TEENAGE prop Ollie Dawe is hoping to be back in Plymouth Albion’s squad for this weekend’s trip to Ampthill after missing their last match against Blackheath due to injury.

That was only the second game Dawe has missed this season after joining Albion in the summer as an 18-year-old.

His absence gave 21-year-old Dan Pullinger a chance at loose-head and he picked up the sponsor’s man of the match award after Albion’s 20-19 win.

Dawe knows he now faces a fight to get his shirt back for this weekend’s big game.

“It’s good to get back training after the injury,” said Dawe, who took a heavy knock against Darlington Mowden Park. “I am feeling fresh.

“It is horrible watching from the sidelines – as a player you just want to be out there.

“Hopefully, I will be back in the squad for Ampthill but it will be a tough ask with Pully (Pullinger) doing so well.

“I’ve been putting in some performances so he has struggled to get into the side, but now it could now be vice-versa.

“Credit to him for his performance, but it just makes it more of a challenge for me. Hopefully, I will be involved in the Ampthill game and, if I’m starting or on the bench, I just have to make an impact.”

Dawe, who only turned 19 this month, could not have asked for a better first season in senior rugby.

“It’s been an amazing season for me with the amount of starts I’ve had,” he said. “I think I’ve started 22 games and played in 23. I can’t grumble at that.

“I came here aiming to play 20-25 matches and I’ve done that.”

Dawe had played 22 National One games before he had even turned 19, which is quite an achievement for any player let alone a front-row forward.

“It is quite rare,” said the youngster. “But that’s the beauty of coming down here with Graham as he will give you a shot. You’ve just got to prove yourself and I think I have done.

“I just have to keep plugging away now.”

Albion are proving themselves to be one of the best scrumming sides in the league.

Prop Dawe said: “The scrum has been exceptional this year. Graham puts in a lot of hard work with us lads and it is paying off.”