Old Albanian ‘not a million miles away’ as the search for consistency continues
Old Albanian V Taunton - Tobias Mundy in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
Old Albanian head coach Gavin Hogg believes his side has what it takes to rise to the top of National Two South – they just have to do it on consistent basis.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Gavin Hogg, head coach of Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
A sluggish start in the 35-21 loss at home to Taunton Titans saw them ship 21 unanswered points but a brave fightback almost rescued a couple of bonuses and who knows what else.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Old Albanian's Chris West tries to shake off the attentions of the Taunton defence. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
And the Woollams supremo wants his team to replicate their second-half showing on a weekly basis.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Tobias Mundy in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
He said: “We were very honest as a group when we came down from National One. We wanted to make sure we put ourselves in the best possible position to put us at the top end of the table.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Alex Ricci in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
“We haven’t had all our players available and like every other club we have picked up a few injuries.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Chris West tries to power through the Taunton defence for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
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“That’s affected us in terms of consistency in key positions but we know we’ve got the capabilities to beat any side in this league on our day.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Tobias Mundy in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
“But the challenge is to do that back-to-back each week. It’s no good pulling out one good performance one week, like we did against Rams, and then following it up with a loss.”
Old Albanian V Taunton - Alex Ricci in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
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Tries from Dan Watt, Ned Warne and Tobias Mundy plus three conversions from Watt kept them close and on an equal-footing with their west country visitors in the second-half.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Tobias Mundy in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
But for Hogg it was just a reflection of what had gone before.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Tobias Mundy in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
He said: “The game has probably been a reflection of how our season has been.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Jamie Townsend and Dan Watt of Old Albanian stop Taunton in their tracks. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
“There were some really good bits where we imposed ourselves on the opposition and I guess a sloppy start where we showed the other side of us.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Lloyd Anderson in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
“In fairness to Taunton they finished very well when they got inside our 22 where we probably left a score or two out there when we got in similar areas.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Jamie Townsend in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
“It’s one of those where we we’ll find bits to be positive about but we have to address those issues quickly and get a bit more of an all-round performance.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Dan Watt is brought to earth for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
“Maybe our set-piece fails at key times in certain areas of the pitch and I was very disappointed with that in the first half.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Lloyd Anderson in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
“The second half we got a bit of parity at that level so you ask yourself ‘what does it take to get us that from the start’?
Old Albanian V Taunton - Tom Holdsworth in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
“We know where we’re at. There are a few small things we can tweak and we’re not a million miles away from hopefully stringing a few wins together.
Old Albanian V Taunton - Jamie Townsend in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
“That’s going to be our challenge.”
Old Albanian V Taunton - Jamie Townsend in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
Old Albanian V Taunton - Alex Ricci in action for Old Albanian. Picture: Karyn Haddon - Credit: Archant
