This weekend Anselmians welcome Bowdon, a week after we were taught a lesson by a loss to a well-drilled and more efficient Glossop side. There has been much to admire from the 1st XV this term but, too often, loose play and poor concentration have been punished. Last Saturday’s reverse was more disappointing because of the obvious team improvement since the turn of the year. Now, more than ever, we have to fight for every point.
Bowdon lost at home to high-flying Douglas last Saturday. Whilst not, perhaps, a surprise, the scoreline, 32-56, would have raised a few eyebrows. Third placed Bowdon have scored a lot of points this season and have the third highest bonus point total, and they usually prevail at home at Clay Lane. They do, however, have their off days like their surprise defeat, 15-25, at struggling Wigan in the first game of 2017.
Games between Anselmians and Bowdon rarely go with home advantage. Last season Bowdon took the spoils at Malone Field 20-27, but in the return fixture at Clay Lane, we sneaked the victory, 14-15. Games in recent years have been close affairs. Anselmians need to win more than the visitors and, with Bowdon entertaining Manchester Medics next week, we could, with Bowdon’s help, haul ourselves out of the bottom three in the next fortnight. With only seven games left, four of which are at Malone Field, it really is time for this young and ambitious side to fulfil its obvious potential.