Matt Corker has called upon his Canterbury Rugby Club players to start their latest block of matches at full throttle.
The sixth-placed city side will return to National League 2 East action at Old Albanian after a two-week break this weekend.
Canterbury head coach Matt Corker. Picture: Philippa Hilton
A below-par performance saw Canterbury go down 22-13 at home to Barnes last time out and, with only three games in this run before another rest week at the end of the month, Canterbury head coach Corker knows his team need to hit the ground running.
He said: “It’s very important we start fast.
“We need to start this block at full throttle and make sure that we don’t take any time to get into it. If we do that, before we know it, it will be finished.
“In terms of the players managing their bodies, the light at the end of the tunnel is the tunnel isn’t very long. That definitely helps from a mental perspective.
“But I think we’re at that stage of the season where, physically, the lads have found their rhythm a little bit, especially after a bit of a rest and, now, it’s up to us to really focus on what we’re doing.”
While Corker was frustrated with the loss to Barnes, it was Canterbury’s overall display – rather than the result – which disappointed him the most.
“Losing happens,” he explained. “You’re never going to be happy about it but, actually, what’s most disappointing from the Barnes game was the performance.
“We were especially disappointed in our own performance.
“Barnes are a good team, they know how to win, but we actually created plenty of opportunities to ensure that result went in our favour.
“We really looked last week – and we will again this week – to make sure the players have a better understanding of how to spot those opportunities and, also, how to finish them off.”
Canterbury’s weekend hosts find themselves two positions further back, although Corker admitted the Woollam Playing Fields hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for them.
He said: “This has been a place where we haven’t come away from with the result we want recently.
“Old Albanian have quite an expansive game-plan and they’re also very good at taking their opportunities.
“They generally have a couple of Saracens Academy lads and play at a high tempo.
“One, we will have to match that speed of thought in defence but, also, the real focus for us with the ball is just to make sure that we finish the chances we create.”
Kent 1 pacesetters Canterbury Pilgrims return to league action at home to Beccehamian on Saturday.
They sit top of the table, having won six of their seven league matches, losing 35-29 against Bromley last time out.
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