We cannot take anything for granted - Verbickas
Simon Verbickas has called for his side to focus on the game in hand this weekend
©Derek Salisbury
Caldy coach Simon Verbickas says his side are fully focused on their crunch match with Sale FC in this top of the table battle in National Two North.
Verbickas’ team currently sit four points clear at the summit of the division, but he has sent out a message to his players to not isolate this fixture and to treat it like any other game.
“Even though we are where we are, we still take every game as it comes,” Verbickas said.
“If you plan too far ahead, you can end up missing things. We are just trying to do our best every week and we cannot afford to be complacent.
“We have tried not to change the preparation at all because we don’t want to isolate this game because every game is as big as the next one. It is easy to perceive this game as make or break, but that isn’t the case. ”
Caldy, who are unbeaten in their last 12 matches, head to Heywood Road on Saturday looking to take another step towards securing a top two place come the end on the season.
During the last couple of years, Caldy have built on strong league finishes and not recruited heavily which Verbickas says is the reason his side are performing so well this term, but stresses promotion has never been and still isn’t the aim.
“The target every year I have been here has been is to do as well as we can,” Verbickas said.
“We have not targeted specifically promotion. What we have said is that we are a very good team and are a good side on our day.
“We can give anyone a game in this league and give them a run for their money. The good thing is that once you get a string of victories together, confidence is high and it is very hard for opposition sides to break.”
Sale FC will be looking to dent that Caldy confidence this weekend when they host the Wirral outfit. Jonathan Keep’s side have won the same amount of games as Caldy this term with seven of their 11 victories coming on home soil.
Their form in front of their own supporters was key for Sale FC last season when they just about survived in this division and Verbickas has praised Sale for a superb campaign so far and he is fully aware of the challenge his side face this weekend.
“Saturday will be a huge challenge against Sale,” continued Verbickas. They are in the same boat as us at the minute and when you look back at last season, they were 20 minutes away from relegation.
“Their turnaround has been amazing and we know it is going to be a huge mental and physical challenge. Mentally you are playing the team just below you in the league who are in good form and physically, Sale are a top side with a lot of outstanding players who have played very high levels of rugby.
“I think it is just going to be a very good game of rugby to watch and they will be tough side to beat.”
As well as Sale FC v Caldy, there are seven other intriguing games in National Two North this weekend:
Sedgley Park v Scunthorpe
Third placed Sedgley Park welcome Scunthorpe to Park Lane this weekend and the hosts will be solely focused on getting their job done despite the top two clashing at Heywood Road. Sedge currently lie third in the table as things stand and seven points off second placed Sale, so there is still a bit of work to do for Dean Schofield’s side.
They head into this fixture having won three of their last five matches and all three of those victories have come at home. In fact, Sedge haven’t lost at home this season with Tynedale being the only side to stop them in their tracks. The Christmas and New Year period has been tough in recent seasons for Sedgley and they know they can’t really afford to slip again during this time of year otherwise it could prove costly in terms of their promotion ambitions.
As for Scunthorpe, they travel to Manchester this weekend in their worst run of form since gaining promotion to this division in May. The Greens have lost their last five games which has seen them slip down to 13th in the table and the Yorkshire outfit are now just two points clear of the relegation zone.
The men from Heslam Park have won on four occasions this season, but only one of those victories has come away from home. That was their last win which came at the end of October against Harrogate and Scunthorpe know they’ll have to be at their very best to pick up their first victory in over a month this weekend.
Stourbridge v Hinckley
Stourbridge will be looking to keep up their excellent home form this season against a Hinckley side that are flying high in National Two North. Stour are fourth in the table as things stand and like the aforementioned Sedgley Park, their results at home play a major part in their league position. Mitchell’s side have won eight games overall this campaign and seven of those victories have come at Stourton Park so they will be looking to make it a perfect eight this weekend.
In terms of the bigger picture, the Midlands side find themselves 12 points off the top two and their horrendous away form is why they find themselves so far behind the promotion places. Another home victory here would keep them in the frame for a possible top two spot.
In terms of Hinckley, they are on a roll. One win in their first seven matches may have set off some alarm bells at Leicester Road as it seemed like the newly-promoted side were struggling to adapt to life at this level. However, six straight wins has seen them leave the relegation zone and now Chris Campbell’s men sit 10th in the table and 15 points clear of the drop.
Campbell told TRU last week that this fixture with Stourbridge followed by games against Leicester Lions and Sale FC, would give him a clearer picture of where is side are at in this division. Currently, they are doing everything right, but the next three weeks will be a huge challenge for Hinckley.
Wharfedale v Chester
Wharfedale are back at home this weekend following mixed fortunes on their last two away outings. A win against Scunthorpe was followed by a humbling defeat against Sedgley Park, but the situation is still the same for Dale as they prepare to host Chester at The Avenue this weekend.
They remain in the relegation zone as things stand, but they are only two points from safety despite having such a long list of injuries to contend with. Dale have won three times this season with two of those victories coming in front of their own supporters and James Doherty will be hoping his side can end a tough year for them strongly, starting with a victory over Chester.
For the visitors, it really has been a mixed season so far. Chester won just one of their first four games, but they managed turn that around in some style winning all five of their matches in October which propelled them into the promotion race in National Two North.
However, Chester will be hoping they have not reverted back to their old ways as in November they won just one of their four matches. Granted, they played Sale FC, Leicester Lions and Stoubridge in that time, but the fifth placed side need to recapture their October form if they are to stay in touch with the front-runners heading into the Christmas break.
Leicester Lions v Otley
Leicester Lions are back in action this week after their Round 13 match against Preston Grasshoppers was postponed due to a frozen pitch and they will be hoping to put an end to their mini slump.
They are currently going through their worst spell of the season to date. Two consecutive losses has seen the Midlands side drop to sixth in the table and following their defeat to Caldy in Round 12, they are now 14 points off the top two with a game in hand.
The Lions host Otley this weekend having won five of their seven home matches so far with their last victory at Westleigh Park coming at the start of November when they beat Sedgley. Andy Key will be hoping his side can start this month in the same fashion, as Leicester Lions look to get their promotion bid back on track.
As for Otley, they head to the Midlands in fine fettle. The men from Cross Green have won four out of their last five matches which has seen them move up to eighth in the table. The Yorkshire side have won seven games this season, but only one of those victories has come away from home.
The good thing for Otley is that that sole triumph occurred on their last away trip when they beat Sheffield Tigers and this fixture with Leicester Lions will arguably be their toughest in recent weeks. Having said this, confidence will be flowing for Otley and they will fancy their chances of getting a result against Leicester Lions tomorrow.
Luctonians v South Leicester
It hasn’t been an enjoyable season for the Luctonians since the beginning of October. Alex Davidson’s men flew out of the blocks and picked up four wins from their first six games, but as we approach the halfway point of the campaign, the Lucts are struggling to find a victory.
Since their win over Wharfedale in Round Six, the Herefordshire side have won just one of their last seven games which has seen them fall to 11th place in the table. They have accumulated just seven points and things need to change quickly at Mortimer Park. Davidson has alluded to their injuries and but a positive display against Tynedale last time out will certainly have boosted confidence. A win must be the number one priority this weekend for the Lucts.
In terms of South Leicester, it really has been a mixed bag of a season. However, try telling them that. The Midlands side were dicing with danger last season, but this year they have been nowhere near the relegation zone. They have been able to consolidate seventh place in the division and are 19 points clear of the bottom three as things stand.
South have actually only won five games which is the lowest number of wins in the top 10 of this league. However, two draws as well as 12 bonus points (the highest in the league) has helped them stay in the top half of this table and they will be hoping to come away from Herefordshire with more points to add to their tally.
Sheffield Tigers v Tynedale
Sheffield Tigers entertain Tynedale this weekend with the home side struggling for form. After four wins from their first eight games, including a win over Sedgley Park, the newly-promoted side were enjoying life in National Two North, but since the end of October, The Tigers’ roar has become quieter.
The men from Door Moor head into December having lost their last five games with their last victory being that win over Sedge on October 22nd. Two of their triumphs this term have come at home and they will be desperate for win number three in front of their own supporters this weekend.
Tynedale are a side Sheffield Tigers might look to for inspiration. Their visitors had been spluttering and finding wins hard to come by, but in recent weeks, Scott Lawson and his side have certainly turned a corner.
They travel to Yorkshire this weekend on the back of three straight wins, two of which have come away from Corbridge. Prior to this good run of form, Tyne have won just three of their first 10 matches, but now they find themselves ninth in the table. The north-east club have really had their problems on and off the field since relegation in 2015, but they look as though they are back on the right path.
Harrogate v Preston Grasshoppers
Harrogate’s upturn in performances suffered a set-back last weekend when they were beaten by league leaders Caldy, but that shouldn’t discourage David Doherty’s men. Before last weekend, ‘Gate had won two of their last three games and also secured a bonus point in an excellent display against Sedgley Park.
With that in mind, the divisions’ bottom club now find themselves just two points from safety and host one of their fellow strugglers this weekend as they go in search of their third home win on the trot. If Harrogate were to achieve this, it would be the first time they have won three games on the bounce since February.
Following an excellent win over Sheffield Tigers two weeks ago, Preston Grasshoppers immediately suffered another defeat in Round 12 when they were beaten by Stourbridge which leaves them sitting in 14th place as things stand. The Hoppers currently occupy one of the relegation spots, but like we said last week, their recent performances have not warranted their league position.
However, they know that they must start converting their positive spells in matches into points if they are to move clear of danger. Preston are two points adrift of safety despite not being in action last week and travel to Harrogate in what is arguably a vital match in terms of survival in National Two North. Garth Dew’s side have won just one of their seven away games this year so they will be aiming to end their away trips for the 2016/17 with a victory.
