Paddling in the sea at Dawlish Warren. (From Worcester News)

Paddling in the sea at Dawlish Warren.

2:49pm Sunday 26th August 2007

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That’s what we did after watching the Warriors first pre-season game at Plymouth Albion, which the Warriors won 19 to 13. The score line resulted in initially leaving me with mixed feelings about the performance. But on reflection, there appeared to be a distinct pattern/plan for the first part of the game.

The Warriors didn't use their total forward dominance much at all, but instead used it to add width to their game. They didn’t kick for goal on Pens or drop them into the corner for a catch and drive move, they kept pushing the ball wide, which seemed to be working better that I have seen. Gary Trueman bagged a well deserved brace of trys either side of one for Marcel Garvey who should have had 2 if he hadn’t dropped the ball in the in goal area earlier!! There were some good moves and an improvement in handling though we did get pinged a lot for forward passes by the ref, Mr Rose. Gavin Quinnell nearly got a yellow for a bit of a rash tackle early on which had the Albion fans braying for him to be off.

There was a mass change on about 60 mins when the tactics changed completely. The academy plus Darren Morris, Phil Murphy, Dom F , Mark Tucker and Thinus Delport went for the forward power option which they did very well, Albion should be worried that a such a young pack pushed them all over the park. It didn’t quite come off but the defence in the last 10 mins was awesome!!

There were many things to be positive about. The pack delivered the ball from the set piece with ease and then the backs seemed to able to move the ball well with some errors in handling or positioning resulting in moves breaking down.

A very pleasant day was finished off with a paddle and chuck about with a rugby ball on the beach at Dawlish Warren with Clive, Nick and Angela, all topped off with fish and chips by the sea….

Thanks again to Clive et al who took me down there, good company