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Match Preview - Esher (A)

Match Preview - Esher (A)

Tom Bulmer31 Oct 2018 - 13:00
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A look ahead to Saturday's trip to Molesey Road in Round 10 of the National One season (3pm Kick Off).

Darlington Mowden Park will be hoping to return to winning ways on Saturday when they travel South to face Esher RFC. Esher were founded in 1923 and are led by Chairman John Inverdale, the BBC Sport presenter, along with Executive Director and former England International Simon Halliday. They play their home games at Molesey Road, Hersham and have an average home attendance of around 750 supporters. Esher RFC are now in their 6th consecutive season in National 1 after being relegated from the Championship at the end of the 2011/12 season. Last season Esher finished in 9th position on 74 points, 31 points behind DMP.

Saturday's hosts currently sit in 14th position in the National One table. They have won 3 and lost 6 of their opening 9 fixtures, with 2 of those wins coming on home soil. Last weekend saw Esher lose 22-10 on the road at Old Elthamians, whilst Mowden suffered a late defeat at home to Chinnor.

National One Table

1 Old Elthamians 32
2 Rotherham 32
3 Blackheath 31
4 Rosslyn Park 31
5 Caldy 29
6 Chinnor 29
7 Ampthill & District 29
8 Cinderford 26
9 Darlington Mowden Park 24
10 Sale FC 23
11 Plymouth Albion 22
12 Cambridge 20
13 Bishops Stortford 18
14 Esher 16
15 Birmingham Moseley 16
16 Loughborough Students 9

Historically, games between these two sides have been high scoring affairs, with a 48-31 and a 50-33 in recent years. The last game between the two teams at Molesey Road ended in a 33-26 win for Esher. DMP managed to salvage 2 points from the game, having trailed 26-7 at the break. The return fixture at the Northern Echo Arena was rearranged due to a frozen pitch and was eventually won by DMP back in March, a narrow 18-16 victory in tricky conditions.

Saturday 4th November 2017

Esher 33
Tries: Loader(2), Harding, James (2).
Conversions: Roberts (4)

Mowden 26
Tries: Frankland, Craggs, Asher-Wood, Penalty.
Conversions: B.Connon (2)

Saturday 31st March 2018

Mowden Park 18
Tries: Vaioleti, Frankland
Conversions: Law
Penalties: Law (2)

Esher 16
Tries: Saunders
Conversions: Strang
Penalties: Strang (3)

Saturday's game promises to be an entertaining encounter between both sides in need of a victory. Team news for this fixture will be posted at midday on Friday.

Address for travelling supporters:
Esher Rugby Club
369 Molesey Road
Hersham
Surrey
KT12 3PF

Further reading