Albion looking for cup spark

Plymouth Head Coach Graham Dawe is hoping this weekend’s EDF Energy National Trophy quarter-final clash against Rotherham will give Albion the spark they need to re-ignite their season.

The Devon National Division 1 side are languishing in seventh place in the league and have not won a league game this year or a game on the road since November.

But Plymouth have enjoyed some good wins in the domestic cup, against the likes of the Henley Hawks and Pertemps Bees, and with an away clash against the Titans Dawe believes this could be the game to get Albion back on track.

He said: “There’s no doubt this is going to be a very tough fixture and I wouldn’t actually tag either team as favourites, but we are going to Rotherham intent on getting a win and finding our spark again.

“We are putting a lot of effort into getting back on track and getting a win from this game and if we can do that then I think it could be onwards and upwards this season.”

Plymouth, who have reached the cup quarter-finals for the last three seasons, go into Saturday’s game on the back of a disappointing defeat to Coventry but they did pick up a convincing win against Rotherham at Brickfields in November, winning 15-0, and Dawe is hoping for more of the same.

He added: “We have had some very tough fixtures lately, playing a lot of sides that are either vying for promotion or survival and that has taken its toll on us. Rotherham too are a strong side and even stronger at home. It is always tough playing there with their vocal crowd.

“They play a very fast game though and that suits us. Hopefully we can turn them over and dominate like we did in our game against them previously. It’s certainly another tough challenge but we are feeling positive.”

EDF Energy National Trophy Quarter-Finals (to be played Feb 23)

Exeter v Esher
Rotherham v Plymouth Albion
Bedford v Northampton Saints
Nottingham v Launceston

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Notes to editors
EDF Energy is supporting rugby from the grassroots to the elite – through the EDF Energy Cup, EDF Energy National Trophy, EDF Energy Intermediate Cup, EDF Energy Senior and Junior Vase. At grassroots, the energy company is introducing 112,000 primary school children to the sport through the EDF Energy National Schools Rugby Programme. Parent company EDF was a sponsor of the IRB Rugby World Cup 2007 and EDF Energy an ITV broadcast sponsor. EDF is also a major partner of European Rugby Cup Ltd, organiser of the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup.