Toughest Challenge

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