Match Preview
The best is yet to come' insists director of rugby ahead of Taunton Titans clash
By HertsAndEssexObserver | Posted: October 28, 2016 By Andrew Franczak
While Taunton Titans are set to provide Bishop's Stortford RFC with one of their toughest tests of the season so far at Silver Leys tomorrow, director of rugby Andy Long has warned that there's still a lot more to come from his team.
The West Country outfit are directly below Stortford in fifth in the National Two South table, and are the only team to do the double over them last season.
"We still probably haven't hit top gear this season," said Long.
"We've seen glimpses of it over the past three weeks but I still don't think we've let the handbrake off and properly gone at a side yet.
"I think we're still finding our way a little bit.
"We're in probably third or fourth gear – we haven't hit the top rugby I know we can play.
"There were some good performances against Worthing on Saturday and we're getting on the end of a few really good scores.
"We know we are going to have to be at our best.
"Taunton is a crunch game, they are going to be a threat – we always have great games against them, they are always close.
"They are the only side that's done the double over us in terms of winning home and away and they did that last season so we're very mindful of them.
"They are a good side and well coached and we know we've got to get our basics right."
Long says the key to victory will be in defence.
"We know if we play to the best of our ability and get our defence right, and don't give them easy points or an easy way into the game, then we can win.
"The defence is the key, and if every individual does their job with the basics, like one-on-one tackles and not getting pulled out of position, we stand a good chance of winning.
"You haven't seen the best of us for 80 minutes – and that's the challenge I've set the players.
"It should be a big crowd as it's always a good spectacle – we've always had some ding-dong battles.
"We had a few knocks, but we're pretty strong as a squad. Hopefully [prop] Seb Brownhill will be back with us to give us another option in the front row."
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