TEENAGE lock Jim Massey was thrilled to be handed his Plymouth Albion debut against Blackheath on Saturday.
Although disappointed with the outcome – Albion lost 34-3 – University of St Mark and St John student Massey loved the experience.
“It was great fun,” said the lock, who only turned 19 last month. “It was really good to have the opportunity to start the game and I thought that I did what I needed to do.”
Massey admitted he was quite shocked to be called into Albion’s starting line-up after Dan Collier was ruled out with illness.
Plymouth wanted to bring in a specialist lock for the game rather than move Nile Dacres, who has been impressing in the back-row, to four.
“Considering I had never been on the bench to just come in and start was quite a surprise,” said Massey.
“But I was really looking forward to it and I enjoyed it, even though we lost. I thought it was a good game.”
Albion had their spells in the National One at Rectory Field but could not breakdown Blackheath’s impressive defence.
“Their defence was up and in our faces all the time,” admitted Massey, whose parents made the trip from Bristol to London to watch him play.
Massey, who played in National Two South last season for Lydney, is now hoping for more National One action with Albion.
“Hopefully, I will be able to stay in the first team,” said Massey. “But there are so many good players here.”
Meanwhile, Massey’s university team-mate Shek Sherrif could make his return from injury on Tuesday when Albion’s development team entertain Taunton A at Brickfields (7.30pm).
Sherrif, also a lock, has not played for three weeks after dislocating his shoulder playing for Newton Abbot on-loan.