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'We must build on Plymouth win'

'We must build on Plymouth win'

Jon Edwards16 Feb 2018 - 09:57
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Gavin Lach believes last Saturday’s 16-12 triumph over Plymouth Albion was one of OEs’ most significant results in National League rugby.

The hard fought victory in atrocious conditions at College Meadow was the first time Elthamians have beaten a top four side in National One in six attempts so far this season. It was a battling performance which delighted the OEs boss.

“Given the stature and reputation of Plymouth, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say it’s up there with our biggest results since I’ve been in charge,” he said. “They were many people’s pre-season favourites to lift the title, they are one of the best three sides in this division, so to beat them having already got a draw down at their place is a massive achievement for us.

“Not simply in terms of getting the victory, but in the belief it should instil in the squad now that they can compete with the best sides in National One. It’s also justification for the style and methods the coaches are trying to implement here and what we are trying to achieve.

“What a difference seven days can make in rugby. I can tell you it was a very different changing room on Saturday evening to the one after the Darlington game the week before! We should have beaten Darlington, we got within a score of Coventry and now we’ve beaten Plymouth which has got the monkey off our backs. Now we need to build on the win.”

Next up for Lach’s men is a first ever trip to The Rock tomorrow, home of Rosslyn Park, a side that impressed the OEs boss when the two clubs met at College Meadow in October.

“Although we won the game, 34-27, Park caused us plenty of problems, especially out wide,” Lach said. “I thought their full-back Henry Robinson was an outstanding player, and I was impressed with the spine of their side. They like to move the ball around like us, they have pace and quality out wide, so we are in for a tough afternoon tomorrow.

“But we need to build on that Plymouth win and prove that it wasn’t simply a one-off victory. When we beat Blackheath, we didn’t back it up and lost to Bishop’s Stortford the following week. We need a strong performance against Rosslyn Park especially when you consider our next two games after that are Ampthill and then Coventry away.”

Currently lying 12th in the table, Rosslyn Park have won three of their last five games with victories over Bishop’s Stortford (22-20), Fylde (31-15) and Cambridge (10-7). Last Saturday they went down 33-3 at Caldy, but they are a very different proposition at home, having not lost at the Rock since December 2nd, and that was against league leaders Coventry.

Park play on an all-weather 3G surface and Lach admits it will be a welcome relief after the appalling conditions and mudbaths of the last three games. “The one week when we don’t mind if it pours down because we are playing on an all-weather surface, means it will probably be 70 degrees in the shade tomorrow!” he said. "All joking aside, the surface will suit the way both sides play which means we should see a fast-paced, entertaining match tomorrow.”

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