Rugby - 'Accuracy can be key' against Hoppers

10:36am Saturday 24th January 2009

By Gazette Sports

KENDAL aim to learn a lesson from their slick opponents Sedgley Tigers, who knocked them out of the EDF Energy National Trophy last Saturday.

Coach Jon Nicholson said that the pace and the accuracy of the Sedgley threequarters was impressive.

He said : "I was disappointed with conceding 50 points, particularly as three tries were just the result of one-on-one missed tackles.

"However, the overall performance was good and to score five tries ourselves away from home shows we are not a million miles away.

"The pace and perhaps more importantly the accuracy of the Sedgley backline was impressive and hopefully we can learn from the experience "

And he said that the Kendal squad were looking forward to returning to National 3 action in the home derby clash with Preston Grasshoppers, and not reading much into their visitors' 115-0 trophy hammering at Exeter.

He said: "I thought we recycled the ball extremely efficiently on Saturday and that is something we will be looking to build on going into this week's game against Preston .

"Although they suffered a much heavier defeat than us, similarly away from home against National 1 opponents, no one at Mint Bridge is under any illusion that this weekend’s game will be anything other than tough.

" Exeter are full time pros Sedgley are not.

"There is more than enough history between ourselves and Preston for last weekend’s cup results to count for nothing. It is all about the performance on the day and the team that wants it the most will win.

The match kicks off at 2pm.

Hooker Duncan Green is set to return in Saturday's starting line-up after his shoulder-ligament problem and Allen Martindale keeps his place with Richard Harryman out with an injured elbow.

New Zealander Rob Aloe is namedat centre in Saturday's line-up in place of Matt Gracie, who is on the replacements' bench

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