After a couple of tries at Tonbridge Juddians at the weekend, we caught up with Ruaridh Dawson on what has been a strange start to the new National One season…Six points but no wins from three attempts doesn’t tell the whole story, as Ruaridh explains…
“It’s about time that I actually scored. Someone at work actually asked me when was the last time that I scored a try. And I actually couldn’t tell him when it was. So, yeah, it was nice to get over the try line twice on the weekend, but then great to see us score 52 points, which we haven’t done for quite a while. Unfortunately, TJs scored 53.
“Three narrow defeats makes it worse in one sense – but then it’s also not many games you score 52 points and you come out on the wrong end. So I think it’s obvious what we need to fix in that sort of term. So that’s what’s sort of giving us hope at the minute – that win is so close. So we know that we can sort of turn it around. Whereas obviously last year with it being bigger margins, those turnarounds would have to be even bigger. So we’re still keeping the hope – I will say, I said it to a few of the fans that came and watched the TJ’s game, when we get that first win it’s going to be like a snowball effect and I guarantee that!
“We got five tries in each of the first two games – and eight or nine last weekend. I think we’re the second highest points scorers in National League One. One the other side of that we’re up there with the highest in terms of points conceded. So that’s an area not for concern, so much as correction. don’t think anything’s a massive concern at the minute. Obviously, we’ll go and look at it this week and put those things to bed and put those things to rights.
“It’s a brand new team that we’ve got together this year, loads of new faces that are obviously still gelling together, and like I said before, when we get that first win, it’s going to be so good that it’s going to be like a snowball effect. It’s not about how many games we did or didn’t win last season. It’s not about a massive long losing run. It’s about this team, this squad, learning to grind one out.
“I think this is the first time in my career where I’m one of the oldest, if not the oldest players. So I think that just shows you how young the team is – or how old I’m getting! Everything’s looking pretty good, everybody’s supporting each other. And that win will come!”