Wednesday, 29 April 2009

The Grasshoppers go to the Park

THIS Saturday sees the Preston Grasshoppers travel to Yiewsley Drive for the final game of the season against already relegated Darlington Mowden Park.

After last week’s fantastic 48-7 victory against Halifax, Alex Keay’s men will be looking to take this momentum into the final game of the season. The Grasshoppers away form could however cost them the victory. The Grasshoppers have only won two away games all season and this has been the reason for their disappointing season.

Darlington now face the reality of life outside of the National Division Three north league next season but still managed to give already promoted side Nuneaton a scare last Saturday, only losing 31-25 and giving a magnificent performance that truly deserved some reward.

Darlington may have been able to avoid relegation after a fantastic late run of results, but this unfortunately also coincided with both Huddersfield and Bradford and Bingley also recording victories. Darlington’s fate was also confirmed by their inability to win in very tight games, losing ten games by just seven points or less.

Alex Keay will no doubt look for encouragement from their 36-8 victory against Darlington earlier in the season where club captain Darren Wilson scored a brace of tries. But he will also be looking to crush the two main Darlington threats of club top scorer Jon Benson and Adam Mackenzie who has scored eight tries this season.

Keay’s extensive injury list has again come to thwart his end of season plans with Glynn Dewhurst unavailable due to an knee injury, Mark Rigbye out with an ankle injury and Alexander Zavallis Roebuck also unavailable due to personal problems. But most worryingly for Keay he is also without inspirational captain Darren Wilson who is suspended.

Darlington’s end of season efforts have not gone unmissed by Keay who despite their lowly league position thinks they will prove a difficult opponent, “Its difficult to know how they will play this weekend, they have had a fantastic end to the season, but they had something to play for. Now there relegated and have nothing else to play for and their performance will be quite different to the excellent form we saw earlier in the season.”

Building on last weeks fantastic performance against Halifax, Keay is looking to bring the grove back into their play, even if it is just for the last game of the season. Keay further added, “We lost our focus towards the end of the season and we are all to blame not just the players, but we just need to end the season in style now.”

What do you think? Will the Grasshoppers finish the season in style?
Leave your thoughts below.

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