Plymouth Albion / Rugby

Albion are ‘going places’ now, says experienced lock Collier

Dan Collier Esher

DAN COLLIER says Plymouth Albion are now a team ‘going places’.

The resurgent city side moved up to fourth place in National One with their 13th win of the season on Saturday when they beat Esher 30-15 at Molesey Road.

It was Albion’s eighth victory in nine games and their seventh on the road this season.

The five-point haul from Surrey was particularly sweet for lock Collier, who had spent part of last season at Esher but without making their first team.

He had also suffered an ankle injury at Molesey Road playing for Albion in 2012 as they lost 41-17 in the Championship. That was to be his last appearance for Plymouth before returning this season after a three-year absence.

“I was there (at Esher) last year, but I didn’t really get to play any games as I had work commitments and injuries and stuff,” said Collier. “So going back there and getting the ‘W’ was great.”

Esher had out-played Albion at Brickfields in early October, winning 38-12, but it was a different story on Saturday.

“After what happened at home last time we wanted it massively,” admitted Collier.

“We have been good away from home since November.

“We all just dug in on Saturday. It could have gone wrong a couple of times, but as we have grown as a team and you can tell that cohesion is there. We can bounce back from anything at the moment, that’s what it feels like.

“We are a team going places now. We are in fourth position.”

Albion’s scrum once again stood out and provided the platform for their victory in Surrey.

Collier said: “Our scrum has really grown and you can really tell. Esher had a better scrum than us last time, but this time to last time was completely different.”

Albion are back on home this Saturday when they host Blaydon at Brickfields (3pm).

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