FINDING WAYS TO WIN

MATCH PREVIEW

I’ve said it before – there are only good teams in our league and every week presents a different challenge. Against Westcombe Park we certainly rode our luck at times and they will feel they left chances behind at Merton Lane. But what mattered was that the players found a way to put another win in the bank.
The team never gave up and when we needed to be ruthless we were. The clearest example of this was our work inside their twenty-two: three visits, three tries. Over recent seasons we’ve been on the receiving end of that level of clinical finishing. To be on the other side of it shows how the players have built an understanding of how vital it is to do the right thing at the right time.
I also have to highlight the lads’ defensive effort. Westcombe Park’s final try came from a cross-field kick, but the defensive set that preceded it lasted three minutes and eighteen seconds. To put that into perspective, most teams in this league would do well to hold out for half that time. The fact that our players doubled it shows just how much representing this club means to them. As coaches we can give the players technical input, but they bring their own desire to the table. When it hurts you’ve got two choices – and this group consistently chooses to dig in for each other and go to difficult places to fight for wins.
Last season’s win at Dorking was a big moment for this squad, and it took a performance of equal size to achieve it. Judging by Dorking’s social media, they’ve had this fixture circled since preseason. We know exactly what it will take to repeat last year’s result – and these are the exciting games every player wants to be part of.
The Pilgrims return to action this weekend after a short break, hosting Brighton at home. Injuries are starting to mount across the squad but the depth and ambition of our group mean we can still put out a determined, competitive side. New faces continue to put their hands up and I’m excited to see them take another step forward this weekend.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH