of players pushing for 1st XV places and this is driving the group forward every session we have together. The Pilgrims Friday night lights were unmissable evenings last season, and I fully expect the same from this one.

Matt Corker, Head Coach

BEST NEEDED AT SEVENOAKS

Posted on | by David Haigh

SATURDAY PROSPECTS

Last season we didn’t get off to the start we wanted with an opening-day loss against this week’s opposition, so starting strongly has been a key focus during preseason. Scoring 50 points at home, even considering it was Colchester’s first game in National 2, is a result we can be proud of. There were some fantastic team efforts and standout individual tries that built the score. That said, we’re not getting ahead of ourselves — there is plenty to work on and we know we must improve week by week to build a winning habit.

Sevenoaks away has been a tough fixture for us in recent seasons, as local derbies often are. Over the last two years our performances in this match have been below our own expectations and we have come up short on both occasions. This year, we’re determined to change that and we know we need to be at our best. Saturday will be a great measure of how far we have come.

The Pilgrims also put last season behind them, contributing to a clean sweep for the Men’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd XV. Crowborough have been tough to beat at home over the past two seasons so leaving with a win is a brilliant result for the Pilgrims to build on. The Cannons kicked off their Counties 4 Kent campaign in style with a commanding 60-12 win over Medway’s 3rd XV, no mean feat as the league’s new boys.

The Pilgrims are the other half of this week’s double-header against Sevenoaks and will be looking to keep up their momentum at home on Saturday.

Matt Corker. Head Coach

TARGETING A STRONG START

Posted on | by David Haigh

SATURDAY PROSPECTS

As we turn the page on preseason, this week represents the transition from preparation to action with our first league fixture awaiting us on Saturday. The squad has been outstanding over the past ten weeks, meeting every challenge we have thrown at them head-on. The data shows what we’ve already seen in training — most of the squad is in the best physical shape they’ve been in for the last four years, which is a credit to their hard work.

Having retained the majority of the squad for a second season we have come into this preseason further along the road than in previous years. Our strong finish to last season has given us a solid platform to build on and the new additions to the group have only strengthened us, adding depth and real competition for places.

The three warm-up games have been competitive and exactly what we needed. Esher and Blackheath provided us with valuable insights into where we’re strong and where we need to sharpen up. Harpenden gave us a different kind of challenge — a wet, physical game on a 3G pitch. That was important preparation as the three newly promoted teams this season all play on similar surfaces, so the experience will serve us well.

The Blackheath game was a great learning experience. It reminded us how crucial it is to make the most of the opportunities we create. That’s the next step we need to take if we want to start our league campaign on the right foot.

Colchester arrive at the Marine Travel Ground off the back of an exceptional season. They only lost two matches and finished 15 points clear of second place. Last season’s opener didn’t go the way we’d hoped and we’ve spent the summer preparing to ensure we start better this time around. Tomorrow is our chance to show what we are capable of and set the tone for the season ahead.

The Pilgrims’ trip to Crowborough highlights the level of competition we’ve got within the squad. The strength of the team travelling there speaks for itself. Crowborough was their final game of last season and those involved haven’t forgotten the bad result. They’re eager to put that right and give a much better account of themselves this time around.

Matt Corker, Head Coach