Match Preview

Stortford travel this week to local rivals, Old Albanians for a match in which both sides will be looking to bring about a turn in their recent fortunes. OAs, lying second bottom, with 27 points and 12 points behind fourth bottom, Loughborough after their defeat last week at Esher are desperate for a 5th win to start to move up the table with only 8 league matches left. Stortford, with 57 points and 9 matches left have had a disappointing run of form, with only an away win at Hull Ionians in their last 5 games but, with a few of our many injured players ready, or almost ready to return, will be looking to give a good account of themselves in this big derby game.

With a full Premiership fixture list this weekend, it is likely that OAs will be able to call on a number of their dual registered players from Saracens - but, hopefully not our former junior player, Max Malins, who came off the bench to score for Sarries in a league game last week! Irrespective of the team they put out, the home side can be expected to provide stiff opposition - as demonstrated in the narrow home win back in October against a team shorn of dual-registered players. Stortford will doubtless be working hard on their lineouts this week - arguably the difference between two very closely-matched sides last week against Moseley - and will not lack for motivation on Saturday for the next round in the battle between the top two sides in Hertfordshire. COYB!