Hammond Hoping For Momentum

Despite three defeats in the first half this season’s Premiership Cup, and the odd bump in the road in the Championship, this season Craig Hammond’s Nottingham side have seen an upward trajectory.

Sitting nicely in fourth place in the league, just a couple of points behind third place Coventry, and six off second place Bedford Blues, the Archers are ready to mix it up again over the next couple of weeks.

December would see three wins and a loss registered in the league, with another one of each following the restart in mid-January, with points, and tries, being racked up nicely; in the run-up to New Year, the Archers shocked a visiting Coventry side, at Lady Bay, with a handsome, 41-26 success.

A game that was only 14-7 at the interval, the second half was a thunderous one, six tries and a penalty coming the way of the hosts as Sebastian Ferreira, Harry Clayton, Taiye Olowofela, Kegan Christian-Gross, Malelili Satala-Navlivou, and David Williams, all crossed, whilst the boot of Matthew Arden added a penalty and four conversions for extra conversions.

That, and the success last time out, also at Lady Bay, this time 43-18 against Doncaster Knights (Williams 2, Ferreira, Olowofela, Christian-Gross, Jack Stapley and Jacob Wright, Arden with three conversions), and again following a sumptuous, second half display, has afforded the Archers supremo much optimism moving into the latter stages of the season.

“We finished off the end of last year with a win against Coventry which was class,” began Hammond, looking back over the festive period.

“However, after nine days off, we had that disappointing loss against Caldy, which was pretty frustrating, and we just weren’t good enough, or physical enough, on the day, and ended up missing out on what could have been a four-five-point win.

“It is was it is though, and, against Donny last week, I thought the boys were exceptional and we gave a great response on what was Nathan Tweedy’s 50th appearance, so the boys were class in getting up for him.

“We were happy with that, especially the four tries to their none in the second half; so, to finish this latest block, in fourth place, and a couple of points off Coventry in third, that’s a pretty good place to be going back into the Premiership Cup.”

With Coventry first up (away, Saturday 1 February), the Archers will then travel to Leicester Tigers the following weekend (Saturday 8 February), before finishing off this seasons’ cup campaign with a home clash, under the Friday Night Lights, on Valentines Day, against Northampton Saints, at good old Lady Bay.

Hammond, it’s a case of as you were from when the Archers went into the first half of the cup campaign, a combination of rest for some, and game-time for others, whilst also wanting to keep some sort of momentum ahead of the return to league action on 22 March, away to Ampthill.

“Again, we’ll look to use this as an opportunity to play those guys that haven’t played much, and to a rest a few who are either banged up, or have already played a lot of rugby,” explained the Archers supremo.

“I want players to go get their shirts, and drive the competition in the squad.

“Going down to Coventry, they’re chasing a semi-final spot so will be gunning for it; they’ll also be frustrated about the league loss we gave them so that’s going to be a challenge.

“Then we head to Welford Road to play the Tigers, which’ll be class for the boys to play in front of a big crowd, so we’ll be pumped up for that one.

“As for Valentine’s Night, playing the Saints at home, that’s a massive opportunity again for the boys to go out there, and play the game our way, how we like it to be played, in front of big, home crowd.

“We’re hoping this can help with some momentum for the league, challenging us to keep going, building on the areas we need to work on, especially as we didn’t fare too well in the last round of matches. “

The first half of November, in Pool Two, the Archers would lose their three matches, somewhat disappointingly in the first two, losing to Coventry (34-15) at home, then narrowly to Northampton Saints (31-29) away; the game at home to Leicester Tigers (lost 70-29) is one which Hammo and his players will be looking to put right, one way or another.

Continuing, Hammond said; “We nearly beat Saints away, which would have been good, and the game against Coventry, that wasn’t good enough, so we need to improve on that.

“But we also got smashed by the Tigers.

“Yes, it’s good to change players, but we also need to build on what’s coming up, and that’s Ampthill away.

“There’s only ten league games to go and that’s going to come around quickly, so we need to have a healthy squad, improve on our game, and see how good we can be.”

Nottingham head back into Premiership Cup action when they face Coventry at Butts Park Arena (Saturday 1 February), before travelling to Welford Road and Leicester Tigers a week later (8 February), finishing up their cup campaign at home to Northampton Saints on Valentines Night (14 February).

Keep up-to-date with all things Archers via their socials on Facebook here and X here and on their website here

Peter-Mann Hammond Hoping For Momentum

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NottinghamRugby a good win against Doncaster has positive moods in camp.

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