GRAHAM DAWE is hopeful fly-half Elliot Bale will still play a part in Plymouth Albion’s season, despite having keyhole surgery on his knee yesterday.
Bale has been troubled for most of the season with a knee problem, which has made training and playing difficult.
Although Albion only have seven matches left of their 2015/16 campaign, the club felt it was best for Bale to get his injury sorted out fully now with the chance of possibly featuring in their final few matches.
“It had to be done sooner rather than later,” said Albion’s director of rugby Graham Dawe. “We could have waited until the end of the season, but he could have broken down at any time.
“There was an opportunity to get it done now when we have some blank weekends and we could possibly get him back for the first week in April, which would be a good bonus for the club.”
Dawe added: “He will probably be out for four weeks minimum, but it could be six week, depending on how well he recovers.
“But he couldn’t train during the week and he would always react even if he played just 15 minutes.
“We would like Elliot Bale fully fit again. He started the season as our number one and is one of our two main fly-halves.”
Bale will miss Albion’s vital matches against Darlington Mowden Park and Blackheath in March and possibly Ampthill at the start of April.
Dawe, though, is confident the club will be able to manage even if something did happen to current first choice fly-half Billy Searle.
“Marc Koteczky covers there and Jake Murphy and Matt Shepherd can also play there,” said Dawe, who will be without Australian Koteczky for this weekend’s match at Darlington due to suspension.
Meanwhile, Dawe is expecting forwards Ed Holmes and Gregory Sebastien to be in contention for the trip to the North East this weekend after missing the club’s last match against Henley on February 20 due to injuries.
“Ed Holmes and Gregory did a bit of light training last week and should be fit,” said Dawe.
“However, Dan Collier took a heavy blow against Henley and did not train all last week, so we are just waiting to see if he is fit this week.”