GRAHAM DAWE has warned his Plymouth Albion team they will have to be at the top of their game if they want to return from their long trip to Wharfedale on Saturday with a win.
Albion go into the match boosted by an 18-13 home victory over Ampthill, which has lifted them up to eighth in the table.
Their opponents Wharfedale find themselves second-from-bottom after losing their last six games, which have all been against sides in the top seven.
But Wharfedale have never been relegated in their history and do have a habit of pulling out big wins on their own patch.
Albion know that only too well after their National League record run of 41 consecutive wins was ended there in December 2001.
“Anyone who looks at the league table when playing teams such as Wharfedale does so at their peril,” said Dawe.
“They’ll be a hungry monster for a win.”
Dawe certainly has not forgotten how his team were upset at Wharfeside Avenue 14 years ago.
“We were on an incredible run,” said Dawe.
“It was an amazing experience going 21 months unbeaten.
“However, we didn’t feel totally in control during our preparation that day and we started the game poorly but we got back into a winning position only to lose it again.
“To be fair to them, they had a couple of good second-rowers – Anthony Capstick and Dave Lister – that dominated the line-out that day and a number eight who dropped a goal from virtually the halfway line to put the game out of reach.”
Dawe admits what happened to his all-star team in 2001 at Wharfedale should help focus his current side ahead of their 700-mile trip to North Yorkshire.
This weekend with be Albion’s third longest away game of the season behind Blaydon and Darlington Mowden Park. Plymouth have also been to Hull, which is almost 700 miles, and also have Fylde to visit.
“You know if you are playing National League rugby in Plymouth you are going to have some long trips,” said Dawe. “You just have to accept it and get on with it.
“We are enjoying each other’s company at the moment and we are just trying to create an identity for the club.”
Dawe added: “Wharfedale is a very picturesque place and they do get behind their team for 80 minutes.
“But we just want to try and back up our victory over Ampthill with another.”