Round 5: Plymouth Albion v Cambridge
By A Horse Called Doris
October 1 2026
100% return for September. Can Albion keep up the momentum during October during which they will meet Sale FC, Dings Crusaders, Bishop's Stortford and this Saturday's opponents, Cambridge?
Despite their recent Champ experience, The Blood and Sand have had a difficult start to this season's campaign, finding themselves at the bottom and still seeking their first win. That is not to say that have been outclassed, their games being high scoring and with the exception of last week's outing against Leeds, earning losing bonus points. whilst securing try bonus points in all 4 games. They also contributed to the highest scoring game this season losing out to the TJs 53-52.
The two sides last met in April 2023 at The Brickfields when the visitors dominated proceedings with a 10-31 point win. To find Albion's last win against Cambridge, we have to go back to 2020, shortly before the Covid interruption, where Albion cleaned up 49-10. That match involved James Kenny scoring a try.
Cambridge have scored 23 tries this season, which puts them in the middle of the pack, with those tries being sharedt roughly 50/50 between the forwards and the backs. Within the pack, 8 tries have been scored by the front row, and the hooker hasn't had the lion's share. For the backs, tries have been spread between the centres and the back three, with a couple going to scrum half.
Defensively the split is 40/60 to the detriment of the backs. Up front, there is some vulnerability amongst the back row. The backs also show that opportunities may open up outside the fly-half.
Albion will look to get on the board quickly and get a tight grip on the game. Cambridge would be expected to try the same, if only to stay in touch with Albion in order to capitalise on any lapses Albion make in the final quarter - a period where Albion have shown a loss of focus in previous games.
Whilst likely to start as a forwards orientated game, if neither side gain the upper hand, then the backs will come into play more, with the defensive capabilities likely to be the deciding factor. Cambridge have been prone to giving away penalties in their own half so pressuring them into errors will open up the game for Albion.
Player to watch (subject to squad announcement): Elias Caven, four tries, with three starting from full back. And a warm welcome back to The Brickfields for Nile Dacres
The referee has been listed as Alex Powdrell This season he has been in the middle for 3 NL1 games. So far he has issued 7 cards (2.33/match). 4 cards were shown during the aforementioned TJs v Cambridge match with 3 going to the TJs. In another match, this time featuring Albion, he gave 2 cards to Camborne.
Weather (as at 13:00 01-10-24) - Dry, cloudy with sunny intervals. A light Southwesterly breeze with moderate gusts will blow across the pitch. Temperature comfortable at 19°C.
Prediction: Win for Albion.
Other games of note:
Leeds Tykes (6th) v Sale FC (3rd} - Will Sale get back on track against a buoyant Leeds Side that have comprehensively dispatched both of the sides that came down from the Champ.
Tonbridge Juddians (2nd) v Dings Crusaders (8th} - TJs will probably keep the pressure on Albion as they entertain an inconsistent Dings side that are capable of scoring plenty.