We Must Take Our Chances

MATCH PREVIEW

I was really proud of the way the players wrestled back the lead against the best team in the league, but we are all gutted that we didn’t do what was needed to take the win. At the final whistle only one penalty separated the two teams. That is an achievement against a side which has only lost three times this season. There is merit in that but none of us signed up to be plucky losers.
The disappointment comes from the chances we didn’t take and two of Old Albanians’ three tries which, on review, we feel could have been avoided. I’m not overlooking some of the strong individual performances and I obviously loved the role our lineout played in the team’s resurgence. However, if we are going to break into the top three we have to beat the teams above us — especially at home where we have been strong for most of the season.
The only other home loss we have suffered this season came against this weekend’s opposition Bury St Edmunds. We left that fixture with very similar feelings to those we had last Saturday, losing by three points and conceding tries where we were the architects of our own downfall.
We travel to Bury this weekend fully aware of what we need to do to change our results against the league’s top sides. We know we are capable of it and this weekend we have the opportunity to prove it.
The Pilgrims recorded a much-needed win against a motivated Old Reigatians side. We didn’t have everything our own way but finished 19–14 winners. The result lifts the Pilgrims into ninth place and clear of the relegation play-off position. With five games remaining, it is all hands to the pump to ensure we finish the season there in April.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH