YOUNG lock Ed Holmes says Plymouth Albion are desperate to return to winning ways at Brickfields on Saturday against Fylde (3pm).
Having opened their National One season with an impressive 33-20 win over Richmond, Albion have narrowly lost their last two games. They were beaten 16-15 at home to last season’s runners-up Rosslyn Park two weeks ago and then went down 25-21 last Saturday at Hull.
“The last two weeks have been a bit disappointing in terms of losing,” said 19-year-old Holmes, who has started all Albion’s games so far. “But getting two losing bonus points I suppose is a positive.
“But it is a big game this weekend. We are just preparing for that.”
He added: “It’s always a joy playing at Brickfields and we want to give the supporters what they want and we’ve got to work towards getting that win at the weekend.”
Despite the two narrow defeats, dual-registered Exeter Chiefs forward Holmes has been encouraged by the spirit and atmosphere at Albion.
“The team have bonded really well,” he said. “There’s a lot of fresh faces in the squad but it’s going well so far.
“The team is fairly young. There is a lot of boys aged between my age and 25. I think we are fairly fit and I think it’s a good for a National One side.
“But the main thing we are working towards is a win at the weekend.”
England Student international Holmes played in National Two South last season for Launceston.
“National One is a lot faster,” he said. “The physicality tends to be pretty similar, but it’s just the speed of the game that’s different.”
Holmes is studying ocean exploration at the University of Plymouth. He is learning hydrological mapping of the sea floor.
However, he is also trying to map out his rugby career.
“I start back at university in a week’s time,” he said. “I will be going into my second year. I train down here (at Albion) three times a week. When I’m not at university I am up at the Chiefs training, so my time is pretty taken up.”
Albion are hoping to attract a good crowd for Saturday’s game.
To try and encourage more people to turn up the club will be offering a happy hour and a live band after the game between 5pm-7pm, where draught beers, ales and ciders will be £1 cheaper, then at 8pm they will be showing the England v Wales World Cup match. Albion are also offering free admission to Monday night’s development match with Cornwall at Brickfields for anyone with a Fylde ticket.