It’s been a long tough year for the First XV, debuting in National 2 East. We have certainly learned a great deal, and next season we will be a stronger outfit as a result. The big question of course is ‘in which league will that be?’
For the final game of the season this Saturday we are at home, playing the already relegated Westcliff. Last week’s Oak’s defeat at Tonbridge Juddians, along with Rochford picking up two losing bonus points at North Walsham leaves the situation this weekend very clear. An Oaks win of any kind against the visiting Essex team will guarantee twelfth position in the table and safety for next year; and relegate Rochford. Anything less and it will require a nervy monitoring of the Rochford game versus TJs. So, our destiny is in our own hands.
We must of course put all of that out of our minds and focus on the game, and each individual job needing to be done within it. We have spoken this week about the need for both intensity and precision in execution, the latter missing at TJs last weekend. It would be a massive mistake to underestimate Westcliff because of their league position; they have some very good players and have shown in recent weeks they are capable of putting points on the board.
There will be plenty of time during the off-season to review our performance over the 26 games. For now the boys and coaching staff are committed to giving everything to secure the victory we require. We also need to tuned into how the game is being managed by the officials, something we have struggled with in recent matches.
So here is my last Paddock rallying cry of the year…………. please get down to the ground in big numbers and cheer the boys on. It helps enormously!
Thank you in advance and we look forward to a great game of rugby on Saturday.
COYO
Adam
